Holy Hip-hopper

Allhiphop.com interview with Kurtis Blow

kurtis blow: I do a lot of gospel recording now. I just did fox news, and they tried to have me on as someone who was against rap today. I was looking at [the host] like he was crazy. I love everybody. my whole thing is because I do what I do, over 150 songs, and never used profanity, doesn’t mean I disagree with what they are doing now. busta rhymes’ new album is out of here. it’s off the chain to me. jay-z, snoop, eminem; hip-hop today is incredible and I love it. I don’t want anyone to get that wrong about me. I am not a hater on the sidelines. i’m not frustrated like the old schoolers. it’s gonna take love for us to come together. because i’m different doesn’t mean that I don’t love, appreciate and support what’s going down right now. allhiphop.com: so how did kurtis blow get down with the hip-hop church? kurtis blow: basically it was a vision from god to do these hip-hop churches. it rolled, and the kids really embraced it. the people really supported it and the kids really come out and dance. it’s a basic service to bring the kids to church. it’s a huge ministry. our whole thing is youth empowerment. the kids are the future of the church. they run the church. it’s an incredible way to present the gospel and god to a lot of the kids out there. it’s non-denominational and everyone is welcome….. allhiphop.com: for someone that didn’t know, what’s different about the hip-hop church? how do you come up with the music that played in the church? kurtis blow: the dress code. you can wear whatever you want: your jeans, your sneakers. we’re pretty much non traditional in that manner. we feel that god is not worried about the clothes you have on—it’s about what’s in your heart. when we grew up we were always separate. going to sunday school and separated from out parents. in the hip-hop church, parents sit with the kids, fellowship, and have a good time with the kids. no dropping off. families worship together in unity. my role varies. I can go from the dj, to the mc. I preach. [I can be a] sound man. it varies from church to church, and service to service.