Christian hip-hop has always attracted controversy. For a while, many saw the phrase as an oxymoron since many themes found in hip-hop culture — misogyny, gang violence, drug use — are not acceptable for someone trying to emulate Christ. But Christian culture has grown over the past couple of decades to accept artists like The Cross Movement, GRITS, Lecrae and Andy Mineo, all of whom deliver quality rap music with a Christ-centered message.
However, one staple of hip-hop culture, “Battle Rap,” has remained largely untouched by Christian artists; that is, until the past couple years. With Christian rappers like Th3 Saga, Street Hymns, A Ward and Loso gaining popularity through Battle Rap, it seems Christians are now interested in giving this controversial sport a try.
But what is Battle Rap? And is it something in which Christians should participate?
A rap battle is more or less a lyrical wrestling match where competitors use rhymes to “take down” each other with a combination of clever wordplay, insults, impotent threats of violence or anything else which can be said in a confrontational manner. Freestyle rap battles were popularized by the film "8 Mile," but battle rap has since grown into a written, a cappella format hosted by large leagues like King of the Dot and Ultimate Rap League, who average around 500,000 Youtube subscribers.
The potential objections a Christian may have to such a sport are obvious. Titus 3:2 tells us “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always be gentle toward everyone.” NIV. This appears to oppose Battle Rap’s agenda, which by definition seems to involve hostile speech.
But is Battle Rap inherently hostile?
It often does contain hostility. "8 Mile" portrayed it as such for story purposes, and modern battlers such as Math Hoffa and Dizaster have gotten worked up by their opponents to the point of exchanging blows, which resulted in temporary bans from their respective leagues.
The majority of modern battles, however, contain the same level of animosity as two kids arm-wrestling. The popular battle “Conceited vs Dumbfoundead,” despite some of its objectionable content – violent threats, lots of cursing, racial stereotypes regarding Dumbfoundead’s Asian heritage — shows both rappers just having fun with each other. Even after all the “slander,” they end up shaking hands and smiling at each other. Both speak of their respect for the other in the interviews following the battle. For them, what an outsider might view as two rappers showering hate on each other was actually a fun sparring match between two lyricists.
Even outside of the explicitly Christian emcees, some battlers have moved away from profanity and slander. King of the Dot battler Carter Deems has seen recent success with a mixture of self-deprecating humor, awkward mannerisms and gestures of friendship toward his opponents. “Bragging about violence is the dumbest thing ever, even if it’s something that you really do. So we don’t believe this gangster façade; we just know that it isn’t true. On one hand that makes me really mad. On the other hand? I really want to tickle you!” Carter told one opponent, before tickling him onstage. Other rappers have even participated in “compliment battles,” where the goal is to build the other person up rather than break them down.
We’ve seen that some forms of battle rap can be peaceable, with no objectionable content at all in some cases. Does this mean Christian rappers should battle? Well...
It’s depends on a lot of factors. Much like in any other sport, those claiming to be Christians aren’t necessarily being Christ-like. While I have seen some Christian battlers deliver a clear gospel message both on and off the stage, I have also seen some make the vital mistake of treating their opponents as genuine adversaries — preaching the gospel at them, rather than for them. Some have struck me as prideful or stuck-up, and the comments from non-Christians on various battle-forums seem to agree with me.
Perhaps the phrase “be in the world but not of it” is one that Christian battlers need to examine closer. Much like professional wrestlers, battlers can be prone to excessive pride and this is an attitude that Christian rappers in general need to stay away from. If the battling environment causes a Christian to sin, they should avoid it.
As a whole, Battle Rap is a fascinating sport which means a lot of things to a lot of different people. I think it’s great that Christians want to participate, but I hope that we don’t fall into the trap of treating our opponents as our enemies. Even if they show us genuine hostility, we should treat them rightly as people created in the image of God. Christian battlers have the opportunity to show God’s love to a group of people who rarely encounter the gospel, and if we keep our motivations pure, God will be able to use us for great things.
