Hey, I managed to find the answer to my own question. This track is called “The All-Sufficiency of Christ”, and it is also available as a free download:

http://lampmode.bandcamp.com/track/the-all-sufficiency-of-christ

Earlier this year I was sardine-packed in the back of a van on a mission trip. The folks in front had control of the music and were playing a style of music which – in this case – highlighted the vocal ability of the artist. As the artist held a high note out for what seemed like forever, I thought, “a Christian hip-hop artist could’ve preached a deep Gospel in the time this guy sang this one note and syllable” (not to disparage other styles…just an observation). The depth and densely-packed content of Brindle, shai, and others makes this stuff great learning material. I run to it, drive to it, and play it around the house for my children to hear out here in the remote desert Southwest.

The Lord continue to bless CTC, Brindle, and all those committed to the whole counsel of God! THANK YOU.

My Presbyterian brother! Great show! Keep up the good work!

Peace and grace,

Mike
Heritage Reformed Baptist Church

About your 300GB zip, you may be better off in the long run creating an RSS feed that is not truncated at a few months back, that way many RSS readers could download complete sets of audio automatically.

Yes, even if you are turned off by rap generally, this discussion is worth listening to. I don’t by any means guarantee you’ll come out a rap fan, but at least you will have heard some intelligent, meaningful discussion about it.

“Holy Hip Hop” is a name sometimes used for this musical movement, but it didn’t describe what the episode was about. We are speaking about hip hop, but more specifically, how it can be used to communicate Reformed theology. Moreover, speaking of a form as “holy” might be misunderstood in a transformationalist direction.

If it’s about lyrics, then obviously hip-hop can communicate theology. Who would argue otherwise? So talking about how rich the lyrics are in any given song isn’t really that helpful, or interesting. And I’m not sure the need to insert Christian propositions into everything comes from a good theology of creation.

The more important questions have to do with form and culture. And the parts of this episode that dealt with this issue were the most interesting.

I do have a certain sympathy for the views of people like Myers, Jeremy Begbie and Roger Scruton. Although how these views select for particular genres shouldn’t be frontloaded, and I don’t know hip-hop well enough to give an informed opinion.

There’s a good series of lectures by Ken Myers on music over at CanonWired. There’s several lectures by Begbie on youtube, and a helpful interview with him on Vimeo. I’m more familiar with Roger Scruton, and his writings on music and culture, and although I wouldn’t agree with everything he says, I would recommend them.

I’m sorry and apologize that I didn’t actually hear the show before I posted that comment. Rap is just such a turn off for me in any context that I was disappointed for that reason alone. I’ll listen to the show now and shut up.

Thanks for the feedback. But just out of curiosity, were you able to listen to much of the episode? We were able to get into some theological depth, but it came a little later in the program.

Gus,

You make an excellent point. Thanks for the feedback and the encouragement to let Reformed theology out the confines where we like to keep it.

My dear brother Preston Boone!

I am so glad you commented on the subject of Christian hip-hop’s suitability for corporate worship! While I think it takes a special kind of Christ-centered hip-hop that would include the congregation to “together with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 15:6), I agree with you brother that there is a way to corporately, intelligently, Biblically, and Christo-centrically exalt the LORD through hip-hop in a congregational setting! Which is why I also am gratefully looking forward to my dear brother/mentor/close-friend shai linne’s next album, ‘Lyrical Theology, Part 2: Doxology.’! Unfortunately we ran out of time and I was not able to share about his project. Also, I must add that I not only was introduced to Reformed Theology (i.e., Romans Soteriology!) through my brother shai, but also I was introduced to the rich hymns of the faith (especially from the Trinity Hymnal and James Boice’s Hymns for a Modern Reformation) through our brother shai linne as he led worship for several years at Lance Lewis’ PCA church we joined together. What’s interesting is that the rhythm we used for singing hymns–was a hip-hop style beat-box (i.e. vocal-percussionist) or a jazz band with boom-bap drums! Glory to the King of Grace!
P.S. shai linne’s “Lyrical Theology Part 1: THEOLOGY” is my favorite album ever–a thoroughly rich systematic-theology album! The track titles alone resemble the Table of Contents in a Systematic Theology Volume!
http://lampmode.bandcamp.com/album/lyrical-theology-part-1-theology

grace to you brother!

I’ve been lookinvforward to this one since I saw mention of it on twitter a few weeks ago.

A couple of times in the conversation, the relationship between hip-hop music and the congregational/corporate worship moment came up.

The question of rap music’s suitability to corporate worship is a big reason why I am so axiously looking forward to Mr. Linne’s next album, ‘Lyrical Theology, Part 2: Doxology.’

Without having heard any of that album, I am hopeful and prayerful that it can help us all to rethink the possibilities of this genre to glorify God and edify his people – collectively!

Soli Deo Gloria.