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Hear some of the music.
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Between the lines
By MARY STEGMEIR, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO --- As a California teen in the '90s, Sho Baraka joined a rap group called "Poet Society." The ensemble found moderate success, opening for major acts including New Edition and Missy Elliott.
But by the time Baraka graduated from high school it was clear the group was not destined to stay together. The members disbanded, and the musician watched as other close friends were killed or incarcerated due to gang involvement.
"It was the height of gangsta rap," said Baraka, now 28, who chose to go to college instead. "It was all about thug life."
Today, Baraka uses his music to spread a different message. As a solo artist and member of the Christian hip hop group 116 Clique, the Texas man sings about his faith. On Monday, Cedar Valley residents can hear his new style firsthand at a 116 concert in Waterloo. Other artists in the group include LeCrae, Trip Lee and Tedashii.
"Whatever I'm talking about I want to direct people to a better understanding of God and who we are in God," Baraka said. "Me being creative, and my having witty lines can only go so far. The gospel message is going to be the power."
Shout! Ministries, a local evangelical outreach organization, is sponsoring the concert. Local hip-hop group Band of Christians, will open the event at 5 p.m. Shout! president Chassidi Ferguson said the mission of 116 Clique matches well with her organization's goals of uniting people of faith and caring for the Cedar Valley's less fortunate.
"This is sharing Christ in a relative way with the generation that identifies with hip-hop and hip-hop culture," Ferguson said. "When you put the message in a flow that they recognize, and they recognize the style and the beat, they listen."
Shout! and the members of 116 Clique also agree that the church is more than a building. That's why Ferguson pushed for the concert to be held in Sullivan Park.
"We wanted it in that location, and we wanted it to be free because we wanted to make sure that the neighborhood kids who hang out there can come," she said. "Jesus Christ was hardly ever within the walls of the church. He was always out, doing things that were radically different for the time he was living on Earth."
Hip-hop artist Baraka sings a song --- "Rebuild this City" --- in a similar vein.
"I challenge believers to be a part of the community: To meet the people, help the poor, take care of the orphans and be a part of restoring their community," he said.
During the show the members of 116 Clique will share stories about their faith. Baraka became a Christian as a sophomore at Tuskegee University in Alabama.
"I was at the point where I was looking for answers in life," he said. "Telling people that (and) talking about our own lives and our own journeys shows people that we are for real."
And the music?
Baraka laughs.
"The good thing about hip-hop is that whether or not people like the content, they'll at least listen," he said. "Good music gets respect."
Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.
But by the time Baraka graduated from high school it was clear the group was not destined to stay together. The members disbanded, and the musician watched as other close friends were killed or incarcerated due to gang involvement.
"It was the height of gangsta rap," said Baraka, now 28, who chose to go to college instead. "It was all about thug life."
Today, Baraka uses his music to spread a different message. As a solo artist and member of the Christian hip hop group 116 Clique, the Texas man sings about his faith. On Monday, Cedar Valley residents can hear his new style firsthand at a 116 concert in Waterloo. Other artists in the group include LeCrae, Trip Lee and Tedashii.
"Whatever I'm talking about I want to direct people to a better understanding of God and who we are in God," Baraka said. "Me being creative, and my having witty lines can only go so far. The gospel message is going to be the power."
Shout! Ministries, a local evangelical outreach organization, is sponsoring the concert. Local hip-hop group Band of Christians, will open the event at 5 p.m. Shout! president Chassidi Ferguson said the mission of 116 Clique matches well with her organization's goals of uniting people of faith and caring for the Cedar Valley's less fortunate.
"This is sharing Christ in a relative way with the generation that identifies with hip-hop and hip-hop culture," Ferguson said. "When you put the message in a flow that they recognize, and they recognize the style and the beat, they listen."
Shout! and the members of 116 Clique also agree that the church is more than a building. That's why Ferguson pushed for the concert to be held in Sullivan Park.
"We wanted it in that location, and we wanted it to be free because we wanted to make sure that the neighborhood kids who hang out there can come," she said. "Jesus Christ was hardly ever within the walls of the church. He was always out, doing things that were radically different for the time he was living on Earth."
Hip-hop artist Baraka sings a song --- "Rebuild this City" --- in a similar vein.
"I challenge believers to be a part of the community: To meet the people, help the poor, take care of the orphans and be a part of restoring their community," he said.
During the show the members of 116 Clique will share stories about their faith. Baraka became a Christian as a sophomore at Tuskegee University in Alabama.
"I was at the point where I was looking for answers in life," he said. "Telling people that (and) talking about our own lives and our own journeys shows people that we are for real."
And the music?
Baraka laughs.
"The good thing about hip-hop is that whether or not people like the content, they'll at least listen," he said. "Good music gets respect."
Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.
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