Bring the Heat Anyway

Back in the U.S.A...once again it's on...

Please understand this; Gospel music is the only real music there is.  When I speak of Gospel music, I'm not just referring to the traditional Sixth Mount Zions, the Marvin Sapps, and the Yolanda Adams'.  But all music that includes the message of Jesus Christ--whether it has R&B, hip-hop, country, bluegrass, reggae, soca, or pop roots-- is included.  I find this to be true because of the fact that the Son has been around since the beginning of the beginning.  In sharp contrast, coming is a time where our jobs, social clubs, governments, and all earthly materials and accolades that we work and play so hard for will be forgotten.  Everything is temporary except His Word, and no matter how any artist makes us feel that his or her story is real and/or is real to us, it can only be partially authentic because it is not a permanent entity in the eternal life each one of us has.  With that said, and with the understanding that the topic of the saving grace offered by Jesus Christ and His indescribable sacrifice is an unshakable reality, why is there such a lack of creativity with regards to popular African American Gospel music?


 Yesterday my wife and I seized the opportunity to attend the 2nd Annual Gospel Music Fest with "The Belle" at Dogwood Dell in Richmond's West End.  With friends, we witnessed some amazing acts of prophesy, upliftment, and admiration of the true God through song.  All of the artists seemed to display at least fairly good talent in their musical styles, and a few (Van Boyd and a youth choir/band out of the Hampton Roads area to name two) were exceptionally talented.  In addition, those we and the generally non-energetic Richmond crowd (yes, even for music about Jesus) found to be of great skill seemed to posses this mastering of their art because the artists clearly displayed that they were fully convinced of who the Lord is; whether it came from their own study of the Holy Bible or from personal experiences.  Still, this was grossly unequal to how it should have been--because all of the artists should have shown this same zest for Christ.  But 90% of the artists hit us with the classic "he's a lawyer in the courtroom" and the ever popular "I've tried Him and He's alright" lines.  Nothing wrong with proclaiming that God can be a lawyer in the courtroom, as I have experienced that actual feat of Him using the judge to show me mercy to me during a criminal trial.  And I too have tried Him, and what do you know-He's alright!  But my concern is that the performer is an artist of the only authentic art.  Do you mean to tell me the performer can't express God being more than what Mahalia Jackson said in the early 1900s?  Where is your artistic creativity?

The Bible is filled with examples of how God has delivered individuals through critical tests of [real] life and death.  Why is the Gospel artist in 2011 still talking about Daniel and the lions den?  Is this suggesting that the current Gospel artist is not studying the Word, but instead only studying past artists?  Has the Gospel artist not been filled with the Holy Spirit and is just signing Gospel because he/she failed at R&B?  What about personal encounters with Jesus?  Every Christian has had plenty, so are you saying that the Gospel artist can't glean from their own records of triumph and make a [more detailed] song about that?  Contrary to belief, everyone isn't lying on you--some of that stuff you actually did.  But why am I still hearing the "I've been lied on" line?  Keep in mind, the non-believer should be left with no doubt that God is real and real to the artist.  So if the artist is spining the 1930s slang when the artist lives in 2011, how real is that? 

The crucial matter in this is that all Gospel artists are apostles (teachers) of Christ to men, women, and children who either don't know Him, do and are not cool with Him, or need reassurance of Him.  Therefore, it is of great importance that each artist takes his or her work seriously and maximize the artistic talent that God has placed in them to the fullest.  An artist is short-changing and discrediting the message of Christ by running the same ad libs out there, constantly using outdated Baptist sayings, being cookie-cutter, and not being personal.  When an artist is not constantly seeking for new, radical, and innovative ways to present and perfect their music, I wonder about their dedication to their craft--and this is even more for Christian artists.  Along with that, the main goal of each Christian is to win others to Christ.  How does one do this by being a redundant artist?  Even though one can hear some similarities between Kool G Rap (New York MC, circa late 1980s) and Vado (New York MC, circa 2010), two hip hop artists that embraced violence, sex, and illegal means of earning funds; they hardly ever say the same catch phrases nor does their music sound nearly the same (this is not to imply that hip-hop doesn't have the same issue).  Does this mean that there is no on-going canvass for Black Gospel art?  I certainly don't think so, but it seems that many artists do.  Again, I know there are the constantly evolving artists out there.  But as I said before, its way too out of proportion; and the streets need something hot.  And I also know that Gospel music is a business, just like death metal is.  

Tye Tribbet can't be the only one out there that is willing to push his musical edge in America.  Black Gospel cats....step it up 3 notches.

Peace