Summary
Even if the concept seems unfamiliar, the name of Holy Hip Hop: The Movie's director and producer Christopher "Play" Martin may ring a bell. Martin, as one half of the rap and acting duo Kid n' Play, parlayed success on the microphone into a Hollywood career with the House Party movies. If you're old school, you probably remember hurting your best friend's shins while trying to master the trademark Kid n' Play Kick Step. If you are really old school, you remember when they were new school, bursting onto the scene with a series of hit singles culminating in the 1988 2 Hype debut LP. For the record, I fall into the really old school bucket (I remember one of Kid n' Play's first singles, "Last Night," as if it came out last week), but it was interest in the Holy Hip Hop movement, not nostalgia, that prompted me to give Christopher Martin a call.
The description struck me as remarkably similar to a confession of addiction. What's wild is that what he was smoking is what's pushed on us every day in this culture: fame, greed and materialism. Martin's disaffection grew until he simply ceased to be the same. "Play" to his friends, or even to his wife. Without that drive to create, that constant desire to sell himself, he withdrew from the spotlight. His demons remained, however, and his discontent approached despondence. "I reached a point where I just didn't have an answer. I got to where I was actually suicidal, in my thinking, but didn't have the courage to go through with it.""As I got into youth ministry," he said, "I basically started asking myself 'What are the largest influences on our culture today?' Looking at the media, there is so much we are exposed to. I grew up with hip hop, and it's not always positive. But when you look at its presence, its appeal across cultural lines-no other style of music has that now. This genre of music has this potential to reach all types of people.... If the heart is right, why would you not use it? Like the written word or other styles of music (which, coincidentally, drew criticism from conservative religious leaders in their day), it's a tool given to us by God. There's nothing wrong with Him, so if there are problems, it's us that are in error."See the full content of this document
Extract
Praise the Lord and Pass the Mic
This week, several churches and individuals around the country will host "Holy Hip Hop House Parties." These gatherings will be in celebration of the release Tuesday of a locally produced DVD documentary that chronicles the rapidly growing Holy Hip Hop movement.
"Holy Hip Hop?" you ask. Yep. Things done changed.Even if the concept seems unfamiliar, the name of Holy Hip Hop: The Movie's director and producer Christopher "Play" Martin may ring a bell. Martin, as one half of th...See the full content of this document
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