I grew up in Memphis, TN, which means I grew up hearing rap music. I used to be an extreme music snob, so I hated rap as just a matter of principle. I still dislike a good deal of rap, not because of the genre, but because it's either immature or shallow. Or both. I'm not the type to only listen to Christian music, but I love music that matters. It speaks to the heart. I want to listen to music that in turn makes me want to change the world. Secular rap, by and large, provides no call to action for me (thank goodness).
The type of rap I'm familiar with (though I'm no expert) calls attention to the rappers achievements and accomplishments as well as their attitude and "swag" (as the kids say). All this selfish ambition often leads to bitterness between various rappers. Women are frequently objectified and money is the altar at which far too many artists worship. They sing the praise of materialism in their music, sending waves of advertisement to their listeners.
I appreciate Christian Rap so much because it is comprised of a group of redeemed people working to redeem the entire genre. Where secular rap calls attention to the self, Christian rap calls attention to God. Instead of saying, "be like me," it says "be like Jesus, in fact, let's become like him together." We are called to a higher standard of living. It's poetry. It's beauty. It looks at the world and says "this isn't all that is."
Christian Rap is a community. On every album, you have to try to find a song that just features the artist. In addition, there is genuine love and brotherhood between the rappers.
So where secular rap is often characterized as degrading, divisive and self-centered, Christian rap stands as the redemption of these things.
