If You Gonna Make It, Make It Official!!!
To Minister or Entertain; that is the question.
I had a discussion with a few of my friends about me using secular beats on a mixtape. My purpose of it was to reach the unsaved by giving them something familiar with a message of Jesus on top. Now I made this one song with Conquest over a 'Biggie' beat. The hook has a sample that says "its unbelievable" and I go on to say that "Jesus Christ is the Illest". I didnt realize it, until a friend put it together for me, that I was sending a mixed message: "Its Unbelievable, "That Jesus Christ is the Illlest". WOWWWW.
Because of that, I am now questioning the fact of can you actually minister using a secular beat. I think its ok to use secular beats for a mixtape or something, but does it actually minister to the unsaved, or does it just entertain?
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Permalink Reply by VULTCHA on I'll be the first to reply, and since I've answered this question (and posed it) countless times, it's really comfortable for me and I've had a lot of practice.
My answer is: Yes and No. LOL
To minister or entertain ultimately in the end becomes purely GOD's business. We are called to be SOWERS and WATERBEARER'S. The growing is between GOD and HIS seed.
I'd say a secular beat with SAVED lyrics can witness to someone, because GOD meets a person where they are. He meets them at the level of "light" they've received. Christians who flex their religion love to write the rules and set the parameters of the box they think GOD should be in, and time and time again HE breaks WAY OUT that narrow box. The BOX once held Hip Hop/Rap and it's possibility to be used as a ministry tool. People said that it COULDN'T be used because it wasn't created by HIM (they are so wrong), and we see where that went - and in some circles, it's still up in debate. The scripture that supports my opinion for this reply will always be 1st Corinthians 1:26-28, with emphasis on verse 28, "He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him."
That leaves it all in the hands of GOD, to use a thing like Rap - which is a despised thing in a lot of peoples eyes - to become a ministry tool. That same goes of the beats, in my opinion (of course).
Christian rapper Excelsius from Texas summed it up best on his album THE FINAL EVOLUTION, he said (paraphrased) "Music in and of itself is not inherently evil". Which in my opinion is true. Though mood may be present in many songs, I believe that the word/meaning of the lyrics is the most important thing in Hip Hop (and all genres) - for that is what it is, right? RHYMING or SINGING over BEATS.
Without the words, would it be RAP music or still classified as Rhythm and Blues? What makes it Gospel/Christian or not is not the beats, but the WORDS. Is there a "Nod Your Head" spirit? Some tracks do just that, and we know that drums don't even have notes…but they do provoke mood.
We tend to get far too legalistic and forget that most of hip hop samples (or imitates a style) from other music that is not hip hop/rap. We would have to do a rhythm "etymology" to track down the origin of every sample and try to figure if it fit into our christian mold - because most people say we can't use secular beats because of the spirit behind the music (as if we could check it with a meter). Some people doing Christian Hip Hop don't have the right "spirit" when they set out to make Christian music either, but that doesn't have us all in a bundle or pulling cards or people off show rosters. Let God be the judge, and let us all use some CHRISTIAN COMMON SENSE.
I'm sure we can all agree we don't want a Christian remix to Akinyele's "Put it in your mouth". Though, I can think of a few ways to clean that chorus line up, but still would find it hardly acceptable as a gospel/Christian version. (LMBO!)
which brings in this point: VENUES and LIMITATIONS
Some venues/churches/outreaches,etc may have strict guidelines on what they want coming out their speakers, so any Christ centered MC performing there has to take that in mind too. If there's a really good song you did to someone else's beat, you might at least want to have an alternative version with original music (even if it's not as good...yet) in case you need to perform it at one of those venues that are ultra selective about what beats are played. That works on all kinds of levels, but sometimes you may truly get that spark of inspiration from listening to a secular beat. After all, YOU ARE THE REDEEMED and GOD will speak to you and through you HOWEVER "HE" will when HE's really speaking (no boxes on GOD's communication skills)!
So, that means GOD also meets the minister where they are, and with the means they are capable of. Minister, for this purpose characterizes someone who has given their life to Christ and feels compelled to spread the gospel using this music as a vessel.
I believe if HE'S called someone to this ministry and has providentially made them capable to carry out their duties, they probably don't NEED to use SECULAR beats in the long run. We love to say "He'll provide", but that carries over into everything: including beats.
There are ENOUGH anointed music ministers out there to find someone who can produce tracks. A christian rapper has no long term excuses ($$$ is a short term one, so save up!), unless he's in some isolated place with no internet connection. To everyone else (cause he's not reading this…LOL) You can download beats from dudes online, buy through the net, or get permission to use a track for a promotional purpose UNTIL GOD sends you the producer that's "right for you" - not just "right for your budget" or "free"! (nothing is free! to: you "Free beat seekers". FYI: BEAT = time, inspiration, experience, $ for equipment, $ for lightbill, sacrifice)
*side note: Notice, there are A LOT of "STINGY" Christian producers and mc's who've "quote/unquote" "MADE IT" out there - and you can't even get an instrumental of their stuff or half the Holy Hip Hop records on the market. That's really sad…and even harder to get an acapella…unless they know you*
ENTERTAINMENT vs. MINISTRY VALUE
Some people like Tyler Perry, some people can't stand him. Pretty much an apples vs. oranges on that one.
In my estimation, it's because there are times when the entertainment value of something that is ministry overshadows the true purpose for why we want to entertain. Most Christians who say they want fame, notoriety, or $$$$ so they can "spread the gospel" or evangelize on a greater scale. The challenge in doing that is not letting the ENTERTAINMENT drown out the MESSAGE or REASON for the entertainment in the first place. We can all sit and be entertained by many levels of tomfoolery and buffoonery until we bust a rib, or herniate a disc laughing! Why, it's just fun. But at the end of the day, if you claim your purpose is ministry, is worth watering down the message at the expense of the overall ENTERTAINMENT VALUE? That VALUE usually consists of being appealing to a variety of audience types and personalities, and in short, this explains why TRUTH (not the rappers) is not so much ENTERTAINING as it is "COMPELLING".
to wrap it up: On a mixtape, I don't think it using a secular beat matters that much. A mixtape is clearly (for those who don't know) FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES! if your looking to make $$$ off your mixtape or royalties from publishing…I say, "TO GOD BE THE GLORY!" and you should consider just making an album.
If your not good with your networking skills, your production skills, or your praying and waiting skills - you'll probably be that dude running around with an album full of secular beats passed off as your own that everybody has already did their "christian version" of, and wondering why we're/they're not copping it. You need to get your mind back on Christ and HIS word, and remember that HE equips those HE sends out…so, find out if your a SENT ONE, or a WENT ONE.
In the long run, for SAFER distribution options, ORIGINAL music always goes the farthest distance. Secular beats are familiar and fun to play with, but in no means do they CLEVERLY HIJACK the UNSAVED listener and force them to Christ. That would be man's cleverness versus GOD'S GRACE, and that's no contest. There is no formula to win a sinner's heart except for what the bible calls the "POWER OF GOD" that is found in the preaching of the unhindered gospel (1st Cor 1:17).
A book could be written on this subject, so for now I'll put it in park and let everyone marinate.
Either way, TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
-VULTCHA (vultchathemc@twitter.com) (www.reverbnation.com/vultcha)
Permalink Reply by J. Shooter on
i have done remix to wutang triumph, prayed over the song and brought the word of God. took back what the devil stole in Christ name.. but a lot of fans of mine were fans of wutang so i took something they know and transformed it with the word of God.
I know that we all have a different approach to our music and far as beats go yes there are many christian DJ's using secular tracks and as you said our fans are use to hearing beats that have already been used. Like you said to take that track and share the word of God with that secular beat is how we will continue to reach the lost youth. So keep up the good work and lets look at the affect we have on youth as we grow. Be Blessed.
yep, one thing one thing folk don't put the word of God no more in the music and just bring lyrics' ima be held accountable on that great day since he took me out of sheol, then i will put the word of God in every song. and not just hiphop so when i take say a old wutang beat and use it man my point is to come harder and bring the word of Christ in it. To God be all the Glory forget hiphop anyhow it's just a tool...only a tool!
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