If you’ve followed hip-hop to some degree, you will remember “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. This single, released in 1982, was the first rap song to go platinum and it did so in about a month. Remember the hook,“Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge. I’m tryin’ not to lose my head. It’s like a jungle; sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under”?
What was unique about this song is that, though in its infancy, hip-hop was being used to call awareness to depravity and its pervasive effect on social structures. Quickly, America saw that hip-hop was not only about juvenile rebellion, but a platform to voice concerns about serious issues.
It is still being used that way, only this time it’s being used to address some all too important truths concerning the Christian faith, particularly the ecclesiological aspects or the study of the church. For some, church is nothing more than a chance to leverage business opportunities. For others, it is a place to widen social circles without any true desire to function as God’s redeemed community. Still others really don’t have a biblical understanding of what church or other essential truths of Christianity are. Scripture tells us in Ephesians 3:10 that through the church, God makes His wisdom known!!! Selah ! Enter Lampmode Recordings and their latest release, The Church: Called & Collected to remind us of this unchanging truth.
Taking its cue from Mark Dever’s book, “What Is A Healthy Church?”, Lampmode and other artists address topics such as biblical theology, evangelism, church discipline, conversion and expositional preaching.
I highly encourage you to pick this album up at Lampmode Recordings or iTunes.
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far!
Grace & Peace,
d.
Urban Resurgence 
IMO, and maybe because of the recent events in my life it’s the best I’ve ever heard as far as content and beat …. Good review!
hey dave … it was maaaad silent at Legacy this year when STL performed his song from this album. you know which song i’m talking about: membership. it’s understandable since the hook is VERY provocative, but at the same time it’s telling that membership & the biblical implications of it isn’t taught a lot.