In Orlando, Florida, Christian hip-hop is significant to the local population.  Radio personality and music director Tim Wolf of Orlando Florida’s Christian hip-hop radio station Hot 95.9 provides insight on the ins and outs of Christian radio and the impact that Christian hip-hop has for the next generation. 

In this podcast Tim speaks on how Christian rap began, who it was created by, and the direction this genre is going.  Christian hip-hop is a growing genre which only started in the year 1982 by an artist named MC Sweet who released the first Christian rap record commercially available titled The Gospel Beat: Jesus-Christ.

In today’s generation listeners of Christian hip-hop are familiar with artists like Lecrae and Andy Mineo but there are no spotlights on the pioneers of Christian hip-hop.  Stephen Wiley who is the “godfather” of Christian hip-hop released an album in 1985 titled Bible Break, which was the first ever Christian hip-hop album.  In the article titled “It’s Not the Beat, but It’s the Word that Sets the People Free”: Race, Technology, and Theology in the Emergence of Christian Rap Music, explains in detail the life of Stephen Wiley and his contribution with his ministry, his music, and the importance that comes from the word of the Lord.

There is more than just music that connects Christian artists to serve for their community.  In the article titled Activist And Christian Hip-Hop Artist Remembers His Friend, George Floyd, explains the importance of utilizing music to create change in the community.  Christian rap artist Ronnie Lillard who goes by the name Reconcile uses his platform to speak about change in relation to police brutality and justice reform. 

Music is universal and gives people purpose to either create or live out experiences they never thought were possible.  Christian hip-hop connects the world to a different way of following Jesus.  This genre of music is building communities and providing the culture with positive messages that will bring people closer to Christ.