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Christian hip-hop show puts positive spin on rap

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By David Burke | Wednesday, May 7, 2008 2:01 PM CDT | () comments

Forget all those headlines about rappers and hip-hop artists in myriad manners of legal trouble, Rob Vanderpool says.

The Davenport-based concert producer will show the other side of the coin with the second Souled Out concert next weekend at Living Passions Studios in Davenport.

“Hip-hop music has a negative image just because of all the violence that you see, even around here. This is the other side,” added Vanderpool, who bills himself as DJ Big Rob. “It’s not all bad and not about selling drugs and killing people and stuff like that.”

The first concert during November brought in more than 300 people, he said.

Hip-hop performers scheduled to perform next weekend include the Davenport duo Redafyned & Young Hero, as well as performers from the Chicago area and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The lone non-rap act on the bill is Doors Open, a pop trio based in Nashville that includes Bettendorf native Nicole Johnson, Vanderpool said.

Vanderpool formerly hosted a Christian hip-hop show on St. Ambrose University radio station KALA-FM (88.5), and works at Family Christian Stores in Davenport, which, he said, has some rap in its inventory.

But Christian hip-hop stars are largely unknown, he said.

“There’s a lot of artists out there, just not a lot of mainstream artists,” he added. “Just on my MySpace (page) alone, I’ve got 800 artists. They just don’t get any airplay.”

Some of the performers on the national scene have had success in mainstream hip-hop, he said, and then tired of the lifestyle.

“A lot of these artists have been there, done that and are giving their life to Christ,” Vanderpool said. “They’re telling you the other side of what all these other mainstream artists are rapping about.

“They have a really positive message and a really influential way of rapping.”

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Still Souled Out, featuring DNA/Testifiy, C.O.G., Prosperity Entertainment, 2-Face, Divind Connection & Friends, Re-Dafyned & Young Hero, Z.E.K.E, J-Kwest and Doors Open

When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 16

Where: Living Passions Studios, 332 E. 2nd St., Davenport

How much: Free, with donations accepted

Information: (563) 579-3789 or MySpace.com/4ChristMusic on the Web