If you have followed me long enough on this blog, or my Twitter, my Facebook page, the Facebook pages I help manage: livinsoul Entertainment TM, Mommies On The Mic TM, Livinsoul International Ministries TM, The Day Jesus Spoke Hip-Hop TM, or the Twitter accounts I help manage @livinsoul_ENT, @MommiesOnTheMic, @livinsoul_MIN, @JesusSpoke ... besides knowing how ridiculously busy I am for a mother of 5 (yup 5!) darling children...you most definitely know that I am a huge supporter of Christian-based Music especially, Hip-Hop and Reggae. Sooooo, I go loco on the promo for Christ Music - from tweets, video posts, blogs and Twibbon, to behind the scenes promotion of music-ministry, Artist Fan Page management and da beat goes on an on. So why exactly do I take the time to prop up these Rappers and Reggae MCs for FREE (mostly)?
Since I entered into the Christian Music, and particularly the Christian Hip-Hop community, as a chatty supporter and opinionated tweeter (LOL), over the last 18 months or so, I have had a fair bit of o_O from folks who seem to think I'm just some groupie chick trying to, I'll just say politely, 'talk' to Rappers (including, I'm sure, a few Rappers thinking this, themselves)...fair, enough, I can say from an outsider eye perspective, I might raise a brow if a 'strange' chick comes out of left field and seems to talk to Rappers and industry males 'just a lil too much,' without a husband in sight...but er, um...Hey World! This announcement may be long-overdue for those raised eye-brow folks, but I found it totally unnecessary for myself, really, to justify my interactions as I support, cheerlead and encourage a genre of music that was tantamount in leading me to Christ.
However, it would seem that folks are just gonna be, well, shall I say, 'feline' in their curiosity...and trully, I have other things to focus on...so FOR THE RECORD, I am, in FACT, not some groupie chick who gets off on being known, applauded or accepted by Rappers and MCs (infact my support and promo is largely ignored by them, so it's not like I get pats on the back for energies and time spent)...and I mos def ain't trynah get laid! #BOING! (insatiable husband at home...HELLO! lol!)...What and who I am is a genuine lover of Christ Music, and a woman passionate about supporting those who create it, and use it to spread the Gospel of Christ. As I have told a few people, and some inquisitive enough to ask...I began interactions with Rappers and MCs after I linked in to a favorite Artist's facebook page in my very early freshman days on facebook. From that Rapper's personal account, I was surprised to hear just how much resistance and disunity the Christian Hip-Hop world faces. I had heard some rap and reggae songs, previously, that spoke of some of the difficulties of these two types of music being accepted in Churches, but to hear it personally sparked a fire in me to publicly support and cheerlead those, whose music had impacted my life in real and intangible ways. Needless to say, the more Rappers and MCs I added as "friends" or "followed," the more I got involved in this community....and here I am...supporting favorite Artists, and many more new & old school Rappers and MCs, Singers, Poets, Musicians, Producers and da beat goes on and on and on! LOL!
Having spent a great deal of the last year of my life publicly supporting and encouraging those in music-ministry, particularly Hip-Hop and Reggae, which continue to be erroneously shunned by the majority as ungodly or, at the least, "inappropriate" for spreading the message of the Gospel, I have had the honor of interacting with many of my favorite Rappers & MCs, as well as Singers, Poets, Ministers, Producers/Beatmakers, Label & Media Company-Owners, Journalists, Dee-Jays and the like, along with some equally enthusiastic supporters, naysayers, and the whole caboodle that make up this nouveau-Christ Church. It has been a fun ride, I have to say. But I do this for more than fun. I talk to Rappers and MCs etc. because they too, need the encouragement, the upliftment of spirit and the good old fashioned 'well done' pat on the back that us, 'consumers' take for granted when we play the music that ministers to us. Not only have I received some feedback that my own support is meaningful and encouraging, God has truly used this time in my life to break me, mould me and shape me for the greater Vision of support He has had planned all along.
Inevitably, in the midst of supporting the Artists/industry folk behind the music that continues to positively impact my spiritual and emotional life, I have found my joie de vie...the je nais se quoi I have been missing in my journey of life, to find purpose and meaning through who I have been created to be, and what I have wished to offer the world since I was 6 years old (but that is another blog-story)...suffice to say, God has allowed this time in my life of serving others, to become the catalyst for me embracing something I have fought for some time. My Husband has been called to ministry since he was a teen. He has had his own personal struggles and intervening circumstances preventing him from coming to the place of putting his foot in that pool. But along the way, though I saw myself being in the background administratively, I had not actually married the Vision of Livinsoul International Ministries TM, which my husband has been called to, and I was grateful for all the delays in becoming a "Pastor's Wife".
Well, getting in bed with all these Rappers and MCs got my juices going to desire to conjugate my passion at 6 years old to "build the world a home, and furnish it with love", along with my role as a Wife and Partner in incubating and helping to birth and nurture my Husband's seed - the Vision of Livinsoul International Ministries TM. By serving others, I discovered the purpose God has for me. I have had opportunity to see my gifts for what they are; to learn my limitations, and to embrace the destiny God has had planned for me...so yeah! I'm a chick who talks to Rappers & MCs...and yet, soooo much more...as one of my favorite Rappers, Corey Red says: "I was asleep, but the Giant has awakened!"...Mami, got VISION - in 3-D! Watch this space....and see where God directs this script... ;-)
If you do not yet understand the purpose God has for YOU in life, pray, commit yourself to service to others and allow God the opportunity to show you your gifts, your abilities, your purpose, and yes! your limitations. When you do you will truly be able to serve!
Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations. -- Jeremiah 1:5
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. -- Jeremiah 29:11
Click here for The Day Jesus Spoke Hip-Hop 4-part blog series, "Does God Have a Purpose For Your Life? - Absolutely!"
Since I entered into the Christian Music, and particularly the Christian Hip-Hop community, as a chatty supporter and opinionated tweeter (LOL), over the last 18 months or so, I have had a fair bit of o_O from folks who seem to think I'm just some groupie chick trying to, I'll just say politely, 'talk' to Rappers (including, I'm sure, a few Rappers thinking this, themselves)...fair, enough, I can say from an outsider eye perspective, I might raise a brow if a 'strange' chick comes out of left field and seems to talk to Rappers and industry males 'just a lil too much,' without a husband in sight...but er, um...Hey World! This announcement may be long-overdue for those raised eye-brow folks, but I found it totally unnecessary for myself, really, to justify my interactions as I support, cheerlead and encourage a genre of music that was tantamount in leading me to Christ.
However, it would seem that folks are just gonna be, well, shall I say, 'feline' in their curiosity...and trully, I have other things to focus on...so FOR THE RECORD, I am, in FACT, not some groupie chick who gets off on being known, applauded or accepted by Rappers and MCs (infact my support and promo is largely ignored by them, so it's not like I get pats on the back for energies and time spent)...and I mos def ain't trynah get laid! #BOING! (insatiable husband at home...HELLO! lol!)...What and who I am is a genuine lover of Christ Music, and a woman passionate about supporting those who create it, and use it to spread the Gospel of Christ. As I have told a few people, and some inquisitive enough to ask...I began interactions with Rappers and MCs after I linked in to a favorite Artist's facebook page in my very early freshman days on facebook. From that Rapper's personal account, I was surprised to hear just how much resistance and disunity the Christian Hip-Hop world faces. I had heard some rap and reggae songs, previously, that spoke of some of the difficulties of these two types of music being accepted in Churches, but to hear it personally sparked a fire in me to publicly support and cheerlead those, whose music had impacted my life in real and intangible ways. Needless to say, the more Rappers and MCs I added as "friends" or "followed," the more I got involved in this community....and here I am...supporting favorite Artists, and many more new & old school Rappers and MCs, Singers, Poets, Musicians, Producers and da beat goes on and on and on! LOL!
Having spent a great deal of the last year of my life publicly supporting and encouraging those in music-ministry, particularly Hip-Hop and Reggae, which continue to be erroneously shunned by the majority as ungodly or, at the least, "inappropriate" for spreading the message of the Gospel, I have had the honor of interacting with many of my favorite Rappers & MCs, as well as Singers, Poets, Ministers, Producers/Beatmakers, Label & Media Company-Owners, Journalists, Dee-Jays and the like, along with some equally enthusiastic supporters, naysayers, and the whole caboodle that make up this nouveau-Christ Church. It has been a fun ride, I have to say. But I do this for more than fun. I talk to Rappers and MCs etc. because they too, need the encouragement, the upliftment of spirit and the good old fashioned 'well done' pat on the back that us, 'consumers' take for granted when we play the music that ministers to us. Not only have I received some feedback that my own support is meaningful and encouraging, God has truly used this time in my life to break me, mould me and shape me for the greater Vision of support He has had planned all along.
Inevitably, in the midst of supporting the Artists/industry folk behind the music that continues to positively impact my spiritual and emotional life, I have found my joie de vie...the je nais se quoi I have been missing in my journey of life, to find purpose and meaning through who I have been created to be, and what I have wished to offer the world since I was 6 years old (but that is another blog-story)...suffice to say, God has allowed this time in my life of serving others, to become the catalyst for me embracing something I have fought for some time. My Husband has been called to ministry since he was a teen. He has had his own personal struggles and intervening circumstances preventing him from coming to the place of putting his foot in that pool. But along the way, though I saw myself being in the background administratively, I had not actually married the Vision of Livinsoul International Ministries TM, which my husband has been called to, and I was grateful for all the delays in becoming a "Pastor's Wife".
Well, getting in bed with all these Rappers and MCs got my juices going to desire to conjugate my passion at 6 years old to "build the world a home, and furnish it with love", along with my role as a Wife and Partner in incubating and helping to birth and nurture my Husband's seed - the Vision of Livinsoul International Ministries TM. By serving others, I discovered the purpose God has for me. I have had opportunity to see my gifts for what they are; to learn my limitations, and to embrace the destiny God has had planned for me...so yeah! I'm a chick who talks to Rappers & MCs...and yet, soooo much more...as one of my favorite Rappers, Corey Red says: "I was asleep, but the Giant has awakened!"...Mami, got VISION - in 3-D! Watch this space....and see where God directs this script... ;-)
If you do not yet understand the purpose God has for YOU in life, pray, commit yourself to service to others and allow God the opportunity to show you your gifts, your abilities, your purpose, and yes! your limitations. When you do you will truly be able to serve!
Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations. -- Jeremiah 1:5
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. -- Jeremiah 29:11
Click here for The Day Jesus Spoke Hip-Hop 4-part blog series, "Does God Have a Purpose For Your Life? - Absolutely!"
