Is CHH a Genre of Music, a Label, or a Restriction of Style?

This article is in reply to Trip Lee‘s statement and Viktory‘s reply. It was brought to my attention via Twtter & DJ Wade-O + CHICAGOrilla 

 

We have fought with a label since the conception of a gospel / Christ-centered Hip-Hop. Nobody wants to be called a name they don’t feel they are confined or restricted to. The term is Christian Hip Hop or more commonly know to the social media world as CHH. Rapzilla & DaSouth support and promote CHH artists. We are a community of artists, emcees, rappers, and producers that live a Christian lifestyle and reflect that lifestyle through our music and lyrics. But why do we hate being labeled as CHH?

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DIG IN ~ Resource Guide (via/ ReachLife.org & ReachRecords.com)

BOOKS

Bible Study

The Holy Bible (ESV Study Bible)
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart)
Bible Doctrine (Wayne Grudem)
God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (Vaughn Roberts)

 Devotional                  Christian Apologetics

For the Love of God (D.A. Carson)                                                    Reasons for God (Tim Keller)
 Valley of Vision (A.G. Bennett)                                                          Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)

Christian Theology and Living

Don’t Waste Your Life (John Piper)
Living the Cross Centered Life (CJ Mahaney)
The Discipline of Grace (Jerry Bridges)
Doing Things Right in the Matters of the Heart (John Ensor)
The Gospel According to Jesus (John McArthur)
The Prodigal God (Tim Keller)
The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul)
Humility: True Greatness (CJ Mahaney)
Knowing God (J.I. Packer)
The Pursuit of God (A.W. Tozer)
Pilgrims Progress (John Bunyan)
Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)
Just Do Something (Kevin DeYoung)
When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight For Joy (John Piper)
When People Are Big and God is Small (Edward Welch)

 

Biographies

Confessions (St. Augustine)
A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards (George Marsden)
The Hidden Smile of God (John Piper)
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Roland Bainton)

Websites

monergism.com

heartcrymissionary.com

ligonier.org

theologynetwork.org

desiringgod.org

theresurgence.com

aomin.org

thegospelcoalition.org

CONTEST: Win a Free CD/DVD of ‘Man Up ~ Soundtrack + Movie’

We are giving away a FREE (to you – we purchased it from Reach Records) copy of the

MAN UP Album / Soundtrack + DVD / Film from 1-1-Six Clique & ReachLife.org 

Check out ManUP116.com for more information and details about the project!

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REVIEW: “WASH” by @DavidMichael313

DAVID MICHAEL – “WASH”

Detroit, Michigan has some of the greatest emcees rising from ‘The Underground’. If you haven’t heard David Michael, you have sadly been missing out on one of the best-kept secrets. Well, it’s not much of a secret anymore. Da South posted a review on his last project. In fact, I got to know David Michael by doing that review. He is not your average rapper. He has something more; passion, strength, integrity, and most importantly – Christ Jesus. David Michael is back with even more of what he has always been offering. Get refreshed with a little ‘WASH’!

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Q&A w/ David Michael – ‘Send The Sword’, Opening for Reach, “The Underground”

I heard David Michael was putting out a new song via Facebook so I contacted him about the song and also asked him about his experience over the last year or so.

Q&A

Christian Treborn: “Send the Sword” is your newest song. Is it apart of your upcoming album or project, a mixtape maybe?  What are your goals with those projects? Also, was there any inspiration behind the writing of ‘StS’? I understand it’s about getting the Gospel out there, what more…?

David Michael: ‘Send the Sword’ is a single off “The Underground Part 2″. A follow up record to my 1st EP “The Undergound” Released April 10th, 2010. I am also working on an Album TBA later this year.

My goal with this record was to intentionally create a record that both the people that know God, and those that don’t could relate to and be interested in. Mainly covering topics I felt haven’t been addressed before with an over load of raw emotion and rapid fire lyrics. 

With “Send the Sword” I wanted to convey a message that we need to send out the Word of God at any cost. Sometimes it costs us friends, money, even comfort, but its time to display Gods Word in Power. People who are in darkness are sick of us running our mouths, its time for our walks to scream loud, its way over due.

CT: I see on YouTube you have a lot of concert footage, especially for some Reach artists. How was it opening for Phanatik & Tedashii? Who else did you open for? Didn’t you open for Trip Lee or Lecrae?

DM: Yes I’ve opened up for Phanatik, Tedashii, Mahogany Jonz, Thi’zl, D-Maub, Trip Lee (twice), PRo, R-Swift, and Lecrae. I’m booked to open up for Lecrae again this coming May in Saginaw, MI.
I’m so thankful to God for opening up doors like this. It’s always a Blessing, not because of who they are, but because of what I always learn from them by watching and observing, appreciating the Gifts and Wisdom God has given them.

CT: Your last release was “The Underground”, How successful was “The Underground”? What did you learn from reviews or from the fans’ input about the project? Is there anything you would change or add to it? For those of us that want to purchase it, is it online, did you do any distribution, like iTunes?

DM: I got a great response off “The Underground”. Considering I sold it out of my trunk with no online presence, no marketing, or promotions etc. it did great. It sold just under 500 copies. On top of that I sowed over 500 copies to various organizations, and youth groups, so there is a little over 1,000 copies floating around. 

A very popular (mainly secular station) FM 98.WJLB here in Detroit,MI. featured my single “Lonely Road” quite frequently in their rotation Sunday morning so I was amped about that!

I heard a lot of positive feedback from it, especially on the “ex-posits” I did in between songs. It was a huge bridge builder for the older generations. I saw the disconnect from the Pastors to the Youth Groups, so I intentionally gave them ex-posits to connect them again. Most Pastors here the name “Jesus” and say “OK we like it”, but for the most part they have no idea what most Christian Rap is saying. 

I think “The Undergound served its purpose. It was my first record this side of Christianity and I needed to pour out what the Lord had been brewing in me.

I intentionally didn’t make it available online. I wanted it to be, well, under ground. A street album particularly made for Detroit. We have a lot of work to do here and I wanted to pour into the local Body with no real desire to gain a national platform. I submitted some singles and my album to some online Christian sites but only to hear what others outside the city would say. That way it would be unbiased. 

NEW SONG: “Send The Sword” by David Michael

David Michael impressed me with the first song I heard from him – Stand Strong. I felt silly once I found out he was a white guy from Detroit. Yeah, he has that raspy-rap that could be compared to Eminem, but he has more energy and authenticity than Em. I mean, you can feel the power of his lyrics. Don’t believe me? Check out “Nightmares” from his album ‘The Underground’. DM is going to keep it 100 for as long as he can grip a mic. And even if he couldn’t, he will still be heard. His goal is that of the Disciples of Christ; get out the WORD, let the good news be heard, and spread the Gospel like there was no tomorrow.

His newest song is called “Send The Sword” – produced by Iz-Real Music (of Everyday Process) & opens up with the sounds of a battle scene like a Roman Empire TV series. If you want to compare his vocals to some known Holy Hip-Hoppers, consider the styles of Trip Lee versus Tedashii. This song isn’t his usual laid-back-yet-still-hyped style. He totally amped it up and sped up his vocals for ultimate affect. If you have heard his song “Get On The Grind”, this new song follows the same aspiration. It’s about witnessing to the nations, from local to global.

SEND THE SWORD!

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

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Find more about David Michael on Facebook
http://www.audiolife.com/Store/DavidMichael313
http://www.reverbnation.com/DavidMichael313

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BE SURE TO READ MY REVIEW ON ‘THE UNDERGROUND’ BY DAVID MICHAEL @ http://Treborn.Wordpress.com/Reviews or DaSouth.com

Audio for the song is coming soon…
An additional interview and press release will be updated soon as well.