Here’s My Abstract:
Hip Hop—what once started as a subculture in urban centers—has now turned into a growing lifestyle among Americans known as millenials and is steadily becoming an influential part of the normalized culture of youth in suburban and urban communities alike. The effects of hip hop culture in the millennial generation leads to an interesting discussion about how music, fashion, and expression can impact the way a young person sees reality—including faith. Unfortunately, some of what the church has attempted to do has been particularly detrimental and, in many ways, undermined the credibility of the emergence of what many call Christian hip hop or Gospel rap. Conversely, the clouded images of a hip-hop artist wearing a diamond “Jesus-piece” to protect him from bullet wounds, to the scantily-clad woman who thanks Jesus at an awards show, or the stand-up comedian who refers back to the shared memories of the church service while using profanity all serve to muddy the waters of reaching and discipling young people.
In this paper, I will argue that the ubiquitous nature of hip hop means that the church must 1) engage, 2) respect, and 3) recognize the redemptive elements of the culture if they are to help steer young people into clarity and discernment when listening to and adopting the ethos of hip hop as a lifestyle. I will frame the paper by first providing a short excurses into the emergence of hip hop onto the scene of middle America, discuss the implications it has had on the millennial generation, and then look at some case studies that show how redeemed hip hop culture has served as an avenue to see the Gospel go forward. I will then draw certain conclusions from the case studies that will serve as a set of guiding principles to youth pastors, lay leaders, and people involved in reaching the millennial generation that will be helpful in both practice and philosophy.
