Overview

Welcome to this exploration of the Roots of hip-hop. The roots of hip-hop, as in: the Roots--a story of one of the most enduring, multi-talented, and successful groups of the past thirty years in any genre--and the story of the roots of hip-hop, that is, the story of hip-hop, a musical culture born in New York's South Bronx during the 1970s. Alongside the two hip-hop stories I tell here, I also tell the story about what God has to do with the Roots of hip-hop--a theological story, if you will. I describe how, in the process of becoming one of the most creative faith-rooted voices in music today, the Roots' developed a calling as artists. And I do this, in part, to say that you, too, can discover and live your prophetic calling. You can't help but be inspired by the Roots. Yet the best result of that is that you become inspired to be your most playful, passionate, purposeful, prophetic self in the world around you.

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9781532612190

Table of Contents

Reviews

Scharen constructively develops a theology of spiritual giftedness . . . from examples of brilliant musicality in an African American artist and genre that become a trope to examine the transcendent prophetic gifting of voices for racial and social justice. The provocative call to other theologians and scholars is to take seriously the lived experiences of the millennial generation, whose worldviews are cogent for present and future as change agents. --Valerie Miles-Tribble, Berkeley School of Theology Hip-hop acts have been such an important prophetic voice for the world and for the church, and the Roots have been chief among them. This book effectively uses these hip-hop luminaries as a portal into the larger creative activity of God in hip-hop culture. Scharen is always a clear writer and a sharp historian. I recommend this book to my fellow humans who love hip-hop and love the church. --David Scherer, Cofounder of JUSTmove: Antiracism Education Through the Arts With verve, imagination, and White race consciousness, Scharen invites us on an incredible journey into hip-hop. The book is especially meant for those new to the subject but will also win over those who yearn to live out their calling with greater passion, playfulness, and purposeful pursuit of justice. A wonderful example of theology at work in the world. --Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Vanderbilt University, retired Someone Has to Care is a deft, thoughtful exploration of the shared tapestry of hip-hop and theological imaginations. Christian Scharen writes with clarity and conviction as both a lover of music and a theologian, reminding us as readers that the play, passion, and purpose of life are serious, joyful matters. The result is a lovely paean not only to the Roots' musical journey, but also to the prophetic possibility within us all. --Kyle Brooks, Methodist Theological School

Scharen constructively develops a theology of spiritual giftedness . . . from examples of brilliant musicality in an African American artist and genre that become a trope to examine the transcendent prophetic gifting of voices for racial and social justice. The provocative call to other theologians and scholars is to take seriously the lived experiences of the millennial generation, whose worldviews are cogent for present and future as change agents. --Valerie Miles-Tribble, Berkeley School of Theology Hip-hop acts have been such an important prophetic voice for the world and for the church, and the Roots have been chief among them. This book effectively uses these hip-hop luminaries as a portal into the larger creative activity of God in hip-hop culture. Scharen is always a clear writer and a sharp historian. I recommend this book to my fellow humans who love hip-hop and love the church. --David Scherer, Cofounder of JUSTmove: Antiracism Education Through the Arts With verve, imagination, and White race consciousness, Scharen invites us on an incredible journey into hip-hop. The book is especially meant for those new to the subject but will also win over those who yearn to live out their calling with greater passion, playfulness, and purposeful pursuit of justice. A wonderful example of theology at work in the world. --Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Vanderbilt University, retired Someone Has to Care is a deft, thoughtful exploration of the shared tapestry of hip-hop and theological imaginations. Christian Scharen writes with clarity and conviction as both a lover of music and a theologian, reminding us as readers that the play, passion, and purpose of life are serious, joyful matters. The result is a lovely paean not only to the Roots' musical journey, but also to the prophetic possibility within us all. --Kyle Brooks, Methodist Theological School

Author Information

Christian Scharen is Pastor of St. Lydia's Dinner Church in Brooklyn, New York. He is the author of Fieldwork in Theology (2015), Broken Hallelujahs (2011), and One Step Closer (2006).

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