Why Hip Hop?

I was thrilled to speak with Lamp Mode recording artist Timothy Brindle on Christ the Center’s special 300th episode. But some of our regular listeners may wonder why we chose to speak with a rapper. How does that relate to Christ the Center’s core focus? Timothy is doing something interesting. Several critics have written hip hop off as a medium that cannot be used to communicate the full range of the gospel. Yet Timothy’s music is astoundingly rich in its Reformed theological content. He weaves the themes of redemptive-history throughout his music—and it’s only getting better as he’s is working toward an MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary.

This comes as no surprise to his long-time listeners and those familiar with this musical-theological movement. In our interview, we hope to introduce a new group of listeners to these efforts. Whether or not the aesthetic is appealing to each particular person, we hope everyone will gain an appreciation for this form of gospel communication.

In our discussion, Timothy focuses on how the medium of hip hop is particularly suited for certain expressions of the gospel. The form that provides access to groups that exist outside traditional Reformed communities. But more importantly, where the forms of much contemporary Christian music struggle, the lyrical nature of hip hop offers an artistic structure capable of supporting dense and weighty theological content.

Listen to our interview and tell us what you think.