"I’m Getting Down Because Jesus Told Me to."

This morning featured an introdution to the the "Why Hip-Hop" project. Check out:  www.whyhiphop.com. Christian hip-hoppers put on a remarkably well done press conference to introduce their "Why Hip-Hop" project. It’s an alliance of hip-hoppers and Stephen Baldwin trying to ask the Christian media to step up and help. Let’s face it, hip-hop makes the lion share of music industry money and has a huge hold on culture and yet, as you read this, you would be hard fought to find either a radio station or TV station where you can sample some of the best rap artists in the world, Christian or mainstream. This is really weird for one major reason … follow this rabbit trail …

Radio plays what fans will listen to because advertisers pay to have listeners exposed to their products. They like to go wherever they find the greatest number of listeners with disposable income. Christian radio has exploited this to some small degree because there are three types of people:  those who listen to almost exclusively Christian or Gospel artists, those who don’t because they haven’t heard, and those who won’t because they are convinced it’s gonna stink anyway. Christian radio loves the first group and they know better than to waste money trying to get to the third group. But what if the second group spends most of their time listening to mainstream hip-hop and Christian radio simply doesn’t know or believe that they can get that group to listen to their station simply by playing what they like, but with a different focus? What if that is a big group of people who have the disposable income advertisers want? As long as that this topic is not discussed, you will almost never hear just how much better Christian rap can be than the lazy, toxic excuse for rap they play on MTV. And let’s face it, your mom would be happier if Christian radio stopped trying to target her ear and started targeting yours. …

OK, now back to the news conference. Tonic laid out the industry stats about mainstream rap followed by the Ambassador’s call to take the risk that Esther took. If you have power (in this case, you can play hip-hop on your station, put it in your Christian bookstore at the front of the store, or whatever else you can), you need to take the risk because that is what we are called to do as Christians. We need to create portholes for Christian rap to be heard by kids who would love it. Not only is this for the kids who don’t know Christ, but for the cats who do know Him but can’t get any love from a Church who won’t support them, tempting them to look to non-believers as their main source of support and money. “They will know we are Christians by our love. …”

Finally they laid out a great analogy. Christianity would not have spread if it weren’t for the Roman infrastructure — passable roads, international political dominance, and a common language. Mainstream hip-hop has this kind of kingdom right now and we need to take advantage of it and use it. It’s going to exist whether Christians pay attention or not, the question is, like Esther, are we going to be the ones to step up and be the vessels God wants or will he have to use someone else. He’s not going to wait for us to be obedient if someone else will — He loves people too much to wait for us to give CPR to a dying generation, but only when we are good and ready.

Barbeque on 4th Ave with 4th Avenue Jones

The big place to eat near the convention center in Nashville is Jack’s Barbeque, known for their succulent smoked meats. If it was on a farm, they smoke it and serve it up. And I have to tell you is that they have no less than six different types of barbeque sauce, including a white sauce. Unbelievable.

While at Jack’s, I was reassured of a fundamental piece of truth. God made food as a place-setting for condiments. I fully believe He created condiments on the eighth day. Do you really think Grey Poupon is man-made? Come on. …

Anyway, this was a little private shindig with 4th Avenue Jones ripping it as only they can. It was a lot of fun to hang out with the band beforehand talking with Tena and Amhad Jones as they tried to help their cute 8-month-old boy take a long overdue nap. Cats from Mars Ill, LA Symphony, and GRITS were in attendance, but Baby Jones was the most important person in the room. The Jones crew offered only a cup of their musical gumbo from their latest disc (check the review in this month’s CCM by yours truly). Their experience as a band really shows not only in the professionalism and sharpness of the music, but also in the fact that they can rock a barbeque joint under a TV, showing comedian Jeff Foxworthy in a serious interview. Weird. I guess it goes with being in the capital of country music.

Speaking of country music, did I happen to mention that the CMT Awards are happening tonight? This is the third year, I think, these events coincide with each other. This year they’ve turned it up a notch, blocking off a chunk of Broadway, in the heart of downtown Nashville. Their thing combined with our thing brings a circus-like atmosphere that makes me extra happy to be here.