Jin

Former battle rap champ Jin is making his way back into the spotlight as a Christian rapper signed to Universal Hong Kong.

Now a born again Christian residing in Hong Kong, Jin has changed the content of his music, but still manages to showcase his lyrical prowess.

Recently Jin released a new track titled “Welcome to the Light Club,” which is fueled by a catchy beat.

Here is an except from the track:

“I got a session booked for7 and its 6:35/ so I got 25 minutes to conjure up this rhyme/its been a long time right stepped away from the limelight/ but the breaks over Holy Spirit takeover/they say the truth will set you free if you so believe/ Jesus is the truth with Him freedom can be achieved”

Via his ayojin.com webpage, Jin chronicles his adventures in this new lifestyle and he describes one trip by saying, “Did a quick performance, gave a testimony and just enjoyed God’s presence.”

I first picked up the news of Jin’s conversion a couple weeks ago on Rapzilla. I remember being excited when Jin’s first album, the Rest is Hisotry, came out. He represented the globalization of Hip-Hop and his lyrics, though some times vulgar and self-indulgent were honest. Now that he is a Christian, I am hoping that he allows God to use his gifts to bless the world. I hope he doesn’t become a “christian rapper”.  Nothing against my boys LeCrae or Tedashii, but the overt Evangelism can become tiresome if that is all that Christian’s who rap do. Of course I want Jin to give glory to the father, if he wasn’t I would question his authenticity, but I hope he doesn’t it with the same social concern that he showed on his first album. Talk about the street, talk about Hong Kong and Chinatown, talk about injustice etc. just do it with the telos (ends) of bringing honor and glory to God. Through that, as my father would say, “souls would be saved and Christians will be strengthened” .

Thoughts?

Former battle rap champ Jin is making his way back into the spotlight as a Christian rapper signed to Universal Hong Kong.

Now a born again Christian residing in Hong Kong, Jin has changed the content of his music, but still manages to showcase his lyrical prowess.

Recently Jin released a new track titled “Welcome to the Light Club,” which is fueled by a catchy beat.

Here is an except from the track:

“I got a session booked for7 and its 6:35/ so I got 25 minutes to conjure up this rhyme/its been a long time right stepped away from the limelight/ but the breaks over Holy Spirit takeover/they say the truth will set you free if you so believe/ Jesus is the truth with Him freedom can be achieved”

Via his ayojin.com webpage, Jin chronicles his adventures in this new lifestyle and he describes one trip by saying, “Did a quick performance, gave a testimony and just enjoyed God’s presence.”

Confessions

As a lover of hip-hop and and one who has been deeply impacted by Christian Rap, especially the efforts of Cross Movement Records (CMR) , this announcement from CMR hits close to the heart.

CMR’s Ambassador Statement

Dear   Body of Christ,

It is with much grief, severe disappointment and an overwhelming fear of the Lord that Cross Movement Records is sad to announce that we will be discontinuing the forwarding and promotion of the Artist and Minister, The Ambassador AKA William “Duce” Branch, due to recent findings of moral failure in his marriage.  It is CMR’s past, current and prayerfully, future position that living in moral compromise is unacceptable and never allowable in the lives of any of the ministers that we co-labor with.   We continue to hold up the teachings of Christ as the standard for all Christians and especially those in Christian leadership and public ministry.  Although it is a rare find these days, discipline is still one of the true marks of the true Church.

That being said, we also know according to Hebrews 12:6 that “whom The Lord loves He disciplines.”  So we know that our beloved brother Duce is under the Lord’s loving care (Hebrews 12:5-11).  We at CMR solicit your prayers for him as he begins the uphill climb of restoration through the process of repentance.  We also ask that you remember his wife and children in your quiet time with our Lord as well.  We are reminded by Galatians 6:1, that we are to work toward the restoration of our dear brother in due season and also to do such in the spirit of meekness, considering ourselves lest we also be tempted.

Lastly, some that have had this circumstance announced to them through other sources have begun to suggest some type of cover-up or a sweeping under the carpet by CMR because of a slight delay in this statement versus the announcement that has already happened in William Branch’s church.  This is the farthest thing from the truth.  This matter was unbeknownst to CMR and upon discovery we have taken the proper time to speak with the Lord, The Ambassador, his church leadership and many other Christian leaders regarding this issue.  After seeking wisdom and allowing the appropriate amount of time to make sure we had all the issues in full consideration, we have come forward as quickly as we were able to after completing this process.

In conclusion, we apologize for the effect that this may have on many who have followed and supported The Ambassador, Cross Movement and Cross Movement Records for many years.  Despite this unfortunate occurrence, CMR and all of its artist/ministers continue committed, our resolve unaffected, with the mission of making the message of the Cross known to the world.  Again, we ask for your prayers as we keep our hands to the plow, heal our wounded and worship the God of our Salvation.  We remain Christ’s and your servant.

Sincerely,

John Wells

Pres/CEO

Cross Movement Records/ Issachar Media

As I mentioned in a comment on The Old Black Church blog. I appreciate the way CMR has dealt with this issue – assuming the Duce was okay making this information public beyond his personal circle. I appreciated CMR’s tactful protection of Duce by framing the issue as “moral failure in his marriage”. CMR did two things that I think properly represent what Christian discipline is supposed to look like.

1 – CMR confronted this issue. It would have been easy for CMR to simply ignore this issue and allow Duce to continue to make music and for his album to be released. Sin is often downgraded in our Christian culture, but CMR decided the act Biblical and call Duce’s transgression what is was and to remove him from a place of authority. I know some may find it wrong that he is being put on “blast”, but we are to call out the sin our of brothers and there is, seemingly, no mal-intent on the part of CMR. Also, I don’t feel that CMR wrote this letter to protect themselves. Their ambiguity seems to be an effort to be honest about the situation without revealing the personal issues that are in play.

2 – CMR is loving Duce.  If CMR is upholding what they wrote in this statement they have realized that God loves sinners and that there is room for redemption and reconciliation not only from Sin, but from our individuals sins. The approach seems to have the intention of helping Duce deal with his sin, growing back into a right marital relationship and growing closer to God.

As with any issue like this, I only now so much, but my prayers are with all impacted.

Especially Duce and his family.

Chuck D, Hip-Hop, Music and Civil Rights

Chuck D. speaks personally about the intersection of music and civil rights. Check D. will be apart of a  PBS special called Freedom Songs. The show will include several other famous African-American personalities including; Louis Gossett Jr. Gladys Knight; Pete Seeger; Ruby Dee; Jerry Butler; and the Blind Boys of Alabama. They will all be exploring the role of music in the civil-rights movement – both personally and socially. Here in Huntington the program is airing on PBS, this Sunday night at 6:30, but I would check your local listings to make sure you know when it is going to be on in your area.

Rap’n’ Roll

For Kids: School of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Aspiring rockers can enroll in any of the three semesters throughout the year. Students can learn how to play the keyboard, guitar, drums, or bass, and take voice instruction. Every week, students participate in a 45-minute lesson and a three-hour group rehearsal. The school also offers summer camp sessions where students get lessons in recording their own music and marketing. Last summer, students at the school came up with their own band names and made T-shirts and fliers.

C.S. Monitor

What about something like this with a hip-hop twist. Urban students could easily be introduced to a variety of music by mixing various musical genre’s together. Learning a mixing board is a considerable skills, drum machines are valid instruments, learning the skills of a turntable is more difficult than turning a record and students can utilize “traditional instruments” like the Roots do.  Creating lyrics can improve linguistic skills – intelligent rap artists like, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Listener, Deepspace 5 , the Roots, Jurassic 5, La Symphony, Kanye West, and Crossmovement actually have a great deal of linguistic competency.

Can we publicly and academically establish rap as art? I hope so. I would love it if my child comes home and has to evaluate the cultural relevance and musical structure of  Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message”

If I were President – Mos Def

I don’t agree with everything in this video. But It is some good social commentary, by one of my favoirte rappers. I apologize for language that offends anyone.