One thing that you may or may not know about me is that I am not afraid to rap in public. I don’t think that I’m Eminem, Kanye, or even MC Hammer. Heck, I wouldn’t even put me up against Vanilla Ice. That guy had skillz. Have you seen him in that documentary, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze? “Go ninja, go ninja, go.” I digress.
I grew up listening to rap. Before it went gansta in the mid 90’s, and before it became all about boats and hoes in the 2000’s, I listened to a lot of rap. Albeit it was mostly Christian rap. Specifically dc Talk. Their album Free At Last was a mainstay in my tape deck for almost three straight years. And yes I did write tape deck. I listened to that tape so much that it got tangled in the tape deck. I ended up buying two copies of it on tape and then I eventually bought it once CD’s were invented.
I listened to rap so much that I learned how to keep a beat. I can’t freestyle to save my life, but I can rap other people’s lyrics.
I say all of this because I was reminded of a video that I saw on Youtube. I hadn’t watched this video in over a year. It’s a couple of years old, and many of you who now frequent robshep.com have never seen this. I hope you get as big of a kick out it as I did. Enjoy.
Do you love or loathe rap music? What’s something that I may or may not know about you?
Rather interesting video Rob. You had the moves and the hand gestures down. I loathe rap music. I listened to early DC Talk because my girls liked them, but that changed. I like rock. Bet you didn’t know that! 🙂
BTW: my post http://billgrandi.ovcf.org/wordpress/?p=7034 was about Chipotle. Bet you didn’t know that was my favorite place to eat.
Bill, I did know about you and rock. You are the only living Stryper fan that I know. Oh and that post was legit. How could I not love a post on Chipotle?
Bill, did you ever check out DC Talk’s album, ‘Jesus Freak’. They went more rock on that one.
I don’t loathe it. Lil’ Wayne’s last name is Carter. I can’t hate on the family business.
Something you don’t know about me: I prefer Bluegrass to Rap.
Larry, I didn’t know that about you. What Bluegrass acts do you like?
Yes! Love the video.
I grew up in NJ where rap was fairly prevalent. I was a big fan of DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. More recently, I’ve enjoyed the skills of KJ-52.
Jon, the very first album I ever bought was DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Parents Just Don’t Understand. I wore that tape out.
So funny Rob, that was the first album I bought too.
Robie Mac…? 🙂 Spit that rhyme, Rob.
Stephen, I wish. I once had a chance to rap on stage with Tobymac. It was at a after party show and he asked for a volunteer to come up and rap. The song he picked was Irene. I don’t know all the words to that so I didn’t volunteer. Stink.
Actually, I have been shown to have the quickest reflexes ever measured by scientific instruments. The time from when a rap song comes on the radio until I change the station has been quantified to be sub-nanosecond. … Does that answer your question?
Daniel, yup.
I used to be a HUGE rap fan… I devoured it… there wasn’t ANY song I couldn’t recite word for word… but now as I have gotten older and become a Christ follower some of the lyrics I find just a bit to harsh for me. I still have immense respect for acts like Eminem who can write a story with his words and how he is able to put them together but I just don’t find some of the language and innuendos needed… so it is had to say… yes I can appreciate the talent, effort and work that goes into rap but I just don’t find all the ” other stuff ” necessary. ( I appreciate ALL music )PS… something you didn’t know about me… I used to walk around with a HUMONGOUS VW emblem around my neck like Mike D from the Beastie Boys… I can’t even believe I just admitted to that.
Brian, I didn’t know that. I did have a great appreciation for the Beastie Boys. I never wore the VW emblem, but I respected their music. Thanks for sharing that. Oh and I hear ya on the rough lyrics. If I buy mainstream rap I always get the edited version on iTunes. It’s better but the content is still rough.
Well I won’t say I loathe rap music, but it is defiantly not a genre I would buy. Have you heard of KJ-52? I am like you, I liked some of the old school stuff, but the stuff today is a joke. I thought Astro from X Factor was bringing back old hip hop, but who knows.
As weird as it sounds, most people do not know I like to read a lot of the literary classics. Most of the time I believe since I am such an out going person, and I like to joke around 90% of the time, deep thoughts by Joseph M., just are a perception of most.
Joseph, I have heard of KJ-52. I have his first three albums. I stopped buying his stuff after that but I really liked his older stuff. Now I like Lecrae and Grits. Have you heard of them?
No, I can’t say I have. I will have to check them out.
YES!!! Definitely an early contender for favorite video of 2012!! This needs to happen again, soon! You need to start working on Phil for this. Not a fan of rap, but anytime I get to see a friend doing something they love, especially concerning music, I become a big fan.
Something you probably didn’t know is that I started playing guitar a little over 4 years ago. I started playing becuase I got so good at the Guitar Hero video games that it made me believe I could do the real thing. The first time I ever played with real live people was the day I auditioned. I am so amazed when I look back and can see how God’s plan has undolded for me! To Him be the glory!!
Scott, I didn’t know that about you. That is amazing. And people think that video games are not productive. You should become a spokesperson.
I now love rap.
Michael, thanks. You are kind.
Dude! I grew up in the era of metal and hairbands; thus–back in the day–I had all the metal (on cassette) that I could my hands on:
AC/DC, Accept, Dio, Motörhead, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, etc.
Rap was not on my radar.
Funny (but sad) story:
When I got “saved,” I decided that this music probably wasn’t the best for me–so I sold it to my coworkers! Bet you didn’t know that. 😉
Chad, I hear ya. When I was in middle school and started going to a Christian school I got convicted about my music. I threw it all away. I regretted that later. I threw away Bobby Brown, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and a few other rap favorites. It’s amazing to me now because that stuff was all clean compared to music today.
Ha ha… you should be happy you threw away your Bobby Brown stuff… that’s where most of it belonged to start with… and he only went downhill after his ” career ” as if that was even possible. I know that was bad, I should probably go pray for forgiveness now.
Brian, I still hold to that Step by Step was a good song. I loved his first solo album. The rest was…as you said…downhill.
I meant every little step.
I like rap but can only listen to it for so long.
Did you know I was married before when I was a teen?
Kris, I did not know that about you. That joker is missing out because you are awesome.
I love this video. LOL.
I’m from NYC, the place where rap was born, so naturally I love me some rap. I grew up listening to it and watching Video Music Box in the 80s. Man, I used to record the rap songs by putting my boombox next to the TV speaker and hitting both, the play and record buttons at the same time.
Moe, I want to see a video of you rapping. Make it happen. I bet you have skills…er skillz. I’m so white.
there is no doubt that I can rap
it’s no weak rhyme that’ll make you nap
when these new rappers smack talk all that blah
I flip the script and dance on their lap.
Oh wait… what?
Love it. MC Moe! Or should it be MC Coffee? Or should it be MC NYC? When you make it big can I be your posse?
Sure. Just make sure to wear Adidas and never, ever, ever dance. Just hang around in the back. 🙂
Done. I already have the shoes. Now I just need the jumpsuit.
I love rap when done by the one and only Rob Shepherd 🙂
Ahh. Thanks Sherry!
Rob, your rapping skills are muchos gustos. That does mean very good right? I forgot more Spanish then I ever knew.
Anyway, I will be getting your rap album if it drops in the 20 12.
To answer your question….I neither love nor do I loathe rap. I have to be in the right mood and situation to get in on it.
Thanks Joe. The only Spanish I remember is loco el bano.
Rob, I love the old stuff going back to Bill Monroe. I like progressive stuff like, now old, New Grass Revival. I like new progressive stuff like Yonder Mountain String Band. But there isn’t much I don’t like.
Larry, very nice.
I ran the basketball courts every day for 6 years and definitely know/like rap. I loved the beastie boys when I was younger. then I went to having Grits, Lecrae, Trip Lee, Manafest, and Sho Baraka in the itunes mix.Now I listening to beats in dubstep genre of music with Flux Pavilion being my favorite artists.
You probably don’t know that I was a captain of ODU’s Monarch Maniacs(our version of the Cameron Crazies)
Michael, I didn’t know that. That’s rad. I also didn’t know you were into rap. Very cool.
I was totally into Christian Rap in high school. Mostly DC Talk. A teacher at my school, Brian Wasko, was a Christian Rapper called The R.A.T. That stood for something I dont remember. My friends and I even started a Christian Rap group called Trial by Fire. I was DJ G-Fresh! WORD! We wrote a few songs that I wish I had the recordings of.
Geoff, very interesting. I had no idea about that.
Not really a fan – but some is better than others 🙂
Cindy, it’s all good. I’m not a fan of all rap. I like the stuff with a catch hook and if it’s clean. That limits me greatly.
Rob that song has been in my head for a couple of days now. You performed that at one of the first services my family and I attended and we decided any church that would throw down like that was a church we wanted to be part of.
I liked rap in the pre-gansta era: Fresh Prince, LL Cool J, Heavy D, MC Hammer, I’ll even admit to owning Vanilla Ice’s tape. Gangsta ruined rap for me. It took the music and made it mean, violent, and profanity laden. I’ll still listen to the old stuff, but not the newer (unless LL or Will Smith drop a new disc).
Things you don’t know about me…probably a lot. In keeping with this post, you probably don’t know that I’m a singer and musician (strictly amateur).
Randal, I didn’t know that about you. What do you play and where do you sing? Very cool.
I play trumpet, french horn, guitar & bass. My wife and I used to sing/play with a folk choir at church when we were younger. Occasionally we’ve gone out to do karaoke.
I’m not that big into any one genre I don’t think, but I don’t like raps where 50% of the lyrics are curse words. I love when you rap and I delve in rap every here and there. One of the things that I keep in mind with things like “vulgar” rap is a saying that my brother has used, “People only curse when they don’t really have anything to say.” He still curses himself, but I digress, we’re all human, not perfect. Even if we were perfect someone would still crucify us.
P.S. Random thought just occurred: if Honey Badger is cool and Guy on a Buffalo is cool, how insanely awesome is a Honey Badger on a Buffalo or a Guy on a honey Badger.
Here’s a rap for thought:
Yo Rob, your raps are tight
They shed all kinds of spiritual light.
You praise Chipotle and it’s Mexican food
You praise Tebow and all that’s good.
You like movies and so do I
I even like movies that’ll make you cry.
So word to ya man
Rap as long as you can,
Because you’re the best of the best
And I’m you’re number 1 fan
PRAISE TO YOUR GOD
Sean, nice random thought. Oh and the rap was really nice. Good work buddy.
I listened to a lot of rap when I was in high school (in NYC) & for a few years afterward. I worked at a music store called HMV around the time Summertime was released and met DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith when they came to the store to promote the song – still have a tank top from that event even. 🙂
I stopped listening to rap & returned to my country roots (grew up in the mountains in Montana) when rap got mostly ignorant & violent, but one of my students last year got me back into it. He is a budding Christian rap artist (called Lyricsy, but named Dylan Colon) & gives me a copy of everything he records. He also introduced me to Lacrae. You may know Dylan. He’s been to WEC several times. His new album “drops” tomorrow. I’ll send you a link so you can check it out.
I freak my students out when I start quoting old rap songs. They don’t expect it from their 40-year-old white female math teacher. Hahahah!
Kayri, I have met him a couple of times. I’ve never heard his stuff. I’d love to hear it sometime. Oh and I wish I had a teacher that would break into old school rap. Sounds amazing.
His little brother, Michael plays baseball with us and is a sweetie. He raps with him on one of his songs. I love it!! I have the YouTube link at home and will post it tonight so you can listen to it.
Here’s the link for Dylan’s new album: http://www.mediafire.com/?b92wwvs2k7w2x3u
I haven’t listened to it yet, but his past ones have been pretty good. I’ll copy them and bring them to church for you this weekend if you want to check them out.
Move over, Toby Mac! Great job there, Rob.
I’m not really a rap fan, although The Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill is one of my favorite albums of all time.
Larry, the Beastie Boys were so sick back in the day. I’ve wanted to do Sabotage but haven’t found a reason to do it in public.
I can’t knock the rap if you sing it like that!
One thing you didn’t know about me..Hmmmm
I can’t laugh standing up. Actually I can’t laugh sitting down either. I can’t even laugh while I am lying down.
When I laugh my body goes into a convulsion state, which leads to my breathing shutting completely down. Eventually I always get over it. But one day I’ll probably die….laughing.
Ed, no way! That’s crazy. But what a way to go…huh?
I performed a rap in front of my church talent show when I was like 9. Parachute pants and all.
It was a song from The Firefighters (http://www.myspace.com/thefirefighters). Yes, I was the man.
The video was nice.I was thinking that Rap in that days was quite enjoying.
What rap songs from the past year have clean subject matter and safe for middle school?
here is a link to a young Christian rapper’s new album. http://www.mediafire.com/?b92wwvs2k7w2x3u I am friends with his Mom and little brother. (who also raps with him sometimes). Pretty cool!!
I own every album Outkast ever made.
This is amazing. Thank you so much! I’ve been strsesing out trying to find a song to use in our promo video for a project we’re marketing. Just so everything is clear, do I need to credit the website link in the credits? Or is there a specific name you would like?Thanks in advance