I agreeeeee

keep stayin faithful
 

That's an interesting way to look at that bro. I definitely feel where you coming from on that. I guess the other side of that issue for me and my experience is, for people that can't afford to buy original beats, that was an avenue I had to take, and I had believers making me feel bad for using secular beats to rap on, til one of my mixtapes I gave to a dude back in 2005, he met a kid about 18 at the time, at this corner store, who asked to borrow some money from him, so he gave him some money and he started talkin to the kid. The kid said he was doin gangsta rap and what not, so my man let'em hear my mixtape, and he played a song I spit over a Jay-Z beat, and he told me the kid only heard the 1st verse, and he broke down and started crying right there and gave his life to Christ. When he called me up and told me that, it completely removed any guilt that people was placing on me for using secular beats, and it showed me that God can move in any way He wants. Though it is true for certain individuals, they might like the secular beat, and remember the original songs, it's not true for everybody. Even though the Word of God is holy and pure, it is still used to manipulate and destroy a lot of spiritual lives in the name of Jesus, but that doesn't stop us from preaching the Word. The Word isn't doing the manipulating, but the people behind it. So I don't feel a beat can corrupt anybody, but it's the lyrics that does the corruption. Jesus said what comes out of a man's mouth is what defiles him. Also, Christ said, " I make you fishers of men. " Truth of the matter is, a lot of people hate on Christian rap, though it is getting better, most of it wasn't really hot at all, and people who listen to secular music, kinda laugh at christian rap, even still. When I got my mixtapes out on the streets, people instantly are baited in by the beat, but when they realize the lyrics are Christian, and it's delivering a powerful message, they pay attention. Truth be told, if I could afford to buy original beats on a consistent basis, that would be all I would do, but unfortunately it isn't like that, so kats that want to get the word out, have to get out there by any means. Even if we rapping on original beats, people will always have something negative to say, so I don't think we should allow the negativity that can come from using a secular beat, overshadow the fact that there are people who are giving their lives to Christ through those lyrics, even if it's on a secular beat. Some people just like secular beats, because of the production, which a lot of Christian artists don't have. They might not even care for the secular artist on it, or the content they represent, it's just a dope beat in the wrong hands. I didn't come from the secular rap scene, I started out doing gospel rap, so that stuff doesn't faze me, in the way it would someone who does come from that, and I wouldn't encourage anybody to rap on secular beats, if it is bringing them backwards. I've seen the good sides of it, and yes there are bad sides of it, but that depends on the individuals and how they receive it, same way the Word of God will fall on stony, thorny, or good ground. Everybody perceives things differently. The example you gave about the porn video, there is great wisdom in that, but it's kind of extreme, because on the very land we stand, blood was shed, and great sins were committed, but that doesn't stop the move of God. People move into other people's homes, there's no telling what they have done in those homes, but what other people do shouldn't affect how you live your life. I just believe in a God, that can do ANYTHING. In a perfect world, we'd all have tight production and original beats, but it's not like that for everybody. So I'd have to conclude in saying, I agree with the negative points you've made, but I also have seen the positive sides of it as well. It's a lot of people on the street, who would never have known anything about christian rap, til they heard their favorite beat, and got baited in and heard the lyrics and the gospel was preached to them. Paul said I become all things to all men to save some. If we gon get these hip-hop heads, we got to go where they are, and sometimes you gotta do what's familiar to them, to speak to them, and I've seen it work. Much love to you bro. Good post!
 
 

amen!!