#legacy2013

[rozdb]

It’s a great #summer day for a #legacy2013 @poplargrovewinery @naramatawines #pentictonnow

[medginespeaks]

The absence of women in Christian HipHop

This past July, I got the amazing opportunity to go the Legacy Conference in Chicago. The entire experience was completely surreal. To literally walk by artist and poets you listen to and watch on youtube like ALL THE TIME, and trying to act the least awkward was hard lol. I didn’t know what to do with myself…they were everywhere 😳.

It was overall, the highlight of my summer! I remember feeling incredibily encouraged, being a hiphop head, seeing so many men, going hard for Christ and ministering to people. Something that I wish I saw more of in Canada.

I remember being in awe of the result of their diligence. I could see the hard work they’ve invested into their gifts, i could see that this was enabling them to sew their seeds to the crowds, to the audience, to the listeners, with a ready soil in their mind to receive what they gave. At least most of them anyways

Prior to even going I stalked their website lol… eager to see who was coming. And I was disappointed to see the lack of women that were featured. Other than the dope poets, like Jackie Hill, Janette..ikz, Blair Linne, Itohan Omolere, etc. I remember listening to one of Wade-O’s podcast and he asked Derek Minor why he thinks there’s a lack of women in Christian Hip Hop. Although I think he gave a good answer, I did think that it this answer would’ve been better coming from a woman. ( I see it like when white intellectuals discuss the struggles of blacks, without any black person’s perspective). I can’t say that I am a qualified woman to give an opinion on the matter, BUT from what I’ve observed, i have my theories. Going to the Legacy Conference and observing a lot, i did think it did make me think about this subject A LOT. Watching. artistic expression.

I’ve never had a favourite female rapper, when I was listening to a lot of secular hip hop, I think the only one I can think of that I liked was Missy Elliott. All the other female rappers were so hypersexualized that even if they had some kind a dope flow, I couldn’t relate. Especially since it seemed to me like they were supporting being objectified, and objectifying themselves gave them the illusion that if they do it themselves that it’s more empowering. ( back to the topic though…)

Few reasons I think there is not too many females in the Christian hip hop industry: legalism, lack of understanding of female expression. Let me start with the latter ( it will probably blend to the former). Men and Women are wired differently, evidently the way that we express ourselves is different than men. When you add that to the Christian lifestyle, women (I know I do, at least) are always criticized by their lack of modesty. That’s where the legalism comes in. In the fullness of female expression, this including body movements and the way a woman says things, although that their intentions are not to seduce men or provoke lust in any way shape or form, men mistake it as immodest. I think this has created a lot of pressure from the get go for any woman who enters the world of Christian HipHop to be the very fullness of themselves!

Truth of the matter is, whether a woman wears sackcloth or garbage bag (Missy Elliott pun lol), will not prevent a man from lusting because it is a HEART issue. So women feel the pressure to act more manly to be accepted. Also the stigma and history of the genre also adds to the pressure of not conforming so much that it becomes at the forefront of a woman’s mind when expressing herself.

All this not to disregard that there should be level of humility for any women AND men to clothe themselves with humility (Colossians 3:12). The fullness of female expression in Christian Hip hop is shackled by the chains of legalism tied to the law of modesty. But it is for freedom He set us free… The Christian Hip-hop community, of all communities shouldn’t have these walls that inadvertently lead to this silent unrecognized oppression. I may be wrong though, but this is currently my thoughts on the matter... Medgine

[exayo5]

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Legacy 2013 P4CM Cafe. #P4CM #Poetry #LegacyConference #LegacyConf #Legacy2013 #LegacyMovement.org (at Moody Bible Institute)

[chozynboy]

Are you "All In"?? Check out @flame314's new single ft. @kb_hga! Available on all digital outlets including Google Play & iTunes NOW!! (Footage via Wade-O Radio) #royalflush #allin #clearsightmusic #legacy2013

[chozynboy]

@Vrosemusic & @Flame314 perform "Battery" live at #Legacy2013!

[chozynboy]

Incase you missed #Legacy2013, @flame314 revealed some music from his NEW ALBUM "Royal Flush" dropping Oct. 1st! Here's a snippet of "ALL IN" ft. @kb_hga!