Call it positive rap. Call it holy hip-hop. Toss in the words Christian or gospel if you want. Just don’t call it lame — at least not anymore.
The music genre that has long been stigmatized as sub-par and downright cheesy can no longer be relegated to second-class status. Today’s faith-based emcees are bringing it for real and they aren’t going to disappear anytime soon.
If you’ve given up on finding legitimate hip-hop that won’t tear you down with negative messages, here’s a look at some of the hottest rap artists and groups who just might restore your faith in the scene. Our print story focused on The Cross Movement, Deepspace 5, KJ-52, Grits, L.A. Symphony and more. The beats roll on here with Jon Rueben, da' t.r.u.t.h., Lojique, Manafest, DJ Maj, Tunnel Rats and others.
JOHN REUBEN
If you’ve followed John Reuben’s career from his first national release in 2000 until now, you’ve noticed some significant changes. His transformation from a pop/rock influenced rapper to a more eclectically diverse artist has caused some to wonder if he’s bailing on the art form altogether.
"A lot of people think I’m abandoning hip-hop, which is not the case," John responds. "I love what I grew up listening to; I love the scene; and I love the creativity that flows in and out of that scene. But I’ve always been that fringe hip-hop artist even since my first record. There was a mix of a little bit of everything."
John says he wrote enough material for two records when working on his latest release, The Boy vs. The Cynic (Gotee Records). One was supposed to be a side project. Instead, all the songs were melded into a single offering of multi-genre tunes. For instance, "Nuisance" features Matt Thiessen of Relient K and "So Glad" features Tim Skipper from House of Heroes.
"The thing that initially attracted me to hip-hop was how much you could say in a song," John says. "It was a chance to express myself poetically. I still keep those same principles. I’ve just been stretching what type of music I put behind it. It’s definitely hip-hop, but it’s more on the experimental side."
MORE POSITIVE PICKS
DJ MAJ
Christian hip-hop’s patron saint of the turntables, DJ Maj has proven he can hold his own as an original artist or as the remix master who has made his radio show "Virtual Frequency" a national phenomenon.
4TH AVENUE JONES
There’s nothing conventional about this rap-rock influenced band fronted by Ahmed and Tina Jones. Nowhere else will you hear elements of hip-hop, punk, funk and R & B rolled into one intriguingly rich sound.
Da’ T.R.U.T.H.
A protégé of The Cross Movement, da’ t.r.u.t.h. brings an intellectually charged delivery. Musically, this rising star relies on healthy doses of R & B, soul and club music that are sure to keep the stiffest of craniums bobbing.
MAT KEARNEY
Somewhere between Everlast and Beck, you’ll find the lyrical musings of Mat Kearney. He utilizes rap vocals and melodic singing with virtual ease, all the while taking aim at serious issues of the heart.
LOJIQUE
Having a half-ton of knowledge dropped into your brain never sounded so fun. Keeping up with Lojique’s fast-paced, cleverly-placed tongue-in-cheek rhymes makes the discovery of this unheralded artist all the more rewarding.
MANAFEST
This Canadian boy wonder got into hip-hop while recovering from a skateboarding injury. He mixes rap and hard rock for an emotionally bent experience.
TUNNEL RATS
Eclectic doesn’t begin to describe this formidable crew from the West Coast. Unafraid to tackle tough subject matter both inside and outside of the church, Tunnel Rats offers a heaping helping of thought-provoking lyrics and relentless jazz-spiced beats. 
