Love to hear music with a great beat that still gives praise to Jesus? Then you may be in luck.
Rap duo Ricky B and 4Given will appear in concert on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 7-9 p.m. in The Cave of the Culp Center. The free public concert, sponsored by the Christian Student Fellowship, will be a hip hoppin’ good time for all.
Some may say, “Hip-hop? That sounds like something a rabbit would listen to!” That was the way that Marsha from The Brady Bunch Movie commented on this genre of music, which was unlike any Davy Jones record she had ever heard.
For those, such as the decade-impaired Marsha, who are unfamiliar with it, Christian rap, as opposed to regular hip-hop, contains religious and inspirational themes.
Most Christian rap doesn’t show the innovation of secular rap, because the groups don’t have such strong competition.
Many times it falls somewhere between old school hip-hop and rap of the late 80s.
Although it was unusual for Christian rap to be as hard as gangsta rap or as groove-oriented as G-funk, variations on both styles began to appear in the late ’90s.
Key Christian rap artists such as dc Talk, Preachas in Tha Hood, Positive D and Gospel Gangstaz are popular with many listeners regardless of religious affiliation.
“I think that contemporary Christian music can offer music with good news and beneficial words to young people,” said Mike Luzadder, the CSF’s campus minister. “The music is about Jesus and about living as a Christian.”
Luzadder said that the CSF had noticed that there haven’t been many rap groups to visit campus, but mostly bluegrass, country or rock bands.
“We wanted to sponsor this group’s performance because we wanted to do something special on campus,” Luzadder said.
The rappers, Ricky B and 4Given use “the avenue of rap music to teach the good news to their peers.”
Frederick “Ricky B” Burchell feels that he is called to minister to others through rap music, and “instill principles and morals in youth with the word and truth of God.”
Terrence “4Given” Carlton also spreads the word through his music. His name “4Given,” represents the change that God has made in his life.
Before turning to Christ, he rapped under the name “Sin” and his lyrics reflected that name. Now his lyrics tell how he has experienced that Jesus Christ is the answer in all situations.
The two teamed up in 1998, and together are co-CEOs of the label B4 Entertainment under Reel Life Music. Also, these partners in crime are soon to be releasing an album, Somethin’ U Ain’t Heard B4.
“The rappers that will be performing at the concert are from bigger cities. They’re singing some of the music that they grew up with,” Luzadder said.
As well as attending the rap concert and showing support to Ricky B and 4Given for furthering their cause to spread the word of God, big fans of Christ should check out www.urbanoutfit-ters.com for Jesus action figures, bobble-heads and “Jesus is my homeboy” T-shirts.
Come one and come all to the free public performance sponsored by the ever-so-friendly folks at the CSF.
If I recall correctly, a wise man named Martin Luther put it nicely when he said, “Why should the devil have all the good music?”
Hallelujah to that.

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