Wssshhh. A blue line materializes across the canvas. The artist moves swiftly with an aerosol can expertly poised in hand as he pauses before spraying again, transforming streams of paint into artistically crafted words. However, the final creation is much more than that though. It is a 3-D figure with loud colors that make it pop. Its lines, arrows and zigzags make it captivating, but its meaning makes it worship.
Art that integrates
Tucked away on the upper level of the Student Union Building is a sizeable graffiti mural, symbolizing the integration of urban culture and faith at Biola.
To the untrained eye, graffiti is often difficult to decipher, as the writing is unconventional, to say the least. The contours of the twisting lines draw the viewer’s eye across the painting, but after a period of thoughtful observation, one can read “UNITY.” Smaller words and phrases are written on the sides of the mural. “Unity” appears again in the top left and in the lower left “Jesus Saves!” and “Design’d By God!” The word “Risen” can be seen on the right hand side. The upper right displays “2008,” the year of the mural’s creation. In the center stands a solid blue cross next to a reference to 1 Corinthians 1:18, a verse that communicates the message of the cross.
Vaquero Uno, graffiti artist
Graffiti artist Vaquero Uno is known by his street name, and he painted the piece at Sola Soul, Biola’s annual hip-hop concert. The event, put on by the Associated Students’ Multicultural Relations Board allows Biola artists, musicians, dancers and the surrounding community to express themselves with artistry and showcase the four major elements of hip-hop: graffiti art, break-boys, emcees and DJs. Through these elements they creatively express their beliefs, proclaim their faith and worship God, contributing to an expanding movement known as holy hip-hop.
The roots of hip-hop
Hip-hop itself originated in the Bronx in the 70s when DJ Kool Herc, who is considered the father of hip-hop, introduced Jamaican-style rap and rhythm— now known as emceeing. The new genre gained popularity among New York’s youth as a form of free expression, completely unique to the individual.
Later, the term “hip-hop” would come to include related styles of art, dance and music: including graffiti, break dancing, and DJs. Hip-hop initially served as an outlet for youth in urban environments, but has evolved and expanded over the years to become a popular art form around the globe. It draws people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, providing common ground through creative expression.
Hip-hop tends to push for justice, righting wrongs and standing up for those cast aside and trampled on, creating an example that spoken word poet and Biola alumni Jonathan Calvillo believes should be happening in the broader church culture. He expressed this in the film “Human Tapestry,” created by director of Multi-Ethnic Programs Glen Kinoshita.
Holy hip-hop — for God’s glory
Holy hip-hop was birthed by calls for cultural integration such as this.
It also brings the elements of hip-hop together for God’s glory, worshipping Him through a culturally relevant medium that is typically foreign to the traditional church. Secular hip-hop tends to focus on negative themes such as drugs, sex and violence. Holy hip-hop can take the same musical beats, rhyme and spray paint for God to communicate his word and uplift the body of Christ.
Churches, dance groups and various organizations across the country have embraced the concept of holy hip-hop, and use it to worship God and reach out to the urban community. For example, the Urban Youth Workers Institute works to strengthen a generation of urban leaders within in a ministry context, striving to be holistic, multi-ethnic, relevant and Christ-centered.
Crossover Community Church in Tampa, Fla., pastored by Tommy Kyllonen— also known as Urban D— strives “to relevantly introduce the truth of Christ to those influenced by urban hip-hop culture, as we develop worship, purpose, unity and leadership in their lives.”
Kyllonen also launched the Urban Coaching Network to train other pastors and ministry workers to communicate the gospel to youth influenced by hip-hop in an effective and relevant way.
In Rhythm With Him is a group that dedicates their talent to communicating Jesus Christ through forms of dance, namely break dancing. Also, the United Church of Canada’s WonderCafe campaign began the “Paint Your Faith” initiative, allowing graffiti artists to create a piece of art celebrating faith to spark public conversation about beliefs and values.
Holy hip-hop as a form of worship
“Graffiti always has sort of a negative image and bad connotation, but I really like how Christians can take the graffiti and make it into something really positive as a form of worship,” said freshman Meagan Garton.
This is what Biola accomplishes through events like Sola Soul. When all negative connotations associated with hip-hop are removed, the enrapturing style and culture is then used for holy and uplifting purposes.
“Hip-hop is a vast art form that has been embraced globally, and there are Christian hip-hop artists and ministers who use hip-hop to evangelize, to instruct, to edify and to challenge the urban Christian community as well as use it as a means to spread the gospel,” Kinoshita said. “That’s what Sola Soul is seeking to do and celebrate, and that’s what we’re trying to do on our campus here: to edify and to challenge and instruct as well as a means of worship.”
This year, Sola Soul will be held on Sunday, Nov. 21, to give the Biola community the opportunity to embrace holy hip-hop while glorifying God.
