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At first glance, hip-hop has as much in common with gospel music as booty and bling have with the spirit. But since 1989 Bert Bocachica has been helping young rappers and church leaders work together to reach the hip-hop generation. Over that time record labels specializing in Christian rap and gospel hip-hop have proliferated. Just this year, Kanye West's gospel-infused "Jesus Walks" won the Grammy for best rap song.
But it's more than a marketing gimmick. Churches, like Salem Temple in New York, where Bocachica is a music pastor, are getting into the game as well. And the new music is finding an audience: On Aug. 13, a free eight-hour show called RapFest 2005 will be held in the Bronx, N.Y. Only 50 people attended 1994's inaugural RapFest--last year's show drew a crowd of 4,500. Bocachica, who has gathered more that 26 Christian rap groups from across the United States and Puerto Rico for this year's RapFest, recently spoke with NEWSWEEK's H. Lee Whack Jr. to discuss the upcoming event and gospel hip-hop in general. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: You were honored at the Holy Hip-Hop Music Awards this year. What did that mean to you?
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Bert Bocachica: I have been involved in Christian hip-hop since 1989, when it seemed like a rare thing in the Pentecostal church. It was the beginning of a plan that God had with my life. As the years progressed and the genre became a little more popular I stuck through it trying my best to be a help to all those that are just being introduced to this new style of music and trying to be a liaison between the culture and the church leaders. To be honored with the "ambassador award" over 16 years later shows that people appreciate the work and also it was not a waste of time.
Right now the Grammys have a Rock Gospel category, but no Hip-Hop Gospel category. Do you think that's likely to change?
I have recently been speaking to a representative over at the Grammys. She is all for a Christian hip-hop category, in fact she approached me saying that the category is needed. However, [I was] not aware of how the process worked. We see Stevie Wonder, Michael W. Smith and others getting their awards and think that we don't have the big record companies behind us for that kind of support or push. It's going to take dedication, motivation, drive and a vision to get the category up there, but we can do it. I guess we probably have made some noise already; we just have to raise the volume a bit now.
Can you name some acts that have the potential to appeal to mainstream audiences?
There are so many to choose from. KJ-52. He is a crowd pleaser, fun, interesting, comical, great lyricist. MOC, a.k.a. Jersey Girl, has a great flow, her music is tight--she does exceptional ministry. Even in the mainstream music on the radio, good girl rappers are hard to come across. The Cross Movement. They have the [beat] that the secular hip-hop market craves. With all the new Reggaeton craze out there, FunkyTown can definitely be a way maker for the Christians in the Spanish hip-hop realm.
The Christian hip-hop genre can be broken down just like in the mainstream market: Dirty South, East Coast, West Coast, Latin hip-hop. There is definitely someone out there for everyone to enjoy and accept. It's tough 'cause we are not trying to compete with the mainstream rappers. However, we have to be not only just as good, but better. Imagine you turning on a radio and saying, "Wow. Is that a new Ludacris, or Lil' John, or Kanye West song?" simply to find out that it's gospel hip-hop on your local hip-hop station.
Who are some of the most influential Gospel rap pioneers and how did they pave the way for today's artists?
Every Christian rapper out there today has their own "pioneer" rapper they look up to. To the older cats it's Michael Peace, Mike E, SFC and the likes. To others it's IDOL King. Who knows, to some, it might be me. In all scenarios, I think the way gets paved by their efforts and accomplishments. I can think back to many churches I rapped at where the pastors have said that I was the first one to rap in their church. However, we don't only need the roads paved, we need vehicles to drive on those roads.
Are there any other countries that are particularly embracing gospel rap?
Yoshi Blessed is a Japanese rapper-producer and has a full crew of others out in Japan that join in with him. I have been interviewed for RapFest by journalists from Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bolivia, England, Holland and France. In past RapFests we have had artists from Greece and France, this year with have J-Squad from Puerto Rico. There is a Christian rap ministry out of Denmark that I speak to often, as well. So, yes, this is worldwide.
Have there ever been times that you were so frustrated with the lack of mainstream acceptance of gospel rap that you thought about giving it up?
I can't give up on what God has called me to do. My heart is in this beyond what people can see. I believe too many souls are engulfed by the negative vibe of some mainstream rap music. It's my passion to see those souls saved. They are our target audience. I can't give up on offering them an opportunity to see the light.
Do you believe it is acceptable for secular hip-hop artists to make songs about Christianity while they still make songs about promiscuous sexual behavior, acts of violence and excessive materialism?
Absolutely not, but what are we going to do? Sin is in this world, and Satan is real and ready to do whatever he can to deceive the minds of the weak. Hence, that makes me even more enthusiastic to see gospel rap blow up the way it should.
What is your highest hope for RapFest 2005?
To see souls saved and hear life-changing testimonies where RapFest could have been even just the planting of the seed.
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