Is Rap Dead?

An interesting article on cnn.com asks the question. Has rap music hit the wall? Personally, I cannot answer the question fairly because I don't listen to rap, or hippidy hop as the kids call it these days. To be honest, I don't recognize any of the names of rappers referenced in the article, but nevertheless this piece made me think about bigger issues.

Rapper David Banner's (I believe he turns into the Incredible Hulk when he gets angry) quote at the end of the piece provides a glimpse into the real issues surrounding the proliferation of rap music focused on gangsta themes like drug abuse, drug dealing, prostitution and the demeaning of women.

"...Banner says there's a reason why acts like KRS-One and Public Enemy don't
sell
anymore. He recalled that even his own fans rebuffed positive songs he
made --
like "Cadillac on 22s," about staying away from street life -- in
favor of songs
like "Like a Pimp."
"The American public had an
opportunity to pick what they
wanted from David Banner," he says. "I wish
America would just be honest.
America is sick. ... America loves violence
and sex."

Supply and Demand

Shouldn't it be clear that the rap issue boils down to a supply and demand issue? If "America loves violence and sex", surely rappers, writers, movie directors, producers, radio and television executives et al will continue to produce what the market will bear. It makes business sense for David Banner to write songs that his audience wants to buy. By Banner's own admission, he tried making songs with a more positive message (although I can't verify how positive, if at all) and his fans didn't buy. So he made a song called "Like a Pimp" and his fans couldn't get enough.

Is Moral and Legal Reform Enough?

So what does this mean to the Christian and how does this translate in real terms? Despite the best efforts of many well-intentioned Christian activists and political organizations who have worked dilligently to make the airwaves cleaner, the obsenity laws tougher, the explicit lyrics warnings on cd's more visible, and in many other area; real reform will never take place through legal or government channels alone. As long as there is a public demand for such content, such content will most assuredly be made available.

Only through spiritual reform, (yes, one changed heart at a time coming to repentance and turning from their sins) can real transformation take place. When every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, there won't be much of a market left for gangsta rap. But until that wonderful day comes, Christians must focus on sharing the amazing news of a savior who can forgive all sins. We must tell people the gospel and allow the work of the Holy Spirit to shine light into every dark corner of every sinful heart, revealing the depth of their spiritual need.

A Practical Shift In Focus

Too often the Church has focused more on political reform (see the past two elections where the Christian Right practically coronated Dubya) than sharing the good news of the gospel to sinners. In essence, the Church has said to the rap world, "stop listening to your junk, throw out your filthy music and come follow Jesus." Of course this is folly. Nobody outside of the transforming grace of Christ will suddenly be compelled to leave sinful rap music behind anymore than a greedy corporate executive will give back the millions he embezzeled from share holders.

The Power of the Gospel

The first thing people need to hear is the message of the gospel. There is power in the gospel! Christians must not forget this. The power to bring sinful men and women to repentance and new life can be found only in good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel contains the power to teach men to fulfill the roles God intended when he created Adam. The same gospel illuminates the value God places on the lives of women and shows them the special identity they can have in Christ. When Christ fills hearts, hearts will begin to listen to the voice of truth. The truth they hear from Jesus will be in direct contradiction to most of the rap lyrics they allowed to define their lifestyles. When Christ fills hearts, the unsteady balance of supply and demand will dictate the end of gangsta rap.