Since its inception, the CM has chosen to define themselves as the Christian or holy division of hip hop culture as opposed to the hip hop or rap division of Christian culture. Within the genre of rap music, there are various subgenres such as gangsta rap, Conscious rap, old school rap, crunk, and reggaeton, but all of it falls under the rubric of rap and, by extension, hip hop. In choosing to define their music as simply being another subgenre - i.e., the Christian rap subgenre - of hip hop culture, the CM attempts to "keep it real" in order to maintain the validity needed to influence members of hip hop culture who may or may not be Christians. In their 2003 release, Holy Culture, The CM stated their reasoning is based on a passage from the Bible, St. John 17:15-19 in which Jesus is reported to have said to God:
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
As the word sanctified means "to set apart", the interpretation maintained by the CM is that they are instructed by Jesus to remain a part of hip hop culture while being set apart from the majority of the followers of hip hop culture in order to influence it from within to conform to the mores and moral code preached by the followers of mainstream Christianity. The acceptance of this interpretation has been mixed, however. Despite their claim to be a part of hip hop culture, the CM has slowly found more acceptance, though not total acceptance, in the Christian community than in the secular hip hop community as the majority of their concerts are held at churches or church-sponsored events as opposed to secular venues. In 2006, the CM received a Grammy nomination for “Best Rock Gospel Album,” as opposed to any of the traditional hip hop or rap categories. Additionally, the CM has generally only been recognized at Christian and Gospel awards shows such as the Dove Awards or Stellar Awards as opposed to hip hop-only award shows such as the Source Awards or the Vibe Awards.
Hold it Down
The Cross Movement Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While prenatal, sin seeped in through your navel
None escape the curse, cause none escape the verse
Cheeze, please put away the purse
Cause there's a thief coming to pull off a heist
Appraise your life and smash up your ice
How bad can it get, well, you gonna throw a fit
when all your Bling! Bling! turns to psst, psst***
all your Plat. will turn rust
but what do you do when life's a must
Is what your screaming, but your meaning is leaning
cause that would make your existence no different than a demon
Cause though we too were condemned, each man now has a choice
to choose Christ and rep with more than your voice
Cause just what is it that you're really telling me,
when you say you love God but live the life of Be-elzee?
Even demons tried to say, "Son of God, what up?"
Jesus would turn ice grill and say, "Shut up!"
How you gonna try and praise the Most High,
when you know your native tongue is a lie
So if you say you see life through the eye of Minolta
Picture what Christ condemns in our culture
Peep the clear picture, It's a muddy mixture
How is a Celtic gonna play 76'er?
We need elixir, when the trickster seems Royal
Yall, McDonalds don't serve flame broil
If your truly lost, but now found
If He's truly lifted up, hold it down
(Chorus)
You try to show'em day from night (They're like, "What!")
You try to tell'em wrong from right
You say yo live the life
That's why we gotta hold it down
You tell'em righteousness is tight (They're like, "What!")
You tell'em to walk in the Light
Praise God when you get your Mic
That's why we gotta hold it down
In front of rich men and Ceasars (Hold it down)
When everybody's screaming Jesus
Even if they ain't believers
And this ain't vendetta, love is better
we just saying if it's real you can smell (the) leather
Like Niagara equals Falls
vapor action equals Halls
and true Lemonheads tighten up jaws
We talking Cause and Effect,or called and elect
Which means when Christ chose you
You lose the choice to select
Whether or not
You think righteous living is hot
When heavenly minded
It's the only choice you got
It's getting late, every soldier got to carry his weight
Yo, we contending for the faith Baby Boy
And you to Sis, If you chose to enlist
In His Salvation Army then it goes like this
Because of the sacrificial bleeder, we follow the leader
feed the soul and starve the Saturday night fever
Either give a committed pound and bring your sword
Or side with this world, name your Lord!
Cause the True God don't need an upgrade like your Pentium
Why change His whole steez to meet the needs of this millennium?
He won't and you can't, So like the deer pants
If you thirst after God, Then raise up those hands
Our God has got plans, Much different from man's
So either choose His, Or be down with Satan's
But you can't love both, believe me you'll choke
taking deep breaths in Heaven, While inhaling hell smoke
Both wheat and both tare, grow up together right here
And we can't separate, and that Christ made clear
But he also gave Truth, To let us see Duke
You can hide behind lies, But can't hide fruit
So if you headed Uptown, And like how this sounds
Then keep them hands up, for a sign that your down
If you were once lost , but now your once found
Then All God's people, gotta "Hold it down!"
(Chorus)
The lyrics of The Cross Movement's song Hold It Down explore the theme of living a righteous life despite the challenges and temptations of the world. The first verse highlights the idea that sin is inherent in humanity from the beginning, and no one can escape the curse of sin. The second verse challenges the hypocrisy of those who claim to love God but live a life contrary to His teachings, comparing it to the language of demons. The chorus emphasizes the importance of standing firm in one's faith, even in the face of opposition, and living a life that reflects God's righteousness.
The final verse discusses the importance of making a choice between following God or submitting to the temptations of the world. It urges listeners to stay committed to their faith and live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus. The lyrics in this song contain several biblical references and analogies, such as the portrayal of sin as a thief, the need to "feed the soul and starve the Saturday night fever," and the concept of separating the wheat from the tare.
Overall, the song is a call to action to live a life that reflects God's righteousness and to hold onto one's faith in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
This thing is fatal, long before the cradle
The sinful nature is present even before birth.
While prenatal, sin seeped in through your navel
Sin entered into us before we were born.
None escape the curse, cause none escape the verse
Everyone is born under the curse of sin and in need of salvation.
Cheeze, please put away the purse
Stop focusing on material possessions.
Cause there's a thief coming to pull off a heist
The devil is trying to steal our souls.
Appraise your life and smash up your ice
Evaluate your life and get rid of anything that distracts from faith.
How bad can it get, well, you gonna throw a fit
Life can get tough, but we should not give up or complain.
when all your Bling! Bling! turns to psst, psst***
Material possessions do not last.
All your shine will be snuffed
Material possessions and worldly achievements are temporary.
all your Plat. will turn rust
Even the most valuable possessions will eventually fade away.
but what do you do when life's a must
We must live our lives, but with a focus on what matters in eternity.
Is what your screaming, but your meaning is leaning
We may say we are living for God, but our actions may reveal otherwise.
cause that would make your existence no different than a demon
Living for ourselves instead of God is like being a follower of the devil.
Cause though we too were condemned, each man now has a choice
Despite being born under sin, we now have the choice to follow Christ.
to choose Christ and rep with more than your voice
Choosing Jesus means living a life that reflects His teachings.
Cause just what is it that you're really telling me,
What is the true message being conveyed by our words and actions?
when you say you love God but live the life of Be-elzee?
Saying we love God but living in sin is hypocritical.
Even demons tried to say, "Son of God, what up?"
Even the devil and his followers know who Jesus is.
Jesus would turn ice grill and say, "Shut up!"
Jesus rebuked the devil and his followers.
How you gonna try and praise the Most High,
How can we claim to worship God while also following the ways of the world?
when you know your native tongue is a lie
When we are not living for God, we are living in a way that is untrue to our created purpose.
So if you say you see life through the eye of Minolta
If we claim to see clearly, we should also recognize the sin in the world around us.
Picture what Christ condemns in our culture
Consider what aspects of society are contrary to the teachings of Jesus.
Peep the clear picture, It's a muddy mixture
The contrast between Godly ways and worldly ways is clear, but not always easy to navigate.
How is a Celtic gonna play 76'er?
We cannot live for the world while also living for God.
We need elixir, when the trickster seems Royal
We need the Holy Spirit to overcome the deceptions of the devil.
Yall, McDonalds don't serve flame broil
The ways of the world will never fulfill our spiritual needs.
If your truly lost, but now found
If we were once living in sin, but have now found salvation in Christ.
If He's truly lifted up, hold it down
If we truly believe in Jesus, we must live our lives in a way that reflects His teachings and lifts Him up.
You try to show'em day from night (They're like, "What!")
Trying to share the gospel with non-believers can be met with confusion or rejection.
You try to tell'em wrong from right
Teaching people about right and wrong based on God's teachings.
You say yo live the life
Living a life that reflects our faith in Jesus.
That's why we gotta hold it down
We must stay true to our faith in the face of adversity.
You tell'em righteousness is tight (They're like, "What!")
Some people may not understand the value of living a righteous life.
You tell'em to walk in the Light
Encouragement to live a life that reflects God's teachings.
Praise God when you get your Mic
Giving thanks and glory to God for our talents and abilities.
In front of rich men and Ceasars (Hold it down)
Staying true to our faith even in front of powerful or influential people.
When everybody's screaming Jesus
People may loudly proclaim to believe in Jesus, but true belief is reflected in actions.
Even if they ain't believers
We must stay true to our faith even when others around us do not believe.
And this ain't vendetta, love is better
Our desire to share the gospel with others is not based in anger or revenge, but in love.
we just saying if it's real you can smell (the) leather
Authentic faith and devotion to God can be recognized by others.
Like Niagara equals Falls
God's power and presence are so great that it cannot be denied or forgotten.
vapor action equals Halls
The impact of our actions and beliefs may not always be seen, but it is still there.
and true Lemonheads tighten up jaws
We must be steadfast in our faith and keep our focus on Jesus.
We talking Cause and Effect,or called and elect
Our faith is not based on coincidence, but in being called and chosen by God.
Which means when Christ chose you
God has chosen us to follow Him.
You lose the choice to select
We must follow God's path for our lives, even if it is not what we would choose for ourselves.
Whether or not
Our choices will determine our ultimate fate.
You think righteous living is hot
Choosing to live a life that is pleasing to God.
When heavenly minded
Keeping our focus on God and eternal life, rather than worldly possessions and achievements.
It's the only choice you got
Living for God is the only true choice for believers.
It's getting late, every soldier got to carry his weight
Time is running out and we must all do our part in spreading the gospel.
Yo, we contending for the faith Baby Boy
We are fighting to protect and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ.
And you to Sis, If you chose to enlist
Women are also called to live for God and spread His word.
In His Salvation Army then it goes like this
Believers are part of God's army and must act accordingly.
Because of the sacrificial bleeder, we follow the leader
Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sins, and we must follow Him as our leader.
feed the soul and starve the Saturday night fever
We must prioritize feeding our souls with God's teachings over satisfying worldly desires.
Either give a committed pound and bring your sword
We must be fully committed to our faith and ready to defend it with the word of God.
Or side with this world, name your Lord!
We must choose to either live for God or for the ways of the world.
Cause the True God don't need an upgrade like your Pentium
God does not need to change or adapt to fit modern times.
Why change His whole steez to meet the needs of this millennium?
We should not try to make God fit into our current culture or needs.
He won't and you can't, So like the deer pants
Just as a deer yearns for water, we should yearn for God and His teachings.
If you thirst after God, Then raise up those hands
If we truly desire God and His teachings, we should show it with our actions and attitudes.
Our God has got plans, Much different from man's
God's plans for our lives and the world are beyond what we can comprehend or imagine.
So either choose His, Or be down with Satan's
We must choose between serving God or the devil.
But you can't love both, believe me you'll choke
Trying to live for both God and the devil is impossible and will only lead to spiritual suffocation.
taking deep breaths in Heaven, While inhaling hell smoke
If we live for the devil, we will only experience pain and suffering in the afterlife.
Both wheat and both tare, grow up together right here
Believers and unbelievers will coexist in this world.
And we can't separate, and that Christ made clear
Jesus teaches that it is not for us to judge or separate the wheat from the tares, but that judgment will come from God.
But he also gave Truth, To let us see Duke
Jesus also gives us the teachings and guidance needed to live a righteous life.
You can hide behind lies, But can't hide fruit
We may try to hide our true selves from others, but our actions and attitudes will reveal the true nature of our character.
So if you headed Uptown, And like how this sounds
If we desire to live a life that reflects God's teachings.
Then keep them hands up, for a sign that your down
We should show our commitment to God by keeping our hands raised in praise and worship.
If you were once lost , but now your once found
If we were once living in sin, but have now found salvation in Christ.
Then All God's people, gotta "Hold it down!"
All believers in Jesus must stay true to their faith and spread the gospel message.
Contributed by Samuel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sunny Joel
BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!sick best for our LORD
Jasmin Andrews
I'm still holding it down.........Oh man....these servants of God really made me look into myself....thank you Jesus.
CheyenneNascha23
I use to listen a lot when I was 15 years old and I'm 23 years old and I still love this song!
CheyenneNascha23
@Seekingtruth1984 it was.
Seekingtruth1984
@CheyenneNascha23 Human Emergency was their best album imo.
CheyenneNascha23
@Seekingtruth1984 ah nice 😎😀
Seekingtruth1984
Same here.
bloodyleech
i can remember them going to my church soo long ago.. and me buying this record..... i couldn't even speak english but I knew this was fire........ it brings back so many memories
Jay
"How you gonna try to praise The Most High, when you know your native tongue is a lie?" DAMN. 💨
Christian Maldonado
The toinic at his best !!!