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The Sentient Song Fallacy — Why Christian Music Sucks
If you’ve ever wondered why it is that Christian music sucks, I have a hypothesis. But first, I just have to say — “The Sentient Song Fallacy” — doesn’t that sound like an episode of The Big Bang...
View ArticleHey Baby What’s Your Sign? Your Church Sign, I Mean.
So in the last five to ten years, as hip-hop culture has continued the march from being simply popular from becoming a downright universal lingua franca — and if you think I’m overstating that at all,...
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What It’s Like Being Black In Portland
So it seems that a series of circumstances have all led me to reminisce, Pete-Rock-&-CL-Smooth-style, about my upbringing here in Portland Oregon, the undisputed whitest major city in America....
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This Song Is What’s Right With America
(Editor’s Note: with all the talk about the polarizing SCOTUS ruling on Hobby Lobby and birth control, I thought it might be good to talk about something that brings people together.) So I’ve thought...
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Stop Columbusing. Lecrae Didn’t Invent Christian Rap.
Okay, so this piece may sound like I’m trying to criticize Lecrae, so before I go any further, let me offer a few disclaimers. I like Lecrae. I really, really like Lecrae. As an artist, as a...
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If You Love American Music, You Have Andraé Crouch to Thank
(Editor’s Note: Yes, the title is a bit clickbaitey, but hang with me. I’ll back it up.) Yesterday, Andraé Crouch slipped into eternity, present in full with the Lord, in perfect peace. I’ve been...
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The One Where Jelani Introduces Himself.
I recently started writing for a publication called Off the Page, from the creators of the popular Our Daily Bread devotional series. It’s a new forum for me to start talking about my favorite examples...
View ArticleWe Are The Iccsters. Yes, This Is Happening.
Today, October 1st, I updated my Facebook status thusly: Sometime around 1988, an enterprising urban pastor asked his youngest son to put together a rap for an outreach event. He dutifully complied,...
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If You Still Haven’t Heard Hamilton Yet, We Might Not Be Friends Anymore
I wasn’t going to blog about it, but seeing the White House recently host a live performance by the Hamilton cast, I decided this couldn’t wait any further. But I want to be clear about something from...
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Why I Started an Internet Radio Station (and How it Could Shape a Better...
I promise you, this title isn’t just clickbait. I really did start an internet radio station, and I really believe it can help make things better in these (barely) United States of America. But to...
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