Finnish rappers turn gangsta style toward Christian faith

Christian rap in Finland combines the conventions of rap culture with a Christian message, Yle reports. Artists including Jodahe and Amos say they want to share the hope they have found through their faith.

Jodahe Sabure, who performs as Jodahe, uses the familiar imagery of rap videos in his music video for “Uus”: masculine bravado, shadowy urban landscapes and large groups of people. The lyrics, however, focus on Christ and God.

“Uus” is an example of the Christian rap made by young Finnish men. Its carefully created, dark-toned visuals and music draw on recognisable features of rap culture, while the core message is rooted in gospel and spirituality.

“It would be impossible to exclude the whole of rap culture simply because we are dealing with this particular angle,” Jodahe says.

Christian rap videos generally do not use the elements most associated with gangsta rap.

“You may not see anyone twerking in our videos, and we do not wave knives or guns in them,” Jodahe says.

Salim Ouazizi, who performs as Amos, takes a similar view.

“Christian rap does not really have visual differences from other rap genres. Perhaps an artist might have a large cross or a picture of Jesus on the back of a shirt,” Amos says.

His music video for “Risti”, released in March, contains no direct religious symbols. Instead, Amos walks through a freezing winter landscape while singing that the broken vessel still lives through the cross.

From Muslim to Christian rapper

Christian rap is a relatively overlooked subgenre in Finland. One of its pioneers is Mikael Meklin, who performs as Mikaveli and is also one half of the duo Immanuel.

The Pastorit collective, founded in 2009, has been one of Jodahe’s musical influences.

“I thought, goodness, gospel can also be made this way, credibly. Through Pastorit, I found my own voice,” Jodahe says.

Jodahe comes from a religious family where only spiritual music was played. Amos has a very different background. He was originally Muslim but converted to Christianity two years ago and became a Christian rapper in the process.

Amos describes the conversion as a transformative experience that completely changed his life.

“Previously, I sought God not only in other religions but also in money, material things, the bottom of a bottle and drugs. It never worked. I began to think about who I really was, what the purpose of life was, who God was and whether God even truly existed,” he says.

Amos says he did not encounter a living God in Islam. Leaving his former religion and converting to Christianity was not without difficulties.

“My father and I did not speak for two months, but now I thank God that my father has not disowned or rejected me,” he says.

Using rap to spread the gospel

Missionary work and evangelism, meaning the proclamation of the basic message of Christian faith, have always been important parts of Christianity. Amos sees Christian rap as a way to carry out that work.

“I have experienced that God wants to use me to call his daughters and sons back to him. That is exactly what we have set out to do: to share joy, hope, peace and freedom, the things we have found in Jesus,” Amos says.

Jodahe says it is natural for an artist making Christian rap to have certain values and want to talk about them. Faith is central to the lives of artists such as him and Amos.