Hip Hop Hermeneutics: How the Culture Influences Preachers

Authors

Dwight A. Radcliffe Jr.

Abstract

"Hip Hop Hermeneutics" essay lays out findings of current research into how Hip Hop culture has been formational for African American preachers, and how that culture informs their preaching. There is a generation of preachers leading congregations today that have grown up with Hip Hop. Hip Hop culture has left an indelible mark upon them; just as the church has. How does the cultural influence of Hip Hop affect their preaching? Hip Hop hermeneutics is the response put forth by this article. This article traces the practice and theology of early African American preachers, the work of James Cone in Black Liberation theology, and Womanist theologians to demonstrate how Black theology has always included the Black experience as part of its theological norm. The article then posits that the next generation of Black theology must take into account that Hip Hop is also part of that Black experience, before going on to delineate a Hip Hop hermeneutic. A Hip Hop hermeneutic is a particular way of reading scripture that embraces the honest and raw fullness of the Black experience.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.34718/9C50-3J58

Volume

5

Issue

1

Rights

© The Journal

Recommended Citation

Radcliffe, Dwight A. Jr. (2018) "Hip Hop Hermeneutics: How the Culture Influences Preachers," Journal of Hip Hop Studies: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jhhs/vol5/iss1/7