The truth behind hip hop

G Craige Lewis, also known as "The Messenger", founder of EX Ministries and a producer/songwriter for Group 3 Productions will be the feature speaker at events scheduled for San Fernando on September 1 and the Queens Park Savannah on September 2. Craige believes that hip hop music has corrupt origins and has contributed to declines in values and lifestyles among black youths.

For that reason, he has embarked on a mission to reveal the truth about hip hop.

According to Craige, hip hop, as opposed to rap, has spawned a negative culture in the United States and other parts of the world.

The music, a major source of influence, involves gangsta rap with its explicit lyrical content which encourage particular types of behavior and lifestyle choices. Part of this culture is clothing - sagging jeans, tight fitted tops and bottoms, gang related outfits, prison attire — which are now popular among teenagers and young people.

"What was once considered appropriate only for prostitutes and hardened criminals is now acceptable attire for our youth!" he notes.

Then there are the markings - tattoos, piercing, strange hairstyles, gold teeth, vicious jewelry (dragons, dogs, snakes, etc).

Craige observes, "Hip-hop causes youths to be rebellious. To use foul language in public. To commit very strong sexual acts with other youth. To feel they have nothing to lose. To give up on their ‘good’ values and take on the negativity of the hip hop culture.

"In hip hop, prison is a good place. To be arrested and beat the rap makes you a hero; sex is good. Getting VD is not even frowned upon. Having multiple partners okay. Homosexuality and bisexuality is normal and accepted."

"Foul language and physical abuse is accepted. Bad grades in school are okay. Using drugs and drinking is accepted. Murder is a good thing, if you deserve it. Love is just a word. Being a thug is cool. Looking like you just robbed a bank is the norm. XXX behavior is accepted and preached lyrically in the music. Anything goes, as long as you are feeling it."

Craige, who has done extensive research into the popular musical form, said the very word hip hop was used by Afrikka Bambatta, the pioneer of the culture and professed Zulu Nation god, to describe the parties that he was hosting in clubs across New York in the early 70’s. The Zulu Nation, a group under the leadership of Bambaata, started the music and religious aspects of hip hop. Hip hop star KRS-ONE and Afrika Bambaata have used the term hip hop to describe emceeing, deejaying, breakdancing, and other forms of entertainment.

He explains, "Hip-hop is not rap! Rapping is style of conveying a message, like singing, humming, whistling, etc. Hip-hop is a culture, or way of living and governing your life. There is also a style of music that is a part of the hip-hop culture, but it’s not just represented by rap.

The founders and original pioneers of this culture teach that it is a religion. They teach that it is a tool to point people to the their god."

Craige has been ministering to teenagers and their parents for more than 12 years and is involved in EX Ministries full time, travelling and spreading his anti-hip hop message to secular and Christian audiences.

His visit to TT is being organised by REACH N Inc, a youth-oriented organisation based at Eastside Plaza in Port-of-Spain.

They can be reached at 778-1811 for more details on the itinerary for Craige’s visit.