Something’s happening in Christian music.
A new wave of artists is transcending traditional notions of gospel, drawing young global audiences to faith-based rap, Afrobeats, and R&B. Often boosted by social media, many of them got their start with independent labels or by uploading self-made songs to streaming platforms. Now, bigger labels and streaming services are catching on.
People are looking for “something soul-feeding, something forward-looking, positive,” says James “Trig” Rosseau Sr., CEO of Holy Culture Radio. “They find a sonic coziness, but then a message that is feeding that need.”
And the world is noticing.
Not Your Grandmother’s Gospel
Christian rap’s star rose when Grammy-winning rapper Lecrae Moore became the first hip-hop artist to top both the Billboard 200 and the Gospel charts simultaneously. His success proved that faith-based music could compete at the highest levels without compromising its message.
Today, newer artists are modernizing Christian hip-hop even further. Florida rappers Caleb Gordon and Alex Jean are among those leaning into rap’s subgenres as well as Afrobeats, the popular blend of West African music styles. Nigerian Christian Afrobeats pioneer Limoblaze is now signed to Lecrae’s Reach Records label, and artists such as CalledOut Music and “The Voice UK” winner Annatoria are on the rise.
“I think the world is now like, we can hear ourselves represented,” Lecrae says.
Angela Jollivette, who previously oversaw the Grammy Awards’ Gospel/Contemporary Christian categories and runs Moonbaby Media, sees momentum building: “There’s something happening momentum-wise, and it still feels underground, but now it’s starting to get the visibility that it’s deserving.”
From Trap Houses to Gospel
Perhaps no artist embodies this transformation more than Childlike CiCi.
She got her start as a secular artist recording in “trap houses” — drug-selling homes where some of hip-hop’s biggest names propelled trap music to popularity. After becoming a Christian, she sought to make music she couldn’t find anywhere else: rooted in faith but inspired by trap and its more aggressive counterpart, drill.
“When people think of Christian hip-hop, they expect it to just be like Kidz Bop,” she says. “I think it’s bigger than that. Like, the Bible is not Kidz Bop.”
Rapper Jackie Hill Perry takes a similar approach. “I’m giving them sounds that are ghetto and cool, but not profane,” she explains. She describes Christian rap today as less intellectual and more “vibe-driven” than when she started more than a decade ago — and that’s not a bad thing.
These artists want to write music they can play around their children without sacrificing the craft that makes hip-hop compelling.
The Rise of AfroGospel
Meanwhile, a global movement is emerging from Africa and the African diaspora.
Limoblaze (born Samuel Onwubiko) grew up in Nigeria, where he discovered Christian rappers like Lecrae, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., and Tedashii. Their music transformed his faith “from a religious practice to an actual relationship with Jesus.” Now based in London, he’s pioneering a genre he calls “AfroGospel” — blending Afrobeats rhythms with gospel messages.
His remix of “Jireh (My Provider)” featuring Lecrae and Happi became an instant viral hit, racking up over 110,000 Instagram Reels and tens of thousands of TikTok creates. The song reached Billboard’s US Afrobeat chart, Hot Christian Songs chart, and Gospel chart simultaneously.
“Limo is the future!” Lecrae says. “He bridges Afrobeats and Gospel! He’s what the industry is missing and what the world needs!”
Capitalising on Afrobeats’ global popularity, Limoblaze met with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon. Soon after, Amazon launched its first Afrogospel playlist.
“I think Christian Afrobeats is slowly but eventually going to be on a mainstream level, at least in the African music scene,” Limoblaze predicts.
Trap Gospel: Speaking Their Language
The emerging “trap gospel” movement proves that faith can speak any musical language.
Alex Jean, a Florida rapper whose heavy-bass voice recalls the late drill rapper Pop Smoke, initially grabbed attention with his sound. But the message is what made listeners stay. His songs “Walking In Peace” and “Forever In Faith” accumulated over 1.5 million views on TikTok. Jean became the first Christian artist to perform for On The Radar Radio, a hip-hop platform notorious for viral freestyles from Drake, Central Cee, Ice Spice, and other influential secular rappers.
“Music started in heaven, God created music and then it became twisted,” Jean explains. “Whenever I hop on a song or a sample, that’s me introducing [listeners] to how music started and what music is.”
North Carolina rapper Mike Teezy experienced the power of this approach firsthand when his track “Communion” — a catchy rap about the Christian sacrament — played through a taxi’s radio speakers. A listener practicing witchcraft heard the lyrics and immediately reached out with her testimony. The song had sparked her return to faith.
Atlanta-based rapper BigBreeze uses trap sounds like “ratchet drums” and distorted 808s to rap about Jesus. “When it comes to spreading the gospel to people in poverty, the trenches, or just low-income family housing,” he explains, “I know what type of music attracts their ears and I know what they like to hear.”
Breaking Into the Mainstream
Christian rappers are increasingly appearing in secular spaces that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
Christian rappers Caleb Gordon, Alex Jean, nobigdyl., Hulvey, Jon Keith, and GAWVI have performed at Rolling Loud Miami — one of hip-hop’s biggest festivals. Rolling Loud later gave a solo set to Christian rapper Miles Minnick, who has spoken on Grammy panels and performed at Super Bowl events.
Artists like Wande, signed to Reach Records, have had songs appear in commercials and TV shows. She was cast on Oprah Winfrey’s reality series “Young & Gospel” and TBN’s “Girl Talk.”
These aren’t artists hiding their faith to gain mainstream acceptance. They’re artists whose faith is the whole point — and audiences are responding.
The Industry Catches Up
Streaming platforms have noticed the dedicated fanbases these artists command.
Lauren Stellato, programming lead for Christian and gospel music at Amazon Music, observes that while streaming numbers for these subgenres remain smaller than mainstream counterparts, their fanbases’ dedication is outsized.
“These young artists and young fans are bringing faith into sounds and spaces that they really already live in,” she says. “The audiences are responding to it because it feels natural.”
The Recording Academy is working to develop a “rhythm and praise” Grammy category to better represent artists who compete against vastly different sounds in existing faith-based categories. Currently, a trap gospel rapper might find themselves nominated alongside a traditional worship leader — hardly a fair comparison.
Mat Anderson, senior vice president of label strategy and operations at Sony Music Entertainment’s Provident Entertainment, acknowledges the challenge: Christian music is a lyric-based term, so categorising artists in a “generation that doesn’t really draw genre distinctions” requires new thinking.
A Historical Pattern
Churches have long resisted acts that veer from tradition. Kirk Franklin faced fierce opposition when he introduced his modern gospel sound in the 1990s. Today, he’s considered a legend.
Emmett G. Price III, a professor of music at Northeastern University who studies Black sacred music, sees this pattern repeating. Every generation pushes boundaries, and every generation faces resistance from those who prefer tradition.
But the music keeps evolving. And the message keeps spreading.
Why It Matters
For believers seeking music that reflects both their faith and their culture, this movement fills a crucial gap.
These artists aren’t sanitising hip-hop — they’re redeeming it. They’re not rejecting the sounds they grew up with — they’re using those sounds to point people toward something greater.
“The Latino church, the Black church, the African church — we all bring something unique to the table,” observes one industry insider. “This generation isn’t asking permission anymore. They’re just making the music they wish existed.”
And people are listening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Christian hip-hop?
Christian hip-hop (also called CHH or holy hip-hop) is a subgenre of hip-hop music that expresses Christian faith through rap and hip-hop production. It uses the same musical elements as secular hip-hop but with lyrics that glorify God, share testimonies, or explore faith themes.
Who is the most famous Christian rapper?
Lecrae Moore is widely considered the most influential Christian rapper. He became the first hip-hop artist to simultaneously top the Billboard 200 and Gospel charts. His label, Reach Records, has signed many of today’s emerging Christian hip-hop artists.
What is AfroGospel?
AfroGospel (also called Christian Afrobeats) is a genre that blends Afrobeats — the popular West African music style — with gospel lyrics and themes. Nigerian artist Limoblaze is considered a pioneer of the genre and helped launch Amazon Music’s first Afrogospel playlist.
What is trap gospel?
Trap gospel combines the production style of trap music (heavy bass, 808 drums, hi-hats) with Christian lyrics. Artists like Alex Jean, Mike Teezy, BigBreeze, and Childlike CiCi use familiar hip-hop sounds to spread faith messages to audiences who might not engage with traditional gospel.
Are Christian rappers performing at secular festivals?
Yes. Christian rappers including Caleb Gordon, Alex Jean, nobigdyl., Hulvey, Jon Keith, and GAWVI have performed at Rolling Loud Miami, one of hip-hop’s biggest festivals. This represents a significant crossover into mainstream hip-hop spaces.
Who is Limoblaze?
Limoblaze (Samuel Onwubiko) is a Nigerian-born, UK-based artist signed to Reach Records. He pioneered the AfroGospel genre and achieved viral success with his remix of “Jireh (My Provider)” featuring Lecrae and Happi. He’s the first international artist signed to Reach Records.
Is there a Grammy category for Christian hip-hop?
Not specifically. Christian hip-hop artists typically compete in existing Gospel or Contemporary Christian categories, where they face artists with vastly different sounds. The Recording Academy is working to develop a “rhythm and praise” category that better represents these genres.
Who is Childlike CiCi?
Childlike CiCi is a Christian rapper who began her career as a secular artist recording in trap houses. After becoming a Christian, she sought to create faith-based music inspired by trap and drill — sounds she couldn’t find in existing Christian music.
What is Reach Records?
Reach Records is an independent Christian hip-hop label founded by Lecrae and Ben Washer. The Atlanta-based label’s roster includes artists like Tedashii, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, 1K Phew, WHATUPRG, Wande, Hulvey, and Limoblaze. The label focuses on combining faith with hip-hop culture.
How popular is Christian hip-hop?
While streaming numbers remain smaller than mainstream hip-hop, Christian hip-hop has a dedicated fanbase with outsized engagement. Interest has proliferated significantly in recent years according to representatives at Spotify and Amazon Music, and major streaming platforms now feature dedicated playlists for these genres.
Closing Verse:
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” — Psalm 96:1-2 (NIV)