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Showing posts from January, 2020

Nigerian CHH, What Is Wrong With You?

   It's no secret that Nigeria's music industry is the best in Africa, and one of the best in the world. We are so great, that it's no longer a big deal when an American great features one of our own artists anymore. Even the Nigerian Christian music industry is one of the best in the world. We have probably produced more internationally acclaimed gospel artists than any other country in Africa, with a long list of people blessed by our music all over the planet.      The Nigerian Christian Hip-hop industry? Is it also one of the best in the world? Uh....some people even wonder if there is such a thing as an industry for Nigerian CHH. Even the Nigerian Hip-hop industry is growing to become one of the best in Africa with rappers like Falz, Olamide and Phyno becoming more and more loved by most people. Why doesn't all the success we record have an effect on the Nigerian CHH industry?    Statistics (and this is from Wikipedia) show that the next group of people that pa

How Effective Is Speed Rapping In Christian Hip-hop?

"I'm beginning to feel like a rap god, rap god All my people from front to the back nod, back nod" I'm sure big fans of hip-hop would remember those lines. Lines probably from one of the greatest hip-hop songs I have ever heard. I'm sure most people would especially remember the part where Slim Shady said "Lyrics coming at you at super sonic speed." After that, Eminem went on to say a mind blowing 97 words in about 15 seconds! (For those of you nerds who are crazy about the numbers, in Rap God, Eminem said 1,560 in 6 minutes and 4 seconds. This is an average of 4.28 words in a second! Crazy!) So, if I may ask, what message did Eminem pass in that work of art? Was the message well received by his audience? Eminem is a secular artist, and his songs have no benefits what so ever to the eternal souls of men. Personally, I would advise y'all not to even make Eminem your favourite artist or even role model. In CHH, there are some rappers who can go

Let's Take A Stand With CHH!

 Yesterday, I did a post about worship and rap music. After I shared the link on a Facebook group, I received comments from people stating the fact that they were OK with worship rap. But then someone made a comment that actually made sense. He said something like; "Rap music can be used for worship when it's not going political like it is today."    What's that quote from the Bible again? When the righteous rule the people rejoice right? Is a Christian rapper allowed to use his platform to campaign for political things? Haha, I said "allowed." How about national issues? But isn't a Christian rapper a minister first before a campaigner for anything?     Was it Martin Luther King Jr that said that evil prevails when good men do nothing? So what separates a Christian rapper from a secular one if they both talk about national and political issues in their songs? What if Spokesman starts to talk about the power situation in Nigeria, or elections or bad l

Who's Excited? We Get To Go Home!!!

PARADISAY BY SHOGGY TOSH Remember that popular song all obituaries contain? Like an obituary is not complete until you have the song played before the "With gratitude to God for a life well spent" message is read? Do y'all remember that "This world is not my home" song?  Well, let's all give a big thank you to Shoggy Tosh for taking that song and transforming it. Like, you cannot listen to the former and not think of death or burials or stuff like that, but you can listen to this one, and start dancing. Or if you're like me, you nod your head.   OK I'm sorry for raising the hopes of those who might actually like that song, and are maybe glad someone did a hip-hop version of it. It's actually not the same song. The message is still the same though. This world is not our home.  Shoggy Olushoga Olugbenga Tosh is a Nigerian-British rapper who mixes Yoruba sounds, as well as Yoruba lyrics, to pass the gospel message to the whole world.

What Qualifies As Christian Hip-hop?

Ah the good old days. I'm sure older people reading this might miss those days in Nigeria, when Independence Day celebrations were always looked forward to. From the parades, to the speeches, to the green-white-green dresses, to the my-country-is-the-best-in-the-world feeling. I've read about times like that, although right now, that feeling doesn't exist anymore. Independence Day is just like any regular day. Remember the early days of CHH? There was this clear distinction between CHH and regular HH. The music  specifically targeted the Christian community, and if it was targeted at non-Christians, it was a clear salvation message. A few years ago, maybe someone realized that method wasn't working. Like, Jesus commanded us to reach the unsaved didn't he? And there's massive joy in heaven when one sinner repents than the billions of other Christians already saved right? And that brilliant idea brought about the subtleness that is our reality today. So what

Can Rap Music Be Used To Worship God?

  Worship. What comes to you mind when you hear the word? Oh wait. Let me guess. Slow song. When I say "Hey can I rap during your worship session?" Huh? What are you talking about? I'll get all the stares that scream weirdo!    So with the fixed perception we possess about what worship is, is there a place for rap music in worship?      Last time I checked.....aye you know that dictionary we have on smartphones? It described worship as honour, respect and the things you do to show your love and devotion, in our case to God. Did it mention slow song? I don't  think so.       Beautiful Eulogy (pictured above) are definitely masters of using rap music in worship sessions. Can we ever forget their 2018 album Worthy?    Beautiful Eulogy is a 3-man hip-hop band made up of rappers Braille and Odd Thomas and their producer Cortland Urbano. Listen to this song, and tell me what you think in the comments section.

Why Don't We Rap In Church?

   A few days ago I watched a movie on Dove Television. Now I'm not that big on movies, but there was a particular scene that REALLY got me thinking. Two men were trying to win the heart of a very pretty lady who was in the choir of their church. So, they bought decided to audition for the church choir. The first guy sang a very beautiful slow song while playing the piano, and the choir director applauded him with comments like; "Oh you have such a wonderful voice" "I never knew you could play the keyboard" and stuff. Then the next guy stood up to try. He brought his friends from the village and they played this talking drum the Yoruba people are famous for, and he sang an equally beautiful song. Dare I say even more beautiful than the slow one the other guy sang. The only difference was the talking drum and the Yoruba and stuff. But then the choir director made comments like; "Brother Akande, our church does not do this kind of music" "This is wo

CHH's 2019 In Review

    Happy New Year to all lovers of music and especially lovers of the hip-hop genre of music and especially especially lovers of the Christian hip-hop sub-genre of hip-hop music.       So 2019 has come and gone, and we are here on the FIRST DAY OF THE NEW DECADE!!!       2019 was a very interesting year for CHH and I'll like to look at the 2019 CHH year in review. You know what? How about we do it like one of those alternative year end awards thing huh? Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll actually hand out awards to these artists for all the work that they do and how they've allowed themselves to be used mightily by God to be a huge blessing to us.     MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR - 1K Phew 2019 saw a lot of artists on the grind, sharing their faith in their music and stuff. But 1K Phew was over the top this year. With albums What's Understood 1 and the sequel What's Understood 2, not mentioning all the features with the Indie Tribe and singles like Better Days, 1K Phew