“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10 NJKV).
This scripture verse brings to the foreground the calling we all are to endure in discipline, and thanks to the Father. For Christian Hip Hop artists, the gift of rap and Hip Hop musicianship is collected in evangelism and discipleship.
I have written extensively elsewhere on the foundations of theomusicology, expanding the groundbreaking work by the discipline’s founder, Jon Michael Spencer: Testimony, Evangelism, Discipleship, Biblical-centered Texts, Community, and Activism. Christian Hip Hop artists engage these elements fluidly in their works to convey a contemporary theomusicological expression. The variations that Christian Hip Hop artists present articulate the opening scripture verse while speaking to the foundations of Christian Hip Hop discourse.
Following this course, Christian Hip Hop artists can be viewed as a light in a metaphorical dark world.
“Jesus is frequently identified as the light that guides us. This divine title gives us a clear understanding of His mission on Earth. Just as a lighthouse guides ships away from danger, Jesus illuminates our path, leading us away from sin and into the fullness of life. His light dispels darkness, guilt, and fear, replacing them with hope, peace, and joy. By acknowledging Jesus as the light of the world, we allow His radiance to guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions” (Bible Study, October 2025).
Remaining aligned with their God given gift, Christian Hip Hop artists help audiences to see a path to their fellowship in Christ. Through Hip Hop agency, Christian Hip Hop artists bring to light the illumination of the Word; thus, Christian Hip Hop can be read as a ministry rather than a musical dialogue. A bold move to advance Christian Hip Hop from a musical agent to ministry, but not one that is without examples.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12 NJKV).
“But will have the light of life” (emphasis added) is an important point to underscore in this scripture verse. For Christian Hip Hop artists, when reviewed in a ministry position, they have the potential to shine the “light of life” to audiences. In doing so, Christian Hip Hop moves from a passive position to an active discipline for all involved parties: performers, producers, and audience.
The “light” stated in the above scripture verse becomes more valuable as a light can be specifically focused or broadly displayed. Both illuminate a dark area with a different intent: a very specific point or a large, wide-ranging perspective. Christian Hip Hop has the same ability to specifically focus on an individual or speak to a broad range of people. The result is the same: develop a personal sense of fellowship with Christ, leading to an expressed personal relationship with Christ.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14 NJKV).
The Great Commission is written in the gospel of Matthew as follows:
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28: 16–20 NIV).
This is a core responsibility that Christian Hip Hop artists follow and express in their productions. It should not be forgotten that this command to “make disciples of all nations” is not limited to a global perspective. Rather, the “nations” should start in one’s local environment. This is the binary on which Christian Hip Hop artists operate. A Christian Hip Hop work can speak to an individual in their local position, while the same work can speak to a large gathering with the same intensity. In both contexts, the individual is engaged, activated by the work presented. In one situation, the individual is impacted in an isolated context, whereas in the other, the individual’s impact can be shared based on the collaborative environment. Both situations have the same outcome, but one requires a further delay of time to state the impact, whereas the latter has a shorter timeframe to surpass in sharing the inspired elevation. No one example is more important than the other. Christian Hip Hop engages each when a work is heard, regardless of the minimal or expansive arena.
Due to the audible and visible nature of Christian Hip Hop, far too often, the multiple levels of impact are overlooked. Retaining Christian Hip Hop to this definition restricts the importance of the creative discipline; Christian Hip Hop is viewed simply as music. When read through a more expansive lens, the “light” as presented in the earlier scripture verses, Christian Hip Hop is transposed from a passive artistic expression to an active ministry movement, capturing individuals and community alike. It is this manner of approach that Christian Hip Hop needs to be recognized and consistently understood.
Not all community members may find the aesthetic value of Christian Hip Hop necessary. Equally, other community members may dismiss historic, time-honored faith-based worship music. What is more important than a continued revisiting of an aesthetic argument is a balanced, equitable understanding that both musical disciplines originate from the same atomic level but speak to different hearts and minds to arrive at the same point, heighten biblical scripture, center the mind and heart, and make disciples. Music is rooted in its own complex histories and narrated with a contemporary voice. Theological music follows this same trajectory with the added elements to heighten biblical scripture, center the mind and heart, and make disciples.
Taking this trajectory forward, Christian Hip Hop artists function as theological border-crossing agents. This brought to mind two Christian Hip Hop artists who represent these variations, Young Preach and Sevin.
The difference between Young Preach and Sevin’s approach is that one focuses on the individual (Young Preach) and the other focuses on the community (Sevin). This highlights the expansive nature of discipleship from the nuclear to the macro level.
If scripture states that “The Great Commission” is to make disciples, and take the Word to all nations (read: people, countries, communities), then these two artists are not a juxtaposition but both sides of the same calling.
Young Preach, Kyle, Nov. 24, 2025,
“I wrote this song with a young brother named Kyle in heart who grew up in the same neighborhood as me in Bakersfield California — He was a kid when I was gang banging and selling drugs and he would come around and see me and others doing our dirt on the block- years later I would get messages from my ‘lil brother about the struggle and not wanting to live as he had a rough upbringing and he winded up following in very similar footsteps as myself- one day he came to my house as would to get clothes and shoes from me- but this time he came confessing he was putting a needle in his arm and was struggling with wanting to live- telling me he went to the same prison I did and as he was sharing his life with me he commented and said “I remember when I used to watch you.” This statement broke me as I realized In a deeper sense my life had an impact and influence on this little brothers life- ever since then it fired something in me to use any influence I have to glorify God in Jesus name and have a impact to those around me positively and even going back to my old neigh hood to bring light and life through Jesus were I once was banging and selling drugs. If you’re a Kyle theres hope and im rooting for you – change is possible and theres a purpose for your pain- just as realized all my life struggles and hurts and pains carried a purpose so i can help thois who were once like me- love ya reading this keep faith- this is more then a song and pray FOR KYLE TO COME TO THE HEART OF WORSHIP” (Young Preach, YouTube).
This expansive description, provided by Young Preach, underscores the need to create and present this work. A heartfelt production, Young Preach holds no punches, interweaving his testimony and urgent need to share this moment in time with others to avoid similar moments. The Great Commission articulated by Young Preach is on a micro, individual level. Yes, when an audience interacts (read: listens) to this work, the original micro-level intent of the work becomes enlarged.
The sensitivity that Young Preach invests in this work, however, continues to speak on an individual level, despite the exponential echoing of the work. Witnessing this application is a high mark for Young Preach, but it further magnifies an individualized relationship of humanity through Christian Hip Hop, expressing scripture as healing. Young Preach is calling for this position: the active engagement of healing in the community (read: hood).
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NKJV).
HOG MOB Ministries YouTube Channel
Sevin, “Pray 4 My Hood” SEVIN FT. ILLUMINATE (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO), May 2015,
Sevin, “In My Hood (OFFICIAL VIDEO),” August 2017,
From 2017 to 2025, Sevin and HOG MOB Ministry have endured the “Pray 4 My Hood” tour. Some shorts and reels about the tour, the necessity, and the intent underscore the dedication of Sevin and HOG MOB Ministry.
Pray 4 My Hood 2025, Short Promo Video, July 2025,
“Hog Mob is back on the road with its annual Pray 4 My Hood missions tour. Each year, we visit violent neighborhoods with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We desire to pierce the darkness with the light of the love of God and the truth of his word. We also work with local community organizations to offer resources to those in need, as well as food and clothes to as many as we can. So far this year, we have preached the gospel to thousands of people and also baptized hundreds.
“As of now, Hog Mob receives no government funding or church support for its efforts… This means that our ability to go out and share the gospel across the country completely relies on the support we get from people like you,” (HOG MOB Ministry, July 2025).
PRAY 4 MY HOOD! We back outside in JESUS NAME! #pray4myhood #p4mh #sevin #hogmob, March 2025,
This is an older Pray 4 My Hood event from 2015. This video exposes the community involvement and value that Sevin and HOG MOB Ministry bring through this discipleship activism.
Pray 4 My Hood, Oak Park, CA, Wordsmith, May 2015,
The entire “Pray 4 My Hood (P4MH),” Church In Tha Jungle album, volume 2 (2017), includes consistent HOG MOB Christian Hip Hop artists as well as a feature with Bizzle on the track “Hood Cries.”
Sevin, “Survive,” feat. Illuminate, Dontae, Qheem, Maclashen, Marcel Jackson & Miracle, Pray 4 My Hood Vol 2: (Church In Tha Jungle) 2017,
To gain a deeper understanding of why Sevin is focused on his community for ministry and discipleship, a brief interview with Sevin highlights the key moments that changed his life, ultimately leading to the creation of HOG MOB (Hooked On God; Ministry Over Business).
SEVIN, From Gangs To GOD, Next Step, December 2017,
“After falling into the gang life, multiple failed suicide attempts, major drug & alcohol addictions, death of family and friends, and time in jail — God changed Sevin’s heart dramatically and undeniably. Now Sevin uses his gift in music to preach the message that saved his life, and his soul, the true and living Gospel of Jesus Christ,” (Next Step, December 2017).
Sevin remains sensitive to how his ministry, HOG MOB, communicates to the community. His personal testimony broadcasts his dependence on the gospel for his salvation, which he has followed, as his life’s calling, to share and give back to the community. For Sevin, community is not a singular location; community is recognized as any place where the Word can be invested. Sevin’s “Pray 4 My Hood” is not situated at a specific epicenter. “Pray 4 My Hood” is a metaphorical network, a vocal border-crossing agent to constitute the gospel in minor and major environments.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3–5 NKJV).
All miracles done by Christ point back to Him. These are the living examples of His power, His light, His illumination in the direction we are to follow. Christian Hip Hop artists, through their works, reflect this illumination. Christian Hip Hop is a reflexive process, going from the micro to the macro, the personal, individual, to the local, global community, and back as an echo. The light (read: the Word) does not come into effect until it is experienced. Christian Hip Hop brings to the foreground this experience, reflexively, and in response to the Great Commission. Christian Hip Hop, then, is a position of ministry, speaking to and from a foundational point (read: the personal, individual) to a magnified perspective (read: the local, global, community). It is this amplification, provided through Christian Hip Hop, which enunciates the light (read: Christ) through the core elements of Christian Hip Hop: Testimony, Evangelism, Discipleship, Biblical-centered Texts, Community, and Activism. In this reflexive manner, the miracles created by Christ are not isolated events; they are the expression of Him, illustrating His light, which gives life when witnessed and engaged.
Light not only penetrates the dark, but it also brings life to the dark. In this capacity, Christian Hip Hop, as a ministry, cuts through the conglomerate negative events of contemporary society. Christian Hip Hop functions as a reflexive illumination property in active ministry, bringing to life the application of the miracles created by Christ.
Experiencing this living reality, rapping through Christian Hip Hop, is the opportunity to enter a personal relationship with Christ through hearing the Word woven in Christian Hip Hop raps, which emphasizes His light, life, and truth.
Select your answer to see how you score.
