Gospel Rap
By Lynn Lopez
To many people, rap music doesn’t really evoke images of spirituality and feelings of faith and devotion. But believe it or not, music has given rise to this unlikely pairing of gospel music and hip-hop: gospel rap, also known as Christian rap. This music style naturally incorporates the sounds of hip-hop, but the messages express one’s Christian faith.
Gospel rap is said to have emerged sometime in the 1980s when rap was on the rise. This development may have caused somewhat of a shock to fans of ‘traditional’ gospel music, and couple it with the commonly held belief that hip-hop is blasphemous or offensive. But it nevertheless grew popular and was readily embraced by younger people. Gospel rap shows that expressing faith through music can indeed turn mainstream and be able to attract more followers.
As with other forms of gospel music, gospel rap expresses one’s faith, inspires the same devotion in listeners, and even encourage people to fully embrace their faith. Gospel rap artists normally use their music as a tool to teach its listeners about religion and proclaim their dedication as well.
Places of worship have adopted gospel rap as part of their service, and this definitely provides a brighter atmosphere for the congregation. This kind of music, while unusual to other people’s ears, is certainly helpful in raising people’s spirits and inspiring them with its positive messages and upbeat new sound.
|
