The Battle Continues: G. Craige Lewis Stands his
Ground about 'Christian Hip Hop' Controversy
by Rebecca Johnson, EEW Magazine Editorial Director
Ground about 'Christian Hip Hop' Controversy
by Rebecca Johnson, EEW Magazine Editorial Director
EEW Magazine's President & CEO, Dianna Hobbs, posted an article about the controversy that broke
out between Ex Ministries founder G. Craige Lewis, and Reach Records founder Lecrae Moore, about
whether Hip Hop has a place within Christianity.
Lewis, who graciously spoke to EEW Magazine via email to express his thoughts on this issue, is
standing firm on his belief that Hip Hop is a subculture that Christians must never embrace. For 20
years he has been studying the origin of Hip Hop and educating others about some little-known facts.
EEW Magazine has posted his response below in italics:
It's more than a matter of semantics. We are talking about a living breathing subculture. It's the
same as goth. Developed out of rebellion to a parent culture and used to recognized and affirm
deviant street behavior. EVERY Hip hopper says that Rap is what they do and Hip hop is what they
live. So, if it's something they are living, how can it be semantics?
If Goth was created out of rebellion to the establishment and they purposely dressed against the
norm, walked and talked against the norm and looked for identity that they could not earn from
working jobs and living normal lives, then when they are born again, are they Holy Gothic? Goth is
a subculture just like Hip hop. The music of Goth is heavy metal just like the music of Hip Hop is rap.
So, what do we do?
Do we continue to push a sub culture of the streets because we like the rappers? Do we bring it in
the church and stamp HOLY on it because we don't want to reject it? God made man, the earth, the
trees, etc. But man made instruments that played music. Jabel and Jubal created musical
instruments, not God. So, we can’t take the scripture that “God made everything” out of context just
because we want to be in the world and of the world. Hip Hip has no need for a savior because to
Hip hoppers, hip hop is the savior.
It does everything the savior does for believers. It gives them purpose, identity, and saves many of
them from failure. But to stamp Holy in front would mean that Jesus has ordained it, but it was
created without Christ and founded by Afrika BAmbataa and others that used it to usher in spirits,
and the force. Remember his first group Soul Sonic Force and his hit Planet Rock? Do you really
know what that was all about? It was about what is happening now because they all said 20 years
ago that one day Christians will bow down to Hip Hop to reach the youth. I disagree.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Tell us at feedback@eewmagazine.com
out between Ex Ministries founder G. Craige Lewis, and Reach Records founder Lecrae Moore, about
whether Hip Hop has a place within Christianity.
Lewis, who graciously spoke to EEW Magazine via email to express his thoughts on this issue, is
standing firm on his belief that Hip Hop is a subculture that Christians must never embrace. For 20
years he has been studying the origin of Hip Hop and educating others about some little-known facts.
EEW Magazine has posted his response below in italics:
It's more than a matter of semantics. We are talking about a living breathing subculture. It's the
same as goth. Developed out of rebellion to a parent culture and used to recognized and affirm
deviant street behavior. EVERY Hip hopper says that Rap is what they do and Hip hop is what they
live. So, if it's something they are living, how can it be semantics?
If Goth was created out of rebellion to the establishment and they purposely dressed against the
norm, walked and talked against the norm and looked for identity that they could not earn from
working jobs and living normal lives, then when they are born again, are they Holy Gothic? Goth is
a subculture just like Hip hop. The music of Goth is heavy metal just like the music of Hip Hop is rap.
So, what do we do?
Do we continue to push a sub culture of the streets because we like the rappers? Do we bring it in
the church and stamp HOLY on it because we don't want to reject it? God made man, the earth, the
trees, etc. But man made instruments that played music. Jabel and Jubal created musical
instruments, not God. So, we can’t take the scripture that “God made everything” out of context just
because we want to be in the world and of the world. Hip Hip has no need for a savior because to
Hip hoppers, hip hop is the savior.
It does everything the savior does for believers. It gives them purpose, identity, and saves many of
them from failure. But to stamp Holy in front would mean that Jesus has ordained it, but it was
created without Christ and founded by Afrika BAmbataa and others that used it to usher in spirits,
and the force. Remember his first group Soul Sonic Force and his hit Planet Rock? Do you really
know what that was all about? It was about what is happening now because they all said 20 years
ago that one day Christians will bow down to Hip Hop to reach the youth. I disagree.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Tell us at feedback@eewmagazine.com
MARCH 14, 2012 EEW MAGAZINE
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| PHOTO CREDIT: EX MINISTRIES |