> > hum. d'you know of anywhere online where i could hear clips of any of those groups, Iss? I must say that Christian hip-hop isn't a style i've gotten into much, but it sounds good...
> >
> > uni"more of a Smalltown Poets/Jars of Clay girl, m'self"peg
>
> I couldn't find any soundclips for the names that Iss listed -- help us, Iss? -- but I did find some from people who'd listed those artists as their influences. You could try
>
> Sphere of Hip Hop
> http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/49/sphere_of_hip_hop.html
>
> Cypher Kings
> http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/60/cypher_kings.html
>
> Tunnel Rats
> http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/70/tunnel_rats.html
>
> Some of this stuff seems avante-garde even for Rap. Like, for example, there's a piece called "Liar, Lunatic, Lord or Legend?" with a traditional Jewish melody... played on a tuba(!)... with normal Rap vocals in the foreground?
>
> I even found a category for "Christian Gangsta Rap" as typified by a group called G.O.G.z .

Wow. I haven't ever been able to locate actual clips from those artists before. To clarify a thing or two, "Tunnel Rats" is the name given to a collection of Christian hip-hop artists from several groups including LPG, Peace 586, and Future Shock. They frequently make appearances on each others' albums and generally favor the same style: complex lyricism and interesting background tracks. My favorite artists are from the Tunnel Rat family.

There's a song sample from Grits' latest album at this location.....

http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/audio/gritstheyallfalldown16-1.ram

.....check the interesting Spanish-music opening. Look up the keywords "Grits" and "factors" (their breakthrough album, reviewed endlessly, was titled Factors of the Seven) on just about any search engine, and you'll find several pages with information and interviews.

Of the various "gangsta"-themed Christian hip-hop acts, the only album I've ever cared for is "Gang Affiliated", the debut release for the Original Gospel Gangstas. I'm much more into progressive or alternative-themed hip-hop in general, but "Gang Affiliated" is a very solid, powerful album. The O.G.G.'s have a web site at

http://www.gospel-gangstaz.com/splash3/splash3.htm

There's more, but you'll find it yourself, no doubt. Ask questions if you got 'em! :-)

Iss "Injecting elements of relevance / thus Tunnel Rats excelling with this rigorous rhyme regimen" achar