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.
In Not Of
The Cross Movement Lyrics
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Gotta let 'em know
Gotta let 'em know 'bout the Name
Gotta let 'em know
Gotta let 'em know 'bout the game
(Repeat Bridge)
(Verse One)
And you ain't the kind of guy
That would bless the beats
And because you ain't busting heat
That you can't relate to being tempted
To grind to eat
To flip a little ecstasy
Just playing roll for your seed
Like a sesame
Or the meaning of Thug Destiny
Or to know what's all up
In a mix like a recipe
They can't possibly think that
You paid your dues
When you ran the streets
Of old Jeruz
You wasn't the Don with the God Father nod
But visible Father God and you ran your squad
And now you run inside of cats
With backward hats and boots
Evangelical hip-hop modern day recruits
And just like Jews and Gafilta Fish
Ain't too many dudes that are built for this
We grind for souls
Forget what the liar told
You give throwback jersey for choir robes
Sunday Clothes?
If you catch us in the pulpit
It's in the fitted's and black Gibuard's
Here's the goals
Take the risk, light the coals
Bring the heat, flex the gift
Break the molds
Recruit, enlist
Fulfill the Great Commish.
And like L.J. said
"We trying to Rock the Souls"
(Hook)
Who's mic is this?
I'm in it, but I I ain't of it
I live it, but I don't love it
Who's life is this?
I admit it
I ain't above it
I gotta get it
But I don't covet
Who's world is this?
It's dated
Many love it
I hate it
But I don't judge it
Who's world is this?
Not to conform
Who's life is this?
Here to transform
Who's mic is this?
Flavor, not norm
Salt and light, among the night
Word bond!
(Verse Two)
That's right word bond
I'm trying to Kingdom work like I got a third arm
Most hip-hop needs stimulant turn on, Yak or Bourbon
But not these words from the street that turn Psalm
Brooklyn to Guam, we "Ring thee Alarm!"
Watch God get His in Hip-Hop for certain
Don't front, this culture needs a clear display
A clearer way, somebody make it clear today
It's hard to look on my outward to peep my in
That's like trying to see my heart beat inside my skin
But if you know hip-hop courses inside my veins
Know all (of) hip-hop's blood types ain't the same
I'm transfused witht eh Blood of an ancient King
He paid dues, and now I can't help but bling
But not ice, ain't talking about a life of crime
My whole crew don't know nothing but a life of rhyme
It ain't strange, new birth done met the knock
It done changed, the church done met the block
It's so plain, the God of the Israelites
Got a pain in His heart for the dismal types
He aint' concerned about your plaits and your tiny roots
He even thinks you kinda fly with your shiny tooth
He left us in the world and said mix it up
But with a righteous kind of flow that picks it up
Before Satan can 666 it up
He gone bust through the sky and fix it up
But 'til then, let this culture make us proud
But only to the point where it starts acting foul
And if it does, ain't no time ot blackout dude
You gotta put in a hold and make it tap out, oooooo
'Cause to God, hip-hop got to bow and blush
We dont' live for hip-hop, hip-hop lives for us
(Repeat Bridge x2)
(Verse Three)
To each his own
But none will ever come unseat the throne
Salt penetrates from meat to bone
We tryinna to reach the pain
Bring the peace, 'til they say "Preach it, homes!"
"Teach it, man!" Keep your dough
'Cause this is strictly on a need to know
Yo, everybody need to know
That's why I gotta lace the flow
'Til men holla (for) "Christ"
Like Japan hollas "Ichiro!"
Men gotta need like Pizza dough
We pull we stretch, but do we ever really reach them, though?
I don't mean no harm, but I'll bet the farm
Some put the weight of the mission on skill and charm
And they get iller than all, their killing evolves
But with no alarm, CM will remain calm
Lord, how long the wait, cuase this is a long debate
Neither side wants to prolong the hate
They say we reach the church and they reach the streets
But can't find an in or out of season to preach
And there's only two, but you kept the charge the same
The harvest is ready, but the workers lame
I say we reach the church and we reach the streets
And some don't believe and I'll catch the heat
But we'll take the lash, word bond
But they'd be surpised if they know who was ringng the horn
But ain't no beef, 'cause we all still fam
I'm gonna shut my teeth and not give the enemy a chance
But just know this, this our only main stance
Trust the wisdom of God and not the stratz of man
The Cross Movement's song "In Not Of" is a powerful statement about being a Christian in a world that often fails to recognize the true values of righteousness. The song speaks to the challenge of believers who must navigate the secular world while still remaining true to their faith.
The first verse of the song addresses the notion that some people believe that God has abandoned the streets, and offers a counterbalance by arguing that God is present in the lives of Christians who are tempted to "flip a little ecstasy" and engage in other amoral behavior. The second verse continues with this theme, suggesting that while some people embrace hip-hop culture in a way that is devoid of morality, others use it as a vehicle to spread their message of faith and righteousness.
The song finishes with a call to action, urging listeners to trust the wisdom of God and not the stratz of man. The message is that Christians have a responsibility to be salt and light in the world, and to live their lives in a way that reflects their faith.
Overall, "In Not Of" is a powerful tribute to the challenges of living in the world as a person of faith, and it offers a message of hope and perseverance for those who seek to follow the path of righteousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta let 'em know
It is important to spread the word about the Name
Gotta let 'em know 'bout the game
It is important to spread the word about the gospel
Lord, the world thinks you've left the streets
The world believes that God is no longer relevant today
And you ain't the kind of guy
God is not what the world expects or wants Him to be
That would bless the beats
God's blessings do not come in the form of worldly pleasures
And because you ain't busting heat
God is not violent or aggressive
That you can't relate to being tempted
God understands the human temptation to sin
To grind to eat
The temptation to do anything for money or success
Forget what the liar told
Ignore the lies of the devil
It's dated
The world is flawed and outdated
Many love it
People are drawn to the world's flaws and imperfections
I hate it
The world's flaws are detestable
But I don't judge it
It is not our place to judge the world
Not to conform
Do not conform to the world's ways
Here to transform
Be a force of transformation in the world
Flavor, not norm
Be unique and different from the norm
To each his own
Everyone has their own opinion
But none will ever come unseat the throne
No one can dethrone God
We tryinna to reach the pain
Trying to reach people who are in pain
'Teach it, man!' Keep your dough
Spread the gospel, don't worry about money
The harvest is ready, but the workers lame
There are not enough people spreading the gospel
Trust the wisdom of God and not the stratz of man
Trust in God's wisdom over human strategies
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shawn Mayhall Sr.
on Name Up
Who is the first artist on this track ????