If you haven’t heard of 116 Clique, you are missing out. They are a group of Christian rap artists under the Reach Records label. Probably the most popular of the artists is Lecrae.
What I love so much about these artists is the fact that their rap is not some cheesy Christian rap with bad rhymes and terrible sound. They sound like secular rappers. And that’s why I like them. What’s better is that 116 (which comes from Romans 1:16) Clique is what I call “Reformed Rap.” Interesting isn’t it? You wouldn’t think that rap would have deep spiritual messages or solid biblical theology. This stuff does and it’s good.
Take a look at some of the lyrics from Lecrae and Flame:
The Truth – Lecrae
We’re elected and chosen, predestined just to behold Him / Now I’ve got joy from my shoulders all down to my achilles’
The King – Lecrae
We talkin’ ’bout the Sovereign ruler, dawg…Yeah we talkin bout absolute sovereignty, who rules over the earth in it’s entirety, who will be back to reign! / Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is king of the kings.
Who Can Pluck Us Out His Hand? – Flame
I’m trying to tell you something you probably have never heard / And if you have you probably perceive them as dirty words / Words like election and predestination can get you stoned and thrown out of a congregation / But there in the Bible we gotta talk-talk about it…When Jesus died He drank the full cup of God’s Wrath / When He was crucified it was on our behalf, for all those the Father chose in eternity past / To be redeemed that simply means to be bought back / So when Christ expired the debt and the price was paid for particular people on that night to be saved / Now you wonder why would I say something like that?
On That Cross – Flame
You showed me which way to go / O, Lord, you even saved my soul…Father you were pleased to bruise your own Son / So sinners could come and be redeemed
James Pruch 