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Reigning Inc. Custom graphics and logos are registered trademarks of EEW Magazine and
may not be reproduced or replicated in any form.
Da T.R.U.T.H. About Love (Pg. 2 of 3)
Emmanuel Lee Lambert Jr. on loving God, his wife, and his ministry
Interview and Article by Dianna Hobbs, Founder and Editor-In-Chief of EEW Magazine
Emmanuel Lee Lambert Jr. on loving God, his wife, and his ministry
Interview and Article by Dianna Hobbs, Founder and Editor-In-Chief of EEW Magazine
You know if you see yourself or
perceive yourself that way [as an
outcast], then you’ll take more of a
defensive stance, which oftentimes
results in more of a rebellious
attitude. I think that that’s what
maybe distinguishes us from others.
Then, another thing is, before we’re
rappers, we’re Christians and as a
Christian it’s important that we be
disciples, you follow me?
DH: Yes, absolutely.
T: As Christians it’s important that
we are involved in and committed to
the local church context.
perceive yourself that way [as an
outcast], then you’ll take more of a
defensive stance, which oftentimes
results in more of a rebellious
attitude. I think that that’s what
maybe distinguishes us from others.
Then, another thing is, before we’re
rappers, we’re Christians and as a
Christian it’s important that we be
disciples, you follow me?
DH: Yes, absolutely.
T: As Christians it’s important that
we are involved in and committed to
the local church context.
As Christians it is important that we
are students of the Scripture,
researchers of the Bible, not just
readers of the Bible. Understand that
before we’re rappers we’re Christians.
The thing that distinguishes us is that
people identify with the Christ in us.
You follow me? We’re not out to
prove anything about rap. We’re not
out to prove anything about Hip-Hop.
We’re really out to spread the aroma
of Christ.
are students of the Scripture,
researchers of the Bible, not just
readers of the Bible. Understand that
before we’re rappers we’re Christians.
The thing that distinguishes us is that
people identify with the Christ in us.
You follow me? We’re not out to
prove anything about rap. We’re not
out to prove anything about Hip-Hop.
We’re really out to spread the aroma
of Christ.
DH: I would not be classified as one of
the people who necessarily understands
Christian Hip-Hop, but I’m not averse to
it in all its forms as some of the people
who demonize it just because. But
T.R.U.T.H., although you say “we”…
there is a difference in you. There are
some rappers that are a little more self-
centered, a little more vain, their music is
more affected by the culture. Does that
make it more difficult for you to do what
you have to do—and others who are like-
minded—when there’s that negative
influence even in "Christian" Hip-Hop?
T: It can… it can make it a little more
challenging for us, but I think that people,
at some point, recognize the difference…
if they want to. If they are resolved to be
antagonistic toward the culture, then
nothing that we do or say is gonna
convince them otherwise.
DH: That’s true.
T: But, um, if people are not resolved in
that way [to be antagonistic], then I think
there’s a permanent distinction. The Bible
says that, like when Daniel and the
Hebrew boys were exiled and taken over
into Babylon, there was something
distinguishable about them. You know
what I’m saying, that made the King put
them in higher positions than
let’s say others, you follow me? The King
recognized that Daniel was of an excellent
spirit. So, I think that God provides the
grace necessary for us to distinguish
ourselves. Now, at the same time, we are
clear, like, we’re clear on the fact that
there is a such thing as us and them.
DH: Right, okay, okay.
T: (Laughing) You know like…
that’s what Paul said at the end of
Galatians.
DH: Teach now.
T: The Bible distinguishes between the
Judaizers—those that were seeking to
impose legalistic standards, the legal
Gentiles, and those Jews that were really
solid believers, you know, that were not
legalistic, but really had embraced the
grace of God.
the people who necessarily understands
Christian Hip-Hop, but I’m not averse to
it in all its forms as some of the people
who demonize it just because. But
T.R.U.T.H., although you say “we”…
there is a difference in you. There are
some rappers that are a little more self-
centered, a little more vain, their music is
more affected by the culture. Does that
make it more difficult for you to do what
you have to do—and others who are like-
minded—when there’s that negative
influence even in "Christian" Hip-Hop?
T: It can… it can make it a little more
challenging for us, but I think that people,
at some point, recognize the difference…
if they want to. If they are resolved to be
antagonistic toward the culture, then
nothing that we do or say is gonna
convince them otherwise.
DH: That’s true.
T: But, um, if people are not resolved in
that way [to be antagonistic], then I think
there’s a permanent distinction. The Bible
says that, like when Daniel and the
Hebrew boys were exiled and taken over
into Babylon, there was something
distinguishable about them. You know
what I’m saying, that made the King put
them in higher positions than
let’s say others, you follow me? The King
recognized that Daniel was of an excellent
spirit. So, I think that God provides the
grace necessary for us to distinguish
ourselves. Now, at the same time, we are
clear, like, we’re clear on the fact that
there is a such thing as us and them.
DH: Right, okay, okay.
T: (Laughing) You know like…
that’s what Paul said at the end of
Galatians.
DH: Teach now.
T: The Bible distinguishes between the
Judaizers—those that were seeking to
impose legalistic standards, the legal
Gentiles, and those Jews that were really
solid believers, you know, that were not
legalistic, but really had embraced the
grace of God.
DH: You were the first rapper I’ve ever
heard that, after you finished, I was
moved to praise and worship.
T: That’s the idea for me. Like I said,
being Christian is the premise. On my
DVD—I don’t know if you have my DVD—
but on the DVD the theme is, Where the
Culture Meets Worship. That’s my goal,
as we seek to bridge these gaps and sort
of dismantle some of the misconceptions
[which is] part of what it takes to really
help people--the body of Christ especially
and even the world because they have a
lot of misconceptions too. I was talking at
XM Radio and the guy said, “Christian
and rap. Tell me how those go together.”
You know? (Laughing) So the world has
the same sort of misconceptions, which is
cool though, because it gives an
opportunity for the Gospel. But I think
that the key is really showing people that
we’re multi-layered, like, don’t pigeon-
hole us into rap. We’re Christians, we’re
preachers who happen to rap, who
consider themselves a part of the Hip-
Hop culture to the extent to which the
Hip-Hop culture is redeemable.
DH: OK. Like a Christian who just might
happen to play basketball, or be a
lawyer…
T: Yes. Yes. Exactly.
Back to Previous Read the Rest!
heard that, after you finished, I was
moved to praise and worship.
T: That’s the idea for me. Like I said,
being Christian is the premise. On my
DVD—I don’t know if you have my DVD—
but on the DVD the theme is, Where the
Culture Meets Worship. That’s my goal,
as we seek to bridge these gaps and sort
of dismantle some of the misconceptions
[which is] part of what it takes to really
help people--the body of Christ especially
and even the world because they have a
lot of misconceptions too. I was talking at
XM Radio and the guy said, “Christian
and rap. Tell me how those go together.”
You know? (Laughing) So the world has
the same sort of misconceptions, which is
cool though, because it gives an
opportunity for the Gospel. But I think
that the key is really showing people that
we’re multi-layered, like, don’t pigeon-
hole us into rap. We’re Christians, we’re
preachers who happen to rap, who
consider themselves a part of the Hip-
Hop culture to the extent to which the
Hip-Hop culture is redeemable.
DH: OK. Like a Christian who just might
happen to play basketball, or be a
lawyer…
T: Yes. Yes. Exactly.
 | Continue reading on the next page | |
| to find out how T.R.U.T.H. met his wife of six years. Plus, get his philosophy on what it takes to remain faithful to God and your spouse! |
Back to Previous Read the Rest!
So, I think it’s important for us to
separate ourselves from others that
may brag on themselves [in their raps].
For us, as I said, we’re Christians first.
Being Christians first is basically the
premise for everything because, for us,
we can’t brag because the Bible teaches
us not to. Now, Hip-Hop teaches you…
Hip-Hop gives you the green light to
brag. But the Bible says, “Let another
man praise you, not of your own
mouth; a stranger, not of your own
lips.”
DH: When I first saw you, Kirk
Franklin was introducing you on TBN.
He says, “This is a young black brother
who’s educated. He’s got the mind
behind the music.” You are educated,
wholesome, you come from a strong
Christian background—you had to
learn scripture before you ate. You had
to go to church Wednesday, Friday,
Sunday, you’re married, you’ve got this
wholesome image. Yet, your flow is
amazing and you still manage to
capture the essence of the culture. How
do you do that coming from your type
background?
T: Part of me… well, I grew up in a
Christian home... in the hood.
(Laughing) So, like, I’ve always been
heavily exposed to just like street life.
You know what I mean? I went to
Public school. I grew up in the heart of
West Philly all my life. So, I was
exposed to all of those things, but I
didn’t like rap.
DH: That is so ironic.
T: Really, I didn’t like rap.
DH: You know, I did hear you say that
it was you and a friend of yours—you
guys were teasing about these Christian
rappers who can be a little bit corny
sometimes—very true—but then you
realized you had a flow right?
T: Yeah, that’s how it started.
(Laughing) That is exactly how it
started. So once I realized that I had
the ability to do it, I just spent the rest
of my life cultivating it. You know, I
had the talent. God had given it to me.
separate ourselves from others that
may brag on themselves [in their raps].
For us, as I said, we’re Christians first.
Being Christians first is basically the
premise for everything because, for us,
we can’t brag because the Bible teaches
us not to. Now, Hip-Hop teaches you…
Hip-Hop gives you the green light to
brag. But the Bible says, “Let another
man praise you, not of your own
mouth; a stranger, not of your own
lips.”
DH: When I first saw you, Kirk
Franklin was introducing you on TBN.
He says, “This is a young black brother
who’s educated. He’s got the mind
behind the music.” You are educated,
wholesome, you come from a strong
Christian background—you had to
learn scripture before you ate. You had
to go to church Wednesday, Friday,
Sunday, you’re married, you’ve got this
wholesome image. Yet, your flow is
amazing and you still manage to
capture the essence of the culture. How
do you do that coming from your type
background?
T: Part of me… well, I grew up in a
Christian home... in the hood.
(Laughing) So, like, I’ve always been
heavily exposed to just like street life.
You know what I mean? I went to
Public school. I grew up in the heart of
West Philly all my life. So, I was
exposed to all of those things, but I
didn’t like rap.
DH: That is so ironic.
T: Really, I didn’t like rap.
DH: You know, I did hear you say that
it was you and a friend of yours—you
guys were teasing about these Christian
rappers who can be a little bit corny
sometimes—very true—but then you
realized you had a flow right?
T: Yeah, that’s how it started.
(Laughing) That is exactly how it
started. So once I realized that I had
the ability to do it, I just spent the rest
of my life cultivating it. You know, I
had the talent. God had given it to me.
|
"I was talking at XM
Radio and the guy
said, 'Christian and
rap... Tell me how
those go together.'"
Radio and the guy
said, 'Christian and
rap... Tell me how
those go together.'"
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