I could remember standing at the bus stop in Jr. High, with my big KOSS earphones, bumping Black Sheep’s, “The Choice is Yours.”   Consequently, I wasn’t the only one reciting the lyrics to the song in the lunch line, either.  The majority of my peers that was into rap would recite it as well saying, “You Can Get With This, Or You Can Get With That”, throughout our school hallways.  Hip hop during this time was therapy for me; for it was a way of escape from the harsh realities that was taking place during that time in my life.   Let me explain…

I come from a dysfunctional family, childhood, and past.  In the most crucial years of my life, I’ve experienced and witnessed physical abuse, alcoholism, molestation, prostitution, drug addiction, and hatred.  For the most part in my childhood, all I can remember from age 7 to 13 is living in and out of women shelters, attending more than 8 schools, (due to instability), my dad not coming home for days at a time, (due to drunkenness), my mother stressing, (because of finances & marriage), and my sister trying to protect me emotionally.  Unlike Cross Movement artist, (Da T.R.U.T.H.), I didn’t start, nor was raised on a godly foundation.  He was right when he said in his album entitled “Moment of T.R.U.T.H.,”I started gospel, most ain’t accustomed to that.”  Let me get back... to make a long story short, I was destined to fail!! 

As I became a young adult, (between the ages of 17 and 22), lust was an outlet of escape for me.  Either if it was having sex with my girlfriend, or masturbating to explicit magazines and pornography.  Due to being exposed to sexual content at age 12, I thought that my curiosity for doing these things were normal.  Little did I know, however, Satan exposed me to those things as a kid, so he could take me captive to do his will.  The addiction for acting in this behavior was so strong, that I literally felt trapped in what I was doing.  I couldn’t figure out by the life of me, why I continued to struggle with this habit.  Satan’s plan was to steal, kill, and destroy! 

While being bound by the sin of lust, God utilized some individuals to reach out to me in Gospel Rap.  It was by the word of their testimony that I came to know Jesus.  By the grace of God, He allowed me to know that Jesus came into the world, to free me from the bondage of sin.  I didn’t feel like such an odd ball hearing the testimony of Gospel Rappers that went through the same thing that I went through.  I felt like if God delivered them from their vile passions, why wouldn’t He do the same for me.  When I came to Christ, He allowed me to die to my flesh, and live by the Spirit.  Of course, going cold turkey from explicit magazines and pornography didn’t happen overnight, but eventually God enabled me to hate evil; which allowed me not to set my eyes on things that would draw me away from the One that gave me salvation.  To think, I accredit "Gospel Rap" for sowing those seeds in my heart to follow Jesus.

That was then, and this is now.  Back then, I was a sinner that intentionally did wrong, but was accepted by believers.  Those believers knew that God could get the glory out of my life.  Those believers knew that the grace and love of God was sufficient for me.  They also knew that God didn’t "Desire" for anyone to perish; therefore they took me in.  They fed and clothe me, and above all else... "They Emphasized that God Loved Me."  I heard this constantly from them, but eventually experienced it directly by God. 

Nowadays, unfortunately, there are a lot of "Gospel Rappers" in the faith that don’t observe, nor acknowledge the greatest commandment, which is, “Love thy God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” “In the same way, love your brethren, as you love yourself.”  It’s obvious that you don’t suppose to do one, without the other.  I hear a lot of "Gospel Rappers" speak about how wicked an individual may be, instead of being Christ minded, and loving those individuals that are in need.  Its one thing to speak about Christ saving you, but it’s another thing to speak as if God can’t do the same for that "Secular Rapper."  When "Secular Rappers" hear "Gospel Rappers" criticizing, judging, belittling, and condemning them to hell; the "Majority" becomes "More" rebellious and hurtful.  Yes I know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father, except through Him; but I also believe that there’s a "Loving" way to minister the word to those that don’t believe.  Remember... Jesus saw the crowd, and was moved with compassion.  Where’s our compassion nowadays???? 

It’s crazy that one apple can spoil the bunch; therefore I’m addressing the matter in this way.  I plan to love my brethren, regardless if they haven’t come to know Christ as I did.  My prayer is that they will come to know Him, as well as accept Him as their Lord and personal savior.  My conviction is to be a "Reflection of God", by loving "All" mankind, like He commanded me to do, as far as I know how.  I pray that you don’t follow my example, but "His".

Gospel vs. Secular... "THE NEW RACISM?"