Hip Hop vs Rap
2 Timothy 2:14
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
I don’t get into the whole hip-hop versus rap debate, because it’s a quarrel about words, and often ends up being a waste of time. When someone wants to strive & argue about words without a clear definition of those words, they are not trying to help you – they are trying to subvert you, i.e. destroy your identity.
Simple Facts
Hip hop music & expression was originated by a DJ, Kool Herc. A few years later, Zulu Nation “The Culture” was originated by Afrikan Baambata… who was a gangster who liked the way DJ Kool Herc remixed music based on the breakbeat. Hip Hop the business was originated by promoters and businessmen in the 1980s. Hip Hop the religion was originated by KRS one in the late 1990s. All these men are still alive as of today. But which one originated it? If you look at a calendar, the originator was obviously DJ Kool Herc. For the originator (not the followers), it was just a new way to mix music and motivate the crowd at a party. Those are the facts.
Babylon’s Confusion vs Kingdom Accuracy
But why is hip hop called so many different things? It’s all different, it’s all confusion. Babylon is all about confusion, and men trying subvert others. I’m more concerned about teaching people how to be “Christian” – whatever they call their music. Teaching people how to really follow Christ is my goal.
Because you could call your music the so called “right thing” and still be wrong as the doctrine of Jezebel or the error of Balaam. You could have the right title and still be a syncretistic idol worshipper presenting Jesus as one god among many. What’s more important is to teach people how to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
If someone says: “I hate hip hop, I only do Christian rap!” But they still copy the world, they still follow the doctrine of Jezebel and Balaam, they still won’t serve or support their church financially, they still want fame and a record deal with Babylon, and they still want to buy & sell and promote their books, cds, dvds, brands, etc. in the church (which is supposed to be a house of prayer)… Then what’s the point? They are no different than the world system, even if they grabbed the so called “right title.” There is no spiritual profit.
All the zeal, passion, and conviction in the world, without the passion to seek the knowledge that goes along with it…. can be very unfruitful. God is sending out sharp arrows not random buck shots.
In other words, if you are arguing between the words hip hop & rap, you’re in the wrong argument! Instead of worrying about hip hop vs rap let’s define what a “Christian” is!
Don’t get caught up in unfruitful and questionable arguments with people whose goal is to subvert you with their zeal. Just be a true minister of the Word of God and the purity of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:2
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Proverbs 19:2
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
