Music Matters by Vanessa Collier

The lights are dimmed and the atmosphere is electric.  The DJ is spinning hot beats on the decks, the MC is flowing on the mic and guys and girls are dressed up and ready to party…… Stop!! 

This is not some hot and heavy rave, it’s ‘A Godly Affair’, one of many gospel club-nights put on for anyone who wants to dance, meet new people and see quality artists perform. This is the gospel movement as it stands in 2004.

Now you might be asking, “Okay… where’s she going with this?”  Well, a few weeks back, an interview was done with up and coming gospel group Mr Mo & Sista V.  When asked whether they listened to gospel hip-hop they replied: 

“To be honest, not really!  In comparison to what we often listen to - Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Eminem, etc, we find that gospel hip-Hop doesn’t compare in terms of quality, both musically or lyrically.

“We understand that gospel artists are about ‘the message of Christ’, however, the music and the message is getting lost to weak production. The majority of people we are trying to win are listening to hot music and banging beats, so things need to improve now!

“The majority of gospel hip-hop we’ve heard is just too deep.  We can’t understand what they are talking about and it’s too complicated and so theological, that it’s not logical or relative to the saved or unsaved person. We believe that our album will bridge the gap between gospel and mainstream hip-hop, breaking barriers and uniting people with positive, moral, feel-good hip-hop, as it was originally intended.”

Do you think this is a fair statement?  Well, rather than just tell you what I think, I have had a chat with the cream of the gospel circuit to see what their views are!

James Freeman, more commonly known as DJ El Niño understands to an extent where Mr Mo & Sista V are coming from.  He says, “I get a lot of demos sent to me and some of the lyrics are way too deep. You really need to be in the right setting to be able to listen to them. It’s not appropriate for a party or club setting.”  

El Niño’s music taste is best described as eclectic. As well as the many different genres of music that he plays at ‘A Godly Affair’, he also enjoys listening to Arabic, traditional and Israeli music, saying that he loves to hear God’s word expressed in different styles. In relation to ‘banging beats’, El Niño states, “I can reel off a list of excellent artists. In that sense, I definitely disagree with their statement. I believe that hip-hop/urban music is at present the best it has ever been. In the past four years, the progression has been amazing. There is no need to complain.”

Now, back in the day (whichever day that was) there was no such thing as bashment or hip-hop or even R&B on the gospel scene.  In fact, there wasn’t really much of a scene at all!  Gospel music was kept within the walls of the church.  It was in the late 60’s (to early 70’s) that The Staple Singers made history by becoming the first gospel group to enter the mainstream charts.  However, artists like the Winans, André Crouch and Kirk Franklin became pioneers in making gospel music acceptable and accessible to the mainstream. Nowadays, with the likes of Mary Mary, Raymond & Co., and Donnie McClurkin being signed to major music labels, gospel music is being brought to the masses.

Regardless of how many hip-hop artists there are that produce poor quality work, there are numerous artists that are both musically and lyrically blessed.  Artists like Solid R.O.C.K. (my favourite!), Green Jade, FrosT, Royal Priesthood, Dwayne Tryumph … the list could go on.

Solid R.O.C.K. a.k.a Jahaziel is among the leading hip-hop artists in the UK. The tracks from his album, due to be released later this year are sensational, both lyrically and musically.  In response to the interview with Mr Mo & Sista V, Jahaziel replied, saying: “I know of many artists, myself included, who promote the gospel with music that is on par with any top secular artist, yet they don’t receive the same kind of recognition.  I can see why the ungodly may not applaud us so much, but it’s a shame that the church doesn’t seem to recognise and reward our talents as much as the world support their own.  It’s easy to criticise, so I would say to Mr Mo & Sista V, ‘Hey, if you can bridge the gap, then go for it!’” 

When I asked Jahaziel what he would like to see change in the gospel music industry he said: “I guess I would put more emphasis on bringing the music to the mainstream.  By no means should we change the message, but we do need to be able to adapt the methods we use.”

Without a doubt, the gospel music industry does have areas for improvement. For instance, the record labels need to organise more publicity for the artists and their work.  Too many people seem unaware of the talent and excellence amongst artists in this industry.

But, and this is a big but, regardless of the journey that still needs to be made within the gospel music industry, we also need to consider secular music and its implications.  Now before you throw down this paper and start thinking I’m going all hard preacher on you, hear me out!

Music connects with us in a way no other media tool can.  Just hearing your favourite song can get you up on your feet and moving to the beat.  Music gives us memories also; the special song you had with your first love, the tune that you and your friends used to listen to in your room, and maybe even the song they sang after you got baptised!  The bottom line is: music is powerful.

Steve Campbell, who organises ‘The Power Behind the Music’ presentations, makes it clear that “as Christians, we have to be very careful of what we are listening to.  If it is not bringing us into a closer relationship with the Lord, then we have to change our listening habits.  I cover Eminem and Missy, and many others, in my presentations and show that, as Christians, these are not the kind of artists that edify our spirits. Their lyrics endorse many things that are against the spirit of God.  As a Christian, I cannot feel comfortable with that, even if the beats phat!”

With events such as A Godly Affair, Gospel @ Tiger Tiger, Praise in the Park, Splendour, Gospel Weekender and many others being put on, there really is something for everyone. All of the mentioned events base a large proportion of their success on the quality of gospel music they play. Gospel music in all its genres, whether garage, reggae, soul or indeed hip-hop, is attracting not only an increasing number of listeners, but also lots of investment by companies, such as Sony (Mary Mary) and Columbia Records (Cee Cee Winans).

All this attention must be coming about for a reason, and I suggest that it is as a result of the quality and high standards of gospel artists, including those in hip-hop. I guess they must be doing something right!

When it comes to the crunch, the sweeping statements made by Mr Mo & Sista V are misplaced.  The industry needs as much support and investment as possible, not comments that will discourage investors and buyers alike!   The fact is that the quality is out there; we just have to be willing to look for it and pay for it!

See Ya!

First e-published by BBM December 2005