Orthodox Priest ( Fr. Kurlenko) Using Hip Hop to Spread Faith

Gxg (G²) · Oct 8, 2014

Yeshua HaDerekh said:
My fav Matiysahu track is probably this one

Matisyahu - Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness Comes Light) - YouTube

I like this one too

Nosson Zand - Believers feat. Matisyahu [Official Video] - YouTube

Yeshua HaDerekh said:

And of course the universal message of Shalom

Matisyahu - One Day - YouTube

Click to expand...

As good as Matishyahu is, I have to note that the thread really isn't dedicated to him since he really isn't a believer in Christ (hence, the dynamic of using rap or Hip Hop to promote the Gospel ..and examining those within Orthodoxy who use rap or are a part of Hip Hop culture). I'm not saying he's one who doesn't believe in God or that he doesn't have songs with a universal message and application (as I like the man, especially his Caribbean/Reggae flavors in his music, and have shared on that before - be it #30 or #11, #10 or #1 - - but he's not a believer in Christ and thus not one whom I'd really center on promoting when it comes to reaching others for the Lord. He may be one who could help in giving a point of common ground - but he'd not be one on the same level as others who started off as believers in Christ (like Fr. Kurlenko in Russia) and promoting Jesus from the jump. Hope that makes sense

Gxg (G²) · Oct 8, 2014

Soma Seer said:
Forgive me for not attributing this quote more simply; CF is giving me issues with direct quotes again.

Everyone has those days where that happens so I feel ya..

I've known that Matisyahu raps but hadn't heard his music until today. (I've known of and enjoy his work in The Possession. ) I'm a sometimes rap fan, in that I like the "gentler" stuff--not the hardcore, misogynistic variety. If it has a more positive vibe, I can get on board. And even though Matisyahu's style is a bit more fast/frantic than I prefer, I can concede that he has talent.

I've never been a fan of the misogynistic or inappropriate form of rap that gets promoted far too often (more shared in #230 ) - and I also tend to like the styles of rap that involve singing. The Fugees (made up of rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel ) come to mind - or others like Outkast and many others who merged Rapping With Singing.

Matisyahu has a very fast style indeed....but it catches your attention

.

Gxg (G²) · Oct 8, 2014

SuperCloud said:
Gxg,

You are right about one thing for sure, Hip Hop is rather broad and wide in what it will accommodate, and certainly Hip Hop people can and are involved in Salsa. Also, as you pointed out, there are other genres of rap besides gangster rap.

Thankfully there are many more genres besides gangster rap and Hip Hop has evolved in several differing trajectories - some degenerate (as is the case in every culture) and others beneficial.

Soma Seer · Oct 8, 2014

Matisyahu has a very fast style indeed....but it catches your attention.

The more I listen to Matisyahu's work, the more I find myself liking it.

I see Fr. Kurlenko's talent, as well; it's too bad that I don't understand Russian, or I probably would appreciate it even more.

Gxg (G²) · Oct 8, 2014

Soma Seer said:
The more I listen to Matisyahu's work, the more I find myself liking it.

I see Fr. Kurlenko's talent, as well; it's too bad that I don't understand Russian, or I probably would appreciate it even more.

I tried to find the videos that had translation on them so that Fr. Kurlenko could be shared with others not knowing Russia - hoping that will come soon

Gxg (G²) · Mar 3, 2015

Got this from one of my Orthodox Sisters AS we were talking on the use of rap, as she noted Greek speaking monks (who do contemporary musical forms) - on Free Monks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T73kW1meoc0

It came up after we were having a conversation on the issue of rap - and as she wisely noted:

The Greek speaking fathers did not only use the strength of the Greek language (the conceptual)... find the poetry of St. Gregory the Theologian, or the commentaries of St. Gregory of Nyssa (on the Song of Songs)

E.C. · Mar 3, 2015

So, this one time I was watching this Lebanese documentary show where they were talking about the Orthodox Christian sites in Lebanon and during this extended shot of a valley the music in the background was the sound of monks chanting, in English, "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica.

jckstraw72 · Mar 3, 2015

ArmyMatt said:
y'all should hear jckstraw's Orthodox rap. one of his lines (not kidding) says we need to stop and smell the Seraphim Roses.....and you thought my puns were bad

hold up! that was a joke! that was never in the actual rap! don't break my heart, fooski!

jckstraw72 · Mar 3, 2015

but there is a song by this Serbian band, Mesta, called "Platina" - dedicated to Fr. Seraphim. The singer said somewhere that if it weren't for Fr. Seraphim they'd all be dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKvYoJm2wsE

here's the lyrics:

PLATINA

Wake up and rise
Dont look back
Give away all you have
Grace is enough
Keep the end in mind
Find the land
A spring running from stone

Life hidden
Neck bowed down
Sheets frozen
Gift of tears
Body humbled
Heart unbound
Clear sight

Open wound
The sky open
Signs of the times
Consolation in books
The end is near
The end is near
The end is near

dzheremi · Mar 3, 2015

This thread made me wonder if the Coptic Orthodox Church has anything similar. I haven't ever heard Coptic rap (it seems like it would work, though; the language flows very nicely just as a language already), but I did find this "Coptic Rock Band" in San Diego. Eh...don't want to trash some kids who are trying to do something different, but to me this just proves that Coptic melodies don't work at all on Western instruments. It's different. I'll give it that. I kind of hate squealing guitars, though. Also, they inserted applause at the end. Hahaha. Egyptians are so tacky. Wow. I'm surprised there aren't flashing lights around the border of the video image.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA5kXPIEjH0

I dunno...at least they don't have some guy bellowing the lyrics over it, Metallica-style.

ArmyMatt · Mar 3, 2015

jckstraw72 said:
hold up! that was a joke! that was never in the actual rap! don't break my heart, fooski!

negative! I remember when you and Mr B rocked that at the College Conference. I break your heart over the Orthodox Board!

Gxg (G²) · Mar 7, 2015

E.C. said:
So, this one time I was watching this Lebanese documentary show where they were talking about the Orthodox Christian sites in Lebanon and during this extended shot of a valley the music in the background was the sound of monks chanting, in English, "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica.

Wow - would never have thought of or seen that one coming....

the_Abbot · Mar 7, 2015

Here is a Coptic rapper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdmWvWGqqK8

dzheremi · Mar 7, 2015

Hmm. That's cool. It's not my kind of music, but I like seeing people from traditional Christian cultures like Copts, Syriacs, Russian Orthodox, etc. using rap and similar music like that to reach the younger generation, since that's what a lot of kids and young adults respond to. Syriacs especially, since their language is endangered so it helps the youth who might wonder what good it is to preserve their language when the wider community in the countries they often live in speak only European languages, and shows that you can be modern and not give up your language and culture or relegate it only to church or family functions. I have heard some Syriac rap, particularly from Sweden. Again, not my thing musically, but I'd at least support it more than the "sex and money" rap that is much more popular (sadly). Sometimes they even make football (soccer) anthems, which is probably the ultimate sign of integration into European society, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYHcXzZGEvM

jckstraw72 · Mar 7, 2015

ArmyMatt said:
negative! I remember when you and Mr B rocked that at the College Conference. I break your heart over the Orthodox Board!

hmmm, maybe we said it, but if so it was just us spittin' it on the mic, droppin' hot bombs, but it wasn't part of the actual rap.

ArmyMatt · Mar 7, 2015

jckstraw72 said:
hmmm, maybe we said it, but if so it was just us spittin' it on the mic, droppin' hot bombs, but it wasn't part of the actual rap.

pfffft, I read the lyrics foo!

jckstraw72 · Mar 7, 2015

ArmyMatt said:
pfffft, I read the lyrics foo!

in this world we must make a desert abode
in our souls to fight evil, but never alone
cause as Joel prophesied
after Christ died
the Spirit was poured out in tongues of fire
to give us gifts of grace and to humble our souls
to empty ourselves and Christ make us whole
in the desert we find, the spirits of those
like St. Mary of Egypt and Fr. Seraphim Rose
who wept before God for forgiveness of sins
and by their prayers may He usher us in

BAM! that's the mention of Fr. Seraphim.

ArmyMatt · Mar 7, 2015

I musta read an early draft, cause I know you said to stop and smell the Seraphim Roses, because I remember Mr B cracking up when he read that.

Gxg (G²) · Mar 9, 2015

dzheremi said:
This thread made me wonder if the Coptic Orthodox Church has anything similar. I haven't ever heard Coptic rap (it seems like it would work, though; the language flows very nicely just as a language already), but I did find this "Coptic Rock Band" in San Diego. Eh...don't want to trash some kids who are trying to do something different, but to me this just proves that Coptic melodies don't work at all on Western instruments. It's different. I'll give it that. I kind of hate squealing guitars, though. Also, they inserted applause at the end. Hahaha. Egyptians are so tacky. Wow. I'm surprised there aren't flashing lights around the border of the video image.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA5kXPIEjH0

I dunno...at least they don't have some guy bellowing the lyrics over it, Metallica-style.

Interesting.....

Orthodox Priest ( Fr. Kurlenko) Using Hip Hop to Spread Faith

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