The music industry

   There has been a lot of talk about Jay-Z and the whole conspiracy behind him selling his soul to gain fame and wealth in the music industry. There has been a lot of talk about him being a free mason as well.  Off of first glance things do seem a little weird. There is a whole lot of symbolism within his videos and the whole diamond theory is very interesting as well.  

  If you look deep within anything or anybody im sure you can find a way to twist that persons imagery.  The other day on facebook I saw someone post a comment on fellow Christian rapper flames album cover saying that "him coming out of the ground and his name being flame is a demonic metaphor".  Im not going to lie, it did kind of upset me. You have an artist trying to put out positive music for kids and yet people from the same belief are trying to depict him as a demon. If flame gets negative feedback from his imagery, I can imagine what I will have once my full beard and dreads are done growing, haha. 

  I don't really think the average listener of hip hop understands the challenge a Christian hip hop artist faces when it comes to content. It isn't as simple as going out and finding some random celebrity and dissing them to gain fame. We are very limited in what we say but yet have to keep our sound and lyrics cutting edge. If I wanted to gain fame I would definitely find it a lot easier to spit the craziest disses and punch lines but thats not who I am. Put eminem or Jay Z inside of a box of what they can and cant say the same way Gospel hip hop artists are and they will find it to be not that easy.  

  That being said as Christian hip hop artists, we do need to step it up even more. It may take us twice the effort to come up with relevant lyrics and flow pattern but we are up against an audience that are used to the eminems and young jeezy's. I do respect their art but lifestyle wise its not who I am. We all have a right to what we believe and the life we live but I don't think the mtv life would work for me in the long run.  

   Stay tuned, I am definitely going to push the envelope to reach those that need positivity in their lives. Look forward to much more in the near future!