ver the past 10 years, Christian Hip Hop has evolved lyrically and especially musically. From I Ron Ic Lee, Lee “Tubbs” Jerkins, 4 Sight Sounds, Todd Bangz, DJ Essence, Breeze and the Holy Hit Makers to Tru-Life, Earthquake, Dre Beats, Tony Stone, Temple, Picasso, DJ Official and many others; God is doing his thing! But lately, He has been challenging me on a couple of issues that many producers in Christ may deal with. It’s encouraging to hear beats like the Neptunes, Lil John, Kanye West, etc. in Christian Hip Hop, but who are you? Legends set the trends, not follow. God created each one of us different, so we must stay confident in that and be ourselves.

"I like listening to see what's out there. When I hear a hot beat I never let it influence me; I never wanna hear their music in my music, that's called biting." - Todd Bangz

If you study the history of the culture and producers like Marley Marl, The Neptunes, Timberland and Dr. Dre, what you’ll learn is that their styles were not openly accepted at first. It took years of hard work and confidence in who they were for them not to compromise their sound and give in to the pressures of “fitting in”. Because of their sacrifice of dealing with rejection and disappointment, Hip Hop has evolved in to a billion dollar business.

Marley Marl - One of the fathers of sampling.

Timberland - Changed and energized radio with hard drums and swing patterns.

Dr. Dre – Re-utilized sampling and brought quality and G Funk to hip hop.

Neptunes – The risk takers in today’s Hip Hop. The fathers of what I call “Space Hop”.

I don’t know about these brothers’s walk or their relationship with Christ, so I’m not going to go there. But for us (Christian producers), let’s take a look at what I believe we need to do to accomplish what they did, except for God’s glory.

"CONTENTMENT"

My studio is often referred to as the “Dinosaur”. I don’t have Pro-Tools or a lot of out-board gear but I do have “the ear” and the talent that God has blessed me with. Because of that, I am able to get everything out of my equipment. Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish and the Word says all things are possible through Him. So knowing that, I am able to accomplish a lot with little. If you can remember waaaaay back, Prince had this hit record called, “Kiss”. It was recorded and mixed on an 8 Track Mixer and if you listen close you can tell. He did that to prove to the industry how good he was. What I learned from it was that it’s not the equipment; it’s the person behind it. The same way it wasn’t Moses, Deborah, Abraham, Joseph, etc., it was the God in them. Fam, don’t let the lack of equipment hinder you from achieving God’s purpose for your life or blessing someone else’s. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and with His instructions, you can’t lose! We have to be stewards over little before we are given more. Because when much is given, much is required (Luke 12:47-48).

"COMPASSION"

I have had several offers to do music for secular artists, but my compassion for the lost & love for the Lord outweighed any amount of money I could be offered. Last summer an old associate who works in the music industry informed me that Jadakiss was interested in 3 of my beats. Off rip I asked, “Is this the Jadakiss of the Lox?” Of course he replied, “Yeah!” Then I asked, “When did he get saved?” Then there was about 5 seconds of silence. See, my associate knew I was a believer but because so many of us in the music industry have compromised, he thought that he could sway my convictions with money. To make a long story short, I refused the offer and since that day my associate hasn’t called. I understand that every gift comes from God, so I will only use what He gave me for His Glory.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
– James 1:17

Many say: “Maji, you just made the beat. It’s on the rapper if he/she spits death over it.” Not true! God revealed to me many years ago that you can’t make beats for the world and be down with Him.

THE END RESULT…
The destruction of another young mind.

Also, when you compromise your compassion, you will have a “hidden rep” for being a hypocrite. What I mean by “hidden rep” is that, these secular artists won’t tell you you’re a hypocrite because you are giving them hot beats. But as soon as you try to minister to them or anyone in their presence, you will be called out for making beats that have been perverted and pimped with ungodly lyrics.

Trust me, I experienced it first hand and you never want to be in that situation. Saints, if / when this Christian Hip Hop movement goes mainstream, God is going to need us to stand bold in our convictions but also still have compassion for the lost.

“CONFIDENCE”

When you try to be like someone else, you actually doubt your own gifts and skills, undermining the unique way God made you. As I was coming up in the secular world producing tracks for artists such as Kurupt, Redman, Roscoe and others. I saw that the music world needed something different. I used to have a real problem with emcees not liking all my tracks. I often would look down on my skills and think I was an “ok” producer, but when I found out that many other Christian producers that I admired felt the same way, I started questioning my emotions.

"Sometimes when I hear dope beats, I get discouraged and want to put the MPC up and stop doin tracks all together."
- I-Ron-Ic-Lee

“It's good to hear encouragement especially when you're surrounded by dope producers that put you to shame...”
– DJ Essence

I was like whoa, these are two of my favorite producers in Christian Hip Hop! I realized then that I wasn’t the only one who felt inferior to my peers. Also I realized that what I think may not be hot, is hot to someone else. It is written, that God wants us to stay humble but the sin is when we let humility evolve into discouragement. Satan is no doubt the perverter of what’s good, so therefore we must stay on guard to his tactics. It requires much that we stay confident, but not arrogant or cocky in the gifts and resources God has given us. 9 times out of 10, if you don’t have the resources for what you’re trying to do, you’re out of God’s will for your life, at that time (Gal. 5:25). He will not give us a responsibility without the resources to pull it off. What we may think is insufficient to get the job done; God says it will. Remember Gideon (Judges 7)? Stay confident in the Lord and what He has given you. Just because someone's not feeling your style right now, doesn’t mean you’re not good. Remain patient and stay diligent in what God has before you, and He will honor your efforts. Remember, David was not the obvious choice for King in Samuel’s eyes.

“Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD. But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.”
– 1 Samuel 16:6-7

I encourage all producers who are out here doing it for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be innovative and change the game in music, not just Christian Hip Hop. I’m not saying go out and make beats for the world. I’m saying if we make innovative and life changing music, it will affect the entire music industry. Pray and ask God for that next track. Lastly, always look for your props from the Lord and you will stay on path.

Ya Brother in Christ - Maji