Happy 50th birthday, Hip-Hop!

I know that seems weird to read on a Christian blogger’s page, but I have to pay homage to the genre that made me feel human for the first time.

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The day was Saturday, August 11, 1973. At a party in the Bronx, New York, Clive Campbell (professionally known as DJ Kool Herc) did something that had never been done before and changed the world of music. Simply put, DJ Kool Herc took two turntables and played snippets of music in a loop to keep the music- and the party- going. Yes, the party indeed did continue… it continued for the past 50 years and should go on long into the future. Hip-Hop birthed the careers of far too many artists to name, even some who never performed in that genre. The melodic marrying on those turntables reinvented music and the world has never been the same since, extending its influence into history, fashion, advertising, and education since the years of its inception. Hip-Hop is more than a beat; it is a lifestyle, a being, and the heartbeat of people.

And it woke me up in the best way.

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Naturally, growing up in a Jamaican, very Christian household meant that I was not allowed to listen to “that” music. If it wasn’t Shirley, Yolanda, Kirk, or someone with “choir” in their name, I was not allowed to listen to them. Thankfully, I found a work-around through television, specifically shows like Martin, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Living Single. I found comfort in watching shows with cast members who not only looked like me, but also faced issues that resonated with me and my life. I was seen in these shows and these shows felt seen in Hip-Hop, therefore, Hip-Hop saw me.

Hip-Hop was the music that I listened to when I couldn’t find the words to express what my heart was feeling. When I was lost or scared or excited, Hip-Hop greeted me with open arms. Yes, I was a Christian then, too, but I did not know how to let God speak to me through scriptures… Instead, I think He spoke to me through music.

Fast forward to now. Artists like Tye Tribbett, Lecrae, Christion Gray, Andy Mineo, and Kirk Franklin use Hip-Hop influences, married with Scriptures and divine inspiration, to create Kingdom music that shatters genre stereotypes. The very existence of the aforementioned artists is how I am able to create the content that I release today on all of my platforms and relate to the students that I teach. Hip-Hop just has that effect on people- it unites more than it divides and demolishes lines of demarcation that have existed for far too long.

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To celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th birthday, my Love and I went to a concert in Baltimore on Friday night. The energy was HIGH… and so were some of the concertgoers. LOL!!! My Love stood in silent awe and admiration as his musical G.O.A.T., LL Cool J, performed; I went into full fan-girl mode as Queen Latifah dominated the stage as only she could. The performances were great, but the experience was priceless. We were dressed up and surrounded by others who loved Hip-Hop as much as we did. What a feeling!

Now, imagine if more people could feel that way about God. Yes, there are millions of Christians around the world, but there are countless people who do not feel embraced in Scripture and songs that they cannot see themselves in. A few months ago God gave me this idea for a show that I debuted on Youtube, before moving it over to Amp (view all of my content HERE). Through this show, I try to bring Scripture (and God) to people in the simplest of ways. I know that God is near to us all, but I also recognize that not everyone believes that. To some, God is as far from them as Russia is from Alaska (pun intended). But I figured that if people could see God in their personal lives a bit more clearly, they would know the power of His love.

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Beloved, like Hip-Hop forging two different concepts into one, my only desire with this ministry is to reveal God to you in your everyday life. I want to take two things that you have seen forever, and seamlessly unite them with God’s love and divine direction. I love you, Sweet Friend, and I want to continue to share God’s love with all.

Yours in Christ (and Hip-Hop),
Michelle

Be blessed.