In 2006, The Gospel Music Association (GMA) reported estimates that Christian hip-hop and rock music accounted for 25% of all Gospel music sales. At this year’s 49th Annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy introduced a new category, Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album, giving props to a new subgenre of Hip-Hop and legitimizing the marketability of this underground movement.
With its' disputed origins in the 1980s, Christian Hip-Hop has steadily evolved and expanded around the globe; today it is known as Holy Hip-Hop. All over the country, there are self-styled 'Hip-Hop churches', various conferences, youth ministries, and media committed to spreading the message of the movement: the truth of Christ through Hip-Hop culture. Reiniku Films director, Shekinah Apedo visited Crossover Community Church (Tampa, FL), the renowned first Hip-Hop church, and was intrigued by the then underground status of Holy Hip-Hop. The initial intention of the documentary was to feature Holy Hip-Hop as a growing movement. However, after attending the Holy Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta and seeing a more glamorous side to the genre, the film's direction changed.
As Holy Hip-Hop artists increasingly gain widespread appeal, we must ask ourselves is ministry still the main focus. That’s the premise behind the 2007 documentary, Ministry vs. Industry, with the tag line, “Holy Hip-Hop, evangelizing ministry or money-making industry,” the film questions the purpose of Holy Hip-Hop. Filmmaker, Shekinah Apedo and photojournalist Trina Melchert began shooting the documentary two years ago.
The feature-length film investigates the legitimacy of Christian Hip-Hop as a tool for ministry or as another genre of music aimed at acquiring profits. The film examines the history and growth of this movement in the United States through interviews from the industry's pioneering artists. Further inquiry focuses on marketing, sexism, missiology, the status of Holy Hip-Hop at present and it's evolution since its inception in the 1980s. The filmmaker invites the viewer to take a firsthand look at this movement through footage from concerts and seminars from the largest industry conferences in Tampa, FL (Flavor Fest) and Atlanta, GA (Holy Hip-Hop Awards & Showcase). Interviews range from Holy Hip-Hop's up & coming to the genre's most acclaimed acts featuring: rap pioneer Kurtis Blow, Cross Movement recording artists The Ambassador and Da' T.R.U.T.H, former Three Six Mafia member Mr. Del, Christian rap pioneer Fred Lynch, pastor of Crossover Community Church Tommy Kyllonen, former dc Talk producer Todd Collins, and many more.
Ministry vs. Industryis one of the 24 films being screened at the 3rd annual Atlanta Hip-Hop Film Festival on August 24th-26th. Ensue of the film’s debut, Reiniku Films is hosting a preview screening of the film and celebrating with a concert from a handful of Atlanta’s hottest Holy Hip-Hop artists on Saturday, August 25th! Appearances are under wraps as preparations are presently being planned.
CONTACT INFO:
|
