Where They At ? .. Looking for the real CHRISTIAN hip hop soldiers.

I remember back in the days when I first started ministering, using rap as the tool to reach the young people. It was so different back then. We would gather weekly to rehearse songs and think of song titles. I mean, going into scripture as a group to discuss issues which can be topics in songs..

I remember when we used to go to concerts that had other Gospel rappers like God's Creation, Joyful Noiz, Demo/Understanding and others who have since retired from the HHH scene. The good thing is, we always had others to look at and be encouraged to know that we were not alone in this "rap game" as the world so wrongly labels it.

Anyway, lately I have been noticing that those real mentor moments are disappearing. Rappers starting out in the Christian Rap ministry route nowadays have no one to look up to.. Why? Have they all retired? Have they all slipped back into the world? Have they all become ordained preachers and abandoned the tool they used in the past? Have they all grown too old to continue?

I am not sure what the answer is but gone are the days when every week we received flyers at our churches announcing this rap group or that rap group coming to minister and the people would get excited. Seems like most of the groups that were looked up to back in the days or were more respected back in the days have disappeared from the "every day event or gathering".

Youth rallies, youth services, coffee houses, street meetings etc.. Where they at? .. Looking for the real CHRISTIAN hip hop soldiers. We all go around stating we in bad times and it's a war out there.. Spiritual war against the enemy etc.. etc.. but, look around.. Where are the soldiers..?

Perhaps the pay is not high enough to be in the little battles. We rather be in the aircraft carrier pushing buttons and getting paid big for that work.. Little effort with high, earthly returns. I remember when Brothers Inc ministered at the Smithsonian Institute for an entire week at their Folklife Festival. Wow.. not many groups can say they did that.. But, you know what was the best part of that trip for us? Going out to the local (small.. uhhhh.. very small ) churches and ministering. I am talking about, we had to rap into choir mics that were like lapels... Whew.. crazy... How many groups would even settle for that nowadays.

The altar call and the responses afterwards though were priceless.. We had parents buying CDs to give to their kids who were wrapped up in the things of the world..

I have been looking online for testimonies from rap ministries that were "freestyling on the corner" like quest used to do.. or hit and runs like TRUCE is currently doing in London.. or free concerts and events where the focus is Jesus and not "My manager requires me to make X amount of money per event"...

Can you feel the hurt my heart is displaying. And hey, I know we all deserve pay for our hard work and I am 100% for that at all times.. But, I had a young lady from a small NJ church on the phone recently and she was like... I wish there were groups out there that would minister at our church. It's small and we don't have money to pay big offerings... Where they at?... Looking for real CHRISTIAN hip hop soldiers.

Not sure what my closing thoughts would fit best here.. Perhaps just a humble request and cry to my fellow Christian Rappers worldwide.. Please please please.. do not forget the small churches and the outreaches worldwide... There are kids out there looking for Christian Rappers to look up to.. but, if they don't see them... hmmmmmm...

Where They At ? .. Looking for the real CHRISTIAN hip hop soldiers.

Bert Bocachica
July 6, 2006 12PM