History
Since hip-hop started in the 1970s, various hip-hop artists have expressed their spiritual beliefs, including Christianity in their lyrics. Sometimes faith may be evident in part of a song or other times an entire song or album may focus on Christian beliefs.. Examples include MC Hammer 's #2 single Pray,also Richie Rich and his first single Don't Do It many of Tupac 's lyrics and his first posthumous record, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory , the image of Tupac nailed to a cross pinned him as a Hip-Hop martyr, and even recent hip hop/rap artists like Jay-Z with Kingdom Come , DMX with Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later , and Kanye West with " Jesus Walks ". However, these artists, although they may profess to be Christians, are not generally considered to be part of the Christian hip-hop movement. [1 ]
The first commercially released and distributed Gospel rap album was Stephen Wiley 's 1985 album Bible Break , distributed by Benson Music Group . [2 ] [3 ] [4 ] Reverend DeWayne GoLightly (aka Rev. Rap' ) was the first Christian hip-hop artist without a commercially released Gospel rap cassette. More commercially successful was the crew known as P.I.D. (short for Preachas In Disguise) who released five popular, funky Gospel rap recordings ("Here We Are", "Back to Back","The Chosen One's", "Born with the Gift" and "Violent Playgrounds" ).
In the late 1980s, other crews emerged, including dc Talk and S.F.C (Soldiers For Christ). S.F.C was led by Californian African-American Chris Cooper who originally rapped as Super C (short for Super Chris / Super Christian) and later became Sup the Chemist and then finally Soup the Chemist. Chris Cooper & S.F.C. were instrumental in bringing up and exposing newer Gospel groups such as T-Bone . [ citation needed ]. Christian emcee Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez was another well known early Gospel rap artist but was murdered in 1990 in Texas . [5 ]
The 1990s saw the continuing trend of funky rap artists blending faith and rap, such as D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ) who emerged out of Oklahoma as well as the Gospel Gangstaz from Compton and South Central Los Angeles, California . Additional artists made a considerable impact on the Christian hip-hop scene. Such artists that contributed were Dynamic Twins , Freedom of Soul, IDOL King, Apocalypse. S.F.C.'s (Sup, QP, DJ Dove) 1992 album Phase III is considered to be a turning point in Christian rap. [ citation needed ]Phase III was DJed and produced by DJ Dove , whose credits also include the Gang Affiliated, Gospel Gangstas' 1993 debut album.
Around the same time as Phase III, Dynamic Twins (Robbie and Noel) came out with their 1993 album No Room To Breathe. This album had a more hardcore "street" feel to it than other albums at the time. [ citation needed ] Freedom Of Soul (MC Peace, DJ Cartoon) followed with their second album, The Second Coming, ( Caught in a land of time was their first) also their last album as a group. Freedom of Soul had a jazzier feel; MC Peace (later known as Peace 586) was known for his smooth flow and delivery. [ citation needed ] P.I.D. around this time re-invented themselves as the group Preachas, although their only album under that name was Violent Playgrounds. [ citation needed ]
One of the major influences in the genre came with the formation of Gotee Records in 1994, cofounded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , making it the first record label marketed explicitly for Christian Hip-hop and R&B that was backed by a major label. The label was among the first to market the Contemporary Christian Music market through distribution at Christian bookstores and playing on Christian radio . This Trend continued with other labels such as Tooth & Nail's Uprok Records and others which gave an outlet to hip-hop artists who identified themselves as Christian and wanted a broader market. However, much of the sales of these Christian record labels was purchased by people brought up in the church and 70-80% of them being white. [6 ] Recently, a number of artists and labels such as LifeLite Records , Cross Movement Records , Gotee Records , Syntax Records , and Deepspace5 Records , and The New Unstoppable Records have purposely tried to market more to people who did not grow up in church as well as more to urban markets. [7 ]
In addition, many major Gospel stars were getting in on the hip-hop & rap genre. Kirk Franklin joined with the 1 Nation Crew in the album Kirk Franklin presents 1NC . Gospel legend Pastor Shirley Caesar recorded a stunning duet "I Know The Truth" with Tonex in which she raps.
This year, the All Eyes On Me Achievement Awards’ scope is national. As such, we wanted to lay the foundation and recognize Christian hip hop’s founding fathers that blazed trails before us.
Below is a list we’ve assembled of the genre’s pioneers. Because this movement’s birth was not authoritatively documented, the record below cannot be considered exhaustive. However, we have attempted to research it as thoroughly as possible and consulted with many of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts.
We are attempting to contact and secure the appearance of as many of these names as possible. If you can assist with this effort, please let us know by contacting Sketch the Journalist at sketchwrek@dasouth.
Without any further ado, the 2008 All Eyes On Me Achievement Awards gospel rap pioneer nominees:
Pioneer 1st Rap Tape
* Stephen Wiley – “Bible Break” and/or “Rappin’ For Jesus” (1985)
Pioneer 1st 12”
* MC Sweet - Jesus Christ (1982)
Christian Hip Hop Martyr
* D-Boy Rodriguez (accepted by MC Gegee or someone from family)
Pioneer Female Christian MC
* MC Gegee
Pioneer Group
* SFC (Soldiers for Christ)
* I.D.O.L. King
* P.I.D. (Preachas In Disguise)
* Freedom of Soul
* JC & the Boyz
* Dynamic Twins
* ETW
* Apocalypse – Ed Grice
* D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ)
* DC Talk
Pioneer MC
* Michael Peace
* Stephen Wiley
Pioneer MC on a Major Mainstream Label
* B.B. Jay "Universal Concussion" (Jive Records, 2000)
Pioneer Convention
* CRU-Vention – Christian Rappers United – Jason Goddard
Pioneer Nationwide Event
* RapFest (Bronx, NY) – Brother E & Bert B
* Flavor Fest (Tampa, FL) – Urban D
* Holy Hip Hop Awards & Artist Showcase (Atlanta, GA) – Danny Wilson
* Houston Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards (Houston, TX) – Tre9
Pioneer HHH websites
* SphereofHipHop.com - Plastic
* Om95.com – slave
* HipHopZone.com
* GodzHouse.com
*
Pioneer Record Label
* Brainstorm
Pioneer Classic Record Label
* Grapetree Records – Knolly Williams
* Syntax Records – Tim Trudeau
Pioneer Graffiti Crew
* Daystar Tribe (DJ Promote , Raimstar, Pyksy)
Pioneer Graphic Designer
* Art Peace - Brad Smith
* Spe©
Pioneer TV Program
* Apocalypse /Ministerz of the Underground
Pioneer Hip Hop R&P
* Bernard Wright
* Out of Eden
* Amani
* Soulfruit
Pioneer 1st Nationwide Magazine
* Heaven’s Hip Hop – Knolly Williams
Pioneer Magazine
* FEED
* Breaks
* ONEMIND Magazine
Pioneer DJ
* DJ Dove
* DJ Skillspinz
* DJ Maj
* DJ Form
* DJ Official
Pioneer Radio DJ
* Special K
* Johnny Jams
* Barry T
* J-Boney
* DJ EST/Ed Grice
* Scott Blackwell
Pioneer Classic Groups
* Gospel Gangstas
* Grits
* Cross Movement
* LA Symphony
* LPG
* Future Shock
* Tunnel Rats
* New Breed
* Brainwash Projects
* Brothers Inc.
* Labklik
* Phat Kats
* Sackcloth Fashions
* Southern Gospeltality Records
* G.O.G.’s
* Unity Clan
* CMC’s
* A1 Swift
* Sound of the Rebirth- Mark J
* Sons of Intellect
Pioneer Classic MC
* E Roc
* T-Bone
* Lil Raskull
* Prime Minister
* Antonious
* L.G. Wise
* MG! the Visionary
* King Shaun & SS MOB
* Dirt (Shadow of the Locust)
* Corey Red & Precise
* Knowdaverbs
* Sev Statik
* Urban D
* Pettidee
* Fros’T
* Mark J
* Todd Bangz (aka Tre-Z)
* Jah Word
* Geno V
* Elle Roc
* KJ-52
* Sup the Chemist
Pioneer Film or Documentary
* PAIN: The Movie - Levi
* The Next Level
* Holy Hip Hop – Danny Wilson
Pioneer Book & Author
* Urban D- Un.Orthodox
* Kymo Dockett- Lost Generation
* Phil Jackson / Efraim Smith- The Hip Hop Church
Ultralight Beam
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We on an ultralight beam
We on an ultralight beam
This is a God dream
This is a God dream
This is everything
This is everything
Deliver us serenity
Deliver us peace
Deliver us loving
We know we need it
You know we need it
You know we need it
That's why we need you now, oh, I
Pray for Paris
Pray for the parents
This is a God dream
This is a God dream
This is a God dream
We on an ultralight beam
We on an ultralight beam
This is a God dream
This is a God dream
This is everything
Everything (Thing, thing, thing)
I'm tryna keep my faith
But I'm looking for more
Somewhere I can feel safe
And end my holy war
I'm tryna keep my faith
So why send oppression not blessings?
Why, oh why'd you do me wrong? (More)
You persecute the weak
Because it makes you feel so strong
(To save) Don't have much strength to fight
So I look to the light
(War) To make these wrongs turn right
Head up high, I look to the light
Hey, cause I know that you'll make everything alright
And I know that you'll take good care of your child
Oh, no longer am afraid of the night
Cause I, I look to the light
When they come for you, I will shield your name
I will field their questions, I will feel your pain
No one can judge
They don't, they don't know
They don't know
Foot on the Devil's neck 'til it drifted Pangaea
I'm moving all my family from Chatham to Zambia
Treat the demons just like Pam
I mean I fuck with your friends, but damn, Gina
I been this way since Arthur was anteater
Now they wanna hit me with the woo wap, the bam
Tryna snap photos of familia
My daughter look just like Sia, you can't see her
You can feel the lyrics, the spirit coming in braille
Tubman of the underground, come and follow the trail
I made Sunday Candy, I'm never going to hell
I met Kanye West, I'm never going to fail
He said let's do a good ass job with Chance three
I hear you gotta sell it to snatch the Grammy
Let's make it so free and the bars so hard
That there ain't one gosh darn part you can't tweet
This is my part, nobody else speak
This is my part, nobody else speak
This little light of mine
Glory be to God, yeah
I'ma make sure that they go where they can't go
If they don't wanna ride I'ma still give them raincoats
Know what God said when he made the first rainbow
Just throw this at the end if I'm too late for the intro
Ugh, I'm just having fun with it
You know that a nigga was lost
I laugh in my head
Cause I bet that my ex looking back like a pillar of salt
Ugh, cause they'll flip the script on your ass like Wesley and Spike
You cannot mess with the light
Look at lil Chano from 79th
We on an ultralight beam
We on an ultralight beam
This is a God dream
This is a God dream
This is everything
Everything
I'm tryna keep my faith
But I'm looking for more
Somewhere I can feel safe
And end my holy war
Father, this prayer is for everyone that feels they're not good enough
This prayer's for everybody that feels like they're too messed up
For everyone that feels they've said "I'm sorry" too many times
You can never go too far when you can't come back home again
That's why I need
Faith, more, safe, war
In "Ultralight Beam," Kanye West describes his constant struggle to maintain his faith while living in a world full of chaos and sin. He opens up by repeating "I'm tryna keep my faith" in the face of adversity, but he also recognizes that he is not the only one who is struggling. He asks God to "deliver us serenity, peace, and loving" because he knows that the whole world needs it. In the last verse, he admits that he is looking for a place where he can feel safe and end his holy war, but he also acknowledges that he needs to keep his faith and continue his journey. The song is a reminder that even with all the struggles, faith can be a beacon of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tryna keep my faith
The singer is struggling to keep their faith.
We on an ultralight beam
The group is in a heightened spiritual state.
This is a God dream
The events unfolding are of divine significance.
This is everything
This is the most important moment.
Deliver us serenity
Please bring us peace and tranquility.
Deliver us peace
Please bring us calm and harmony.
Deliver us loving
Please bring us love and compassion.
We know we need it
We are aware that we require these qualities.
You know we need it
You know as well that we need these qualities.
That's why we need you now, oh, I
We require divine intervention.
Pray for Paris
We ask for prayers for the city of Paris.
Pray for the parents
We ask for prayer for the parents affected by tragedy.
So why send oppression not blessings?
Why are we suffering obstacles instead of blessings?
Why, oh why'd you do me wrong? (More)
Why did God allow these challenges to happen?
You persecute the weak
You take advantage of the vulnerable.
Because it makes you feel so strong
You do this to feel empowered.
Don't have much strength to fight
We do not have the power to fight this on our own.
So I look to the light
We look to the divine force for help.
To make these wrongs turn right
We seek resolution to the problems we face.
Head up high, I look to the light
We look upwards to the divine power.
Hey, cause I know that you'll make everything alright
We have faith that God will fix everything.
And I know that you'll take good care of your child
We trust God will protect us and guide us.
Oh, no longer am afraid of the night
We are no longer afraid of the dark and the unknown.
When they come for you, I will shield your name
We'll defend and protect one another's honor.
I will field their questions, I will feel your pain
We will take the brunt of their questions and defuse any harm.
No one can judge
Nobody is qualified to judge.
They don't, they don't know
They do not truly understand the situation.
Foot on the Devil's neck 'til it drifted Pangaea
We will overcome the forces of evil.
I'm moving all my family from Chatham to Zambia
I am taking action to protect my loved ones.
Treat the demons just like Pam
We will address the problems like adults.
I been this way since Arthur was anteater
The state of the world has not changed much.
Now they wanna hit me with the woo wap, the bam
Now they are attacking me with lies and slander.
Tryna snap photos of familia
They try to pry into our family affairs.
My daughter look just like Sia, you can't see her
We will protect our family even when they cannot see it.
You can feel the lyrics, the spirit coming in braille
The lyrics carry a strong spiritual message that can be felt.
Tubman of the underground, come and follow the trail
Follow the path that others have paved before.
I made Sunday Candy, I'm never going to hell
I am confident that my good deeds will bring me salvation.
I met Kanye West, I'm never going to fail
I have met great success.
He said let's do a good ass job with Chance three
We will collaborate to produce great work together.
I hear you gotta sell it to snatch the Grammy
Sell out in order to win a Grammy award.
Let's make it so free and the bars so hard
Let's create an album that is free of all restrictions and boundaries.
That there ain't one gosh darn part you can't tweet
No part of the album's lyrics will not be shared on social media.
This is my part, nobody else speak
This part of the song belongs only to me.
This little light of mine
Our small source of light.
Glory be to God, yeah
Let's give praise to God.
I'ma make sure that they go where they can't go
I will lead people to places they have not gone before.
If they don't wanna ride I'ma still give them raincoats
I will prepare people for what is ahead even if they do not want to participate.
Know what God said when he made the first rainbow
He made the rainbow to demonstrate his kindness.
Just throw this at the end if I'm too late for the intro
Please accept this if I am too late.
Ugh, I'm just having fun with it
I am just enjoying the moment.
You know that a nigga was lost
I went through a period of confusion and heartbreak.
I laugh in my head
I can't help but laugh when I recall this.
Cause I bet that my ex looking back like a pillar of salt
My ex is probably experiencing a lot of regret.
Ugh, cause they'll flip the script on your ass like Wesley and Spike
They will turn on you like how Wesley and Spike turned on the antagonist.
You cannot mess with the light
Don't mess with the spiritual force.
Look at lil Chano from 79th
Notable artist from Chicago.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Shapiro Bernstein & Co Inc, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, Cydel Young, Derek J. Watkins, Jerome Potter, Kanye Omari West, Kasseem Dean, Kelly Cherelle Price, Kirk Franklin, Mike Dean, Nico Segal, Noah D. Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Youngdell Nash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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