At Q, Jeff Johnson, a producer at BET, spoke about Hip-Hop culture and what the church can learn from it.

:: Watch the video. ::

The Facts

Hip-hop is the most powerful and far reaching subculture in the world.

Jeff visited Liberia as a reporter for BET. At the time, many of the buildings were bombed out after over a decade of civil war, the majority of the population was unemployed, and they had no MTV or music magazines. But in the middle of the war torn country, someone had spray painted “G-Unit” on the side of a bombed out building.

Hip-hop has infiltrated cultures that were never a part of hip-hop’s creation.

Jeff has seen breakdancers and DJs from Asia and Europe who are more skilled than their counterparts in the United States.

Hip-Hop’s History

Hip-hop was the voice of a generation that had not yet reached the economic benefits of civil rights.

Kool Herc created hip-hop and turntables. Afrika Bambaataa, a gang leader, organized the 5 elements of hip-hop.

1. DJ
2. MC
3. B-boy
4. Graffiti Artist
5. Knowledge

The worst thing that happened to hip-hop was the selling of hip-hop.

This generation is the first post-soul generation. Nobody went to church. They were disconnected from faith but totally plugged into hip-hop.

What the Church Can Learn

In America, people are racist. 

The church punks out on addressing race. Reality is that many churches claiming that they are multiracial are only tolerating other races.

Too often urban ministry is nothing more but suburban ministry in blackface.

Being color blind is not the answer because it strips away race identity. 

Hip-hop has transcended ethnic and cultural differences and united people under the banner of hip-hop without taking away race identity.

Hip-hop is nothing but a language. If the church learns to speak the language of hip-hop, then they can reach those who speak it.

Other bloggers highlighting Jeff’s talk include:
- DJ Chuang
- Duncan McFadzean