🚨Watch Pt. 2, where I respond to a number of comments here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/abyReLKLmdaYooU.html

The world doesn't need any more "Christian artists"....the world needs more artists who are Christian.

I also left many years ago because in private they do everything secular artists do. I'll remain independent because I can do what God's word instructs instead of the world.

Having been a youth in the 80's - 90s I remember A LOT of solid, Scripture-based messaging in Christian music, thirty or more years later the general messaging does seem completely different. The focus is largely on the self, making money first and promotion with the goal of accommodating the world and modern narratives.

I know this is about 4 months ago and im only 16, but i'm literally going to school and writing music for the soul purpose of being seperate from that industry. Then i come across this video. This is a godsend Shopé, thanks for encouraging me, and may God keep you safe on this journey. You're doing God's work helping out new potential christian artists❤

I appreciate you making this video and will check out your music. Last year, shit got real. Being a disciple of Jesus is not easy or comfortable. No one can convince me that denying myself, taking of my cross, and following Jesus will be always happy, painless, easy. There will be times of great joy and great sorrow, but following Jesus will always be worthwhile despite the struggle.

I have been writing songs for 35 plus years and what I have learned IS WAIT ON THE LORD. I put a CD out in 2001 on my own i got good responses. But it was not time yet PEOPLE tried to push me TO do many things. I am NOT trying to BE a star or a million aire I am content with the things I have. I will continue to wait on the LORD. And ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HE WILL LEAD AND GUIDE YOU INTO THE TRUTH. DONT let mankind deceive you.

I got saved at 18 back in 2004. Loved all kinds of music but struggled with Christian music for the same reasons you talked about. It was like, “Oh, I want to worship or be encouraged? Put on the Christian stuff.” But when it came to dealing with stuff I was dealing with in my past or whatever I’d default back to groups like Linkin Park or Evanescence because they were actually singing about that kind of stuff. I love finding “mainstream” or indie artists that are Christian but who sing about more than just the typical things you’d hear on stations like K Love. Much respect for recognizing the conviction that the Holy Spirit laid on your heart and acting in obedience. I feel like we need more faithful believers making good non-typical music (if that makes sense). I’ll have to give your stuff a listen!

"I could not reconcile my desire for financial gain from my music with using the Gospel message as a means of achieving it."... This has ALWAYS been my conviction! This video resonated heavily with me! Appreciate your transparency bro!

You have proven what I've realized for many years now: there are a lot of hip hop "Christian" artists who are brand new Christians thinking they can immediately go out and evangelize in their own way like chickens w/ their heads cut off; end up experiencing truly non-Christians in the Christian music industry; and end up leaving the industry or the faith altogether. Others, like Lecrae, still have one foot in the industry and push false doctrines & heresies and get upset when their Christian base rejects them. People like yourself need a Christian mentorship source in that space. And when I say Christian w/o quotes, I mean a real Christian.

Good for you brother! I spent 28 years as a Pastor’s wife. That’s a whole other “show”. People only want you to make THEM feel good and bring in money for THEM. They really don’t care what’s going on with you. Sad but true. Good luck to you!

Excellent video. In addition... many "Christian" songs are written, composed, and the music created and recorded by the same artists that work at the same secular studios. The Christian singer just adds the voice. It's the same "music business". - This man is an exception!!!

I write worship songs about things I have gone through in my life and I think it is so needed for people to hear songs from dark times and how God is there through everything and helps us through those times.

I really love this bro I am a Christian artist and have been making songs you won’t typically hear in the church but it talks about the struggles in life and heartbreak. Love your breakdown

Yes, yes, yes! This tears me in 2 directions. 1, I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. 2, I’m broken by the reality that Christians don’t do a better job at balancing the faith and the business. You are a positive in my life and many others. Keep doing you Shopé! Shared!

Where there is money, there are wolves. You can't trust anyone anymore simply because they say that they're a Christian. By their fruits we will know them. It's a dangerous world, especially in the music business. 8:49 That caught me wayyy off guard xD

You knocked this out of the park. Hit every nail on the head. I hope this gives insight to others who aren't familiar with the music industry in general. I hope other artists that see this have the courage to speak up and find freedom in their messages. Great content!

This is a jewel! So rare to find "understanding" given so eloquent a voice and so intelligent a transmission. I doff my hat. A real gem in the body of Christ is this brother.

Thank you for this truth that GOD has called you to share with the world because there a number of recording artists who will be faced with the same thing that you've encountered as well. Please know that we love playing your music on SAVE Radio which plays the Pinnacle in "Positive Hip Hop, Pop and R&B" music! Continue to shed HIS LIGHT my brother!!!

You speak with a lot of kindness. Also your ability to put you experience into an understandable format is a gift. Like I can't explain my feelings like that. Liked and subbed.

Agree! It is also a way to reach out to the unsaved if you just make music about what you’re going through. When I wasn’t saved and was going through a period of depression, the song that I had on repeat was ‘I look to you’ by Whitney Houston. It comforted me. 3 years later I become a born again Christian.

You literally explained so many things I’ve thought about for so many years. Your doing something great with your music and your channel!

Thank you for bringing this out to the light. I've had a variety of experiences. In my teens I was a musician in the pop world then I got a opportunity in my twenties to work in the black-gospel world. I moved into the rock world in my 30s and 40s. I've since retired but the thing that disappointed me is with the gospel world I hoped that my Christian faith would be strengthened and grow and this is why I went from singing pop and rock to singing gospel. It was eye opening. It was an disturbing duality. You could be on stage and feel the holy Spirit moving and have some amazing moments but "backstage" it was the same as in rock and pop. The underbelly of the Christian music world is just like the secular music world. I think when you try to make real money from the music and you want exposure and record deals etc the same types of people are required to make that happen. Record labels, promoters, managers etc are not always Christians. They may plaster a "christian" sticker on your work and may claim to be like minded but they are just company men and money men and you are a product that's making money so that everyone gets paid. That is the point. G-d comes last! You can't sing about reality if you want to fill venues (church pews). There is a huge machine behind popular music regardless of the genre and that machine will roll over you if you don't play the game. Since I couldn't see the point in staying with something I felt was deceptive I went back to my roots. It was less complicated since I knew what was expected and no one was trying to manipulate a message for their own benefit.

But the message led to God in all their struggles and how we needed a savior in this life. If you only gave your struggles and never got the answer to the struggle, why do we need the gospel. That's why worship is called worship because it's all about God. When you have a relationship with Christ you know He wants you to use your struggles to point hurting people to God.

Your a courageous brother! I have complete respect for you. This video was 100% on point…it’s all about Jesus !!!

Thank you for this! This has been my experience too. I am glad I found a way out and a way forward.

love from kenya shope. love the transparency. for someone who is a dancer and has came up within the christian space, i totally resonate with most of what you have shared. at the end of the day what is pure, honorable and worthy of praise will always point to the father. much love.

100% agree and has been my exact journey as a producer and artist. Dope to find someone with the same experience

I was there working in an arm of Christian music of the 90s when all of the Christian labels were taken over by large record labels like Time Warner, BMG, Columbia, etc.. Before then the focus was not so much on the money but the singers faith in Christ and the message. But there definitely was some staunch boxes and standards. The problem was that the companies that took over pretty much did so because back then they saw that country music and Christian music were probably going to be the next big genres and they wanted to own it. There is more to it but that is one of the main reasons. A lot of artists left the "Industry" but still write, record and put out their music on independent or their own labels and a lot were dropped because these companies really did not care what you believed, what you preached, etc.. It was about control and money. And BTW music in America as whole was taken over and formulized back then. Some today question if any of the Christian artists can be on these labels without being compromised. That is the reason for some of the disconnect you experienced. The people who run the labels and the industry aren't even Christians. But God has his people everywhere. Most of the artists love doing the music and being able to share Christ but hate the industry side. Some of these labels also put out music in other genres that is some of the worst and sickest music out there. There is the question of being unequally yoked. Part of the game is that if you can get to where you make money for the industry you have a lot more leeway with what you say in your songs but there are still boundaries. So I hear what you are saying and it is true. But God is bigger than any industry and can use those whose are His anywhere. God knows the hearts and all of it will be revealed in time. In the end there really is no Christian business or industry, Christians are the people wherever they are.

Setting people free with this bro. I’ve always battled with that growing up, and now that I’m older and have did my own critical thinking-I came to the same conclusions. God bless 🙏🏾

This was great! I felt your point at the end about hiding your intellectualism. I found myself doing the same over the years. It feels so good to just be myself now.

Extremely insightful! I really appreciate the honesty and candor...no where near as controversial as I imagined (incorrectly). THANKS, AND SUBSCRIBED!

Most Christians are serving a God they do not know. May God have mercy on us all

Very well said! We appreciate your vulnerability and we stand with you! Keep soaring boss 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 this was needed

this resonated so heavily with me. thank you for your transparency🙏🏾

Thank You for the break down. I pray that this will help to bring much needed change to how we use our talents and still walk in the faith, without feeling like we have to give up our artistic expression, and put it in a neat box .

Shopé, this is so so good! Thanks for being so open and thoughtful as a believer!

I can relate so very much with this man you have no idea! I appreciate you for doing this. You just gained a subscriber and a fan bro!

Love the honesty, it is much needed! Fight on!

Thank you! This helped free me so much! I have gone back and forth for years with the idea of just being myself creatively.

I really loved this video! I also have that experience of urging others to listen to Christian artist that talk about real issues and they would rather listen to others that don’t have a biblical world view! Please keep doing what you are doing! I for one love to hear other testimonies and real life topics. Just don’t care much for profane language but you don’t do that which is good as well. Glad I took the time to listen to the whole video.

Wow that was beautifully put, I hope you continue to make music and grow the genre. This reminds me of NF. He’s a Christian artist that shares his life through his songs. He talks about God in some of his songs but also shares his experience as a person. I have hope for the future that there will be more Christian artists like you and NF.

solid solid! God bless you for sharing this 👏🏾

Thank you for making this video & sharing your convictions, perspective as well as your transparency, vulnerability and experience brother! It’s brought clarity, resolution, understanding and peace to my personal journey and development in my recently discovered gift and craft in music myself! Keep trailblazing my brother! Shalom Agape, Z

It’s hard to describe how relieved I am that there are people out there who also agree with this message. If anyone is looking for new music, or even just want to fellowship and do life together, that reflects this perfectly articulated message, I’m working on new music that will be coming soon. Much love to all of you

This was really good bro. So many great points. Keep going 💯

This was so helpful to watch, Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for this video bro. As a fellow artist and Christian this was much needed to hear. God bless 🙏🏾

HalleluyYAH brother your first point is so on point. This is how our creator is calling His people from this organised Christian organisation, to totally leave the entire Christendom and depend on YAH and His son Yahusha. All glory to goes to Yah for your testimony! Keep bringing us what The Most High puts on your heart.

I totally understand the disappointment & surprise brother (I have experienced some of my own also) .💖As JESUS cautions us in The Bible "Be wise as serpents but harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) even in the Christian music industry. Wishing you many blessings in HIS name.🙏

This is great bro!! I am in the mindset that we just need to be available enough for GOD to be available for society. Ain't no boxing who GOD is still in process of shaping! ✊🏾🥶

My man you are spot on! I’ve been getting that notion about the industry so heavily. You popped in my algorithm. Going to have to listen to your testimony

Very well said. I agree with everything you say. The answer for me personally is that I have arranged things so that I don’t have a need to make money from my music. You would be amazed at the degree of artistic freedom you can have as a Christian artist if you don’t need to turn cash. It really is true that you can’t serve both God and Mammon. Why should that be a surprise to us?

major inspiration my brother, love your content. very helpfull for my vision, good to find someone that I can identify with.

That lost point was so good. I resonate with that. I remember when people kept suggesting to me that I could monetize a blog and write on topics from a Christian worldview. Immediately I felt that if I was to begin that, I'd start farming money. It wouldn't feel genuine... Even if I really want to spread the message and encourage people, I would feel obligated to post, I'd begin to obsess over numbers, I'd probably start modifying the content to optimize viewer engagement, consumption, growth, etc. I just knew it would be unhealthy for me. All the while recognizing role models like Tim Challies who runs a sound Christian blog without expressively having the same conscience pick as I. More power to him, more strength to you as well. I really enjoyed the video.

Liked and subscribed. Thank you for your obedience 🙏🏽

Amen brother recognizing our sin is necessary in order to work on fixing it

Dude, listening to you speak with such wisdom and maturity is refreshing. I aspire to have your level of wisdom and deep spirituality. Thank you for the great content.

Took the words outta my mouth Shopé a new generation is coming where nuanced artists rise that’ll talk about everyday life from a heavenly perspective

Love this! I can’t to hear more you!!

So downright true, the formal gospel music industry is to some degree a hoax. My frustrations is in the level at which we've watered down godly principles for the sake of fame, money and ego. We've like the world made untouchables or "gospel" music artists celebrities. A danger to not florick with. Let me be vulnerable here a bit, I noticed that looking at my past and the things I accessed on the internet, it was easier to download x-rated videos that it is to even access or download gospel songs. The culture of singing biblical strong messages has fizzled out. You could have someone today compose a song with just two lines and sing such song for eight minutes. It's crappy at best what we have in Church. Thank goodness we've not thrown away the Puritan hymns. Thanks Sir, for the information.

I don't know who you are but I am 66 years old and you encourage me. Your vocabulary is awesome it's so clear. I'm going to text my children this video. I am going to check out your music videos too.

Amen, Shope! I hear you and applaud you for allowing the Lord to speak to you about what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:17 "We do not peddle the word of God for profit" (NIV). God will always send his message to those with a heart to serve him. Excellent message!

Heard the whole thing. Nicely done, thank you for sharing.

You speak facts, I listen to artists that I resonate with like lecrae, NF, disciple, the band red, and so on they all have the gospel message and talk about real life issues at the same time

Thank you so much you g man for having the boldness and grace to post ghis. It reminds me of the many ungodly things i saw/heard within the church. I went to sing for a prophet at a revival when i was a teen. He took his girlfriend with him. I slept in the room with her. I woke up ari 2am and she was no where to be found. She ended up getting pregnant by him as well as one high school senior. His organist also got a senior girl pregnant and they married. It broke her grandad heart and he died soon after. So we must be careful and always trythe spirit by the spirit and see if it be of God.

Solid vid Shope, seen your growth since All nations!! Motivating fr!

my bruthaa!! didn't even know you was having a channel like this! long Time since we seen each! Love. Grace and Peace from Corpus Christi my bro in Christ!

Real talk bro... Amazing insights!

Thank you, as a artist who has faith in Christ I relate, everybody wants to put me in a box of what my music should sound like , thank you for this encouragement

Thanks for this video Shope. I felt this

bruh! you have no idea how hard is was getting to this revelation lol and the guilt you wrestle with internally once you actually start to write from an artist perspective vs a Christian rapper perspective. Took awhile but your absolutely correct and the freedom allows me to be that much more effective. Now I'm writing songs for different genres of music and at anytime I feel I want to share the gospel I let off and I feel my net is larger when it comes to listeners. I have more ears paying attention when it counts. Instead of.. preaching to the choir if that makes sense. Def appreciate the video bro. Keep dropping jewels. I'll be sure to check out ya music as well.

Thank you for this! I recently wrote a poetry book & write two gospel songs. I have been nervous, and second guessing how my book will be received because it talks about LIFE. As opposed to how my two songs will be received by fellow Christian’s. ❤

I've been a Christian rap poster child for quite some time now and I'm probably responsible for making some up and coming Christian artist feel pressured to make their music ministry based 😔 But since becoming a pastor at my church, I've had a change of heart about how a Christian artist should create their music. The role of pastor and artist are NOT THE SAME and should NEVER be viewed as such. If you feel lead to preach through your music, GREAT! You feel led because God has gifted you to do so. If you feel led to create music about your real life, human experiences through the lens of a believer, go for it! As long as your music doesn't misrepresent your faith or Christian morals, do it in peace! This video was great and I 1000% agree with you bro. I won't be leaving the Christian Hip Hop scene but I will be expanding and coloring outside of the lines. God bless bro - Datin

I've been dying to have someone talk about this for so long. I've long wanted to talk about this but I don't have the knowledge about music that gives me balance seeing that I myself am not a musician or a die hard fan of it but from the bottom of my heart, I salute you for this bro

Brother, I've been wondering if anyone would ever say this. You perfectly captured what I've been been expressing to my colleagues about the industry for quite a while. Keep pushing Brother. I hope to meet you one day and have a long talk about this. Until then, keep "preaching" the message of who we are really as artists that God has put here for His purpose, not mans. Blessings to you!

Switchfoot, Needtobreathe, Relient K and Skillet, are christian artists that don't regularly mention the name of God or Jesus in their songs, and their songs are not inherently christian, but what really is that the artist (singiner) is a follower of Christ!!

I into this with a lot of skepticism. I was curious to hear a point view I didn't agree with. But I must say, that was very well stated. Well said Shopé!

more content!!! honestly this is dope and helpful to so many, i'm in the last year of my music industry arts and performance,, charging my phone after my indie music management class and ive been struggling so much with wether or not to make 'secular' music or not. My program isn't in a christian college', its a secular program and some songs i write are super churchy and well..some just aren't, i've been feeling guilt and shame about that and knowing it wasn't from God but feeling so confused especially being in my last year of school. I truly feel like this video was just for me and I have an idea of what i'm going to do next. thank you for your obedience to God's instructions, God bless you and your family and your ministry!!! MORE LIFEEEE - from toronto

Thanks fam this help me to Continue my mission on making the music the way I was called to

Awesome 👊🏾 Brother Shopé Where I come from I've had to watch so many gospel artists lose their faith and metamorphose into scandalous, outright godless "secular" artists because of the love of fame and money 🤑💸 Which informs me that when you start you better count the cost, know your priorities ( get ya mind right) as they say... Because even amongst the Preachers; some have commercialised the message and lost the way. Ya can't serve Ha'YAH and serve Mammon. Be encouraged Shopé you may not be famous yet, but at least you still got your soul intact: like King David, a Man after God's own heart; or else be like King Saul, a Man for the people: gain the world and lose the irreplaceable.

This video was exceptionally well explained and so detailed on so many topics that, I myself, as a new follower of Christ was having percolating in my mind. Very well done in explanation, delivery and informational content as well as relatability. You have gained a new subscriber. :)

Excellent word brother! I can relate to much of what you say. May God continue to bless you in all that you do.

Wow! Thank you for this!

Man that crazy because when I do music I just talk about my life and how I'm feeling at the same time I bring God into my music .. the artist NF man I feel God when I hear that man ..

tell the truth!!!!!!! more like this for an aspiring artist like me

Thank you for sharing your story !

This was truly refreshing! I’m an artist of the painting and poetry variety and I took a ‘mentorship’ with another Christian artist and I was totally shocked that it was basically a word of faith god is my genie to make me money program. If I cared about that I would have done a secular marketing course. They seemed too enamoured with the ‘celebrity’ status and I walked away. I’m going to have a time of reflection on what you said about being yourself, authenticity and integrity is missing in this world and people are craving it.

Bro, this is well stated! I started s Christian Hiphop podcast back in 2007 (ran for 10 years)with the hope of helping people such as yourself as there weren't many places at the time played the music. I came into thinking that everything had to be Jesus, Jesus, Jesus but what i learned over time and or had to figure out is that the artist as well as the listener s are ALL at different places in their faith when it comes to the musical message and the reception of said method. So were knew in the faith, some young, some old, some mature, some immature. I noticed that there were some artist that were strictly all doctrine and biblical and then some walked the line of chh and mainstream. I noticed there were artist who beat you over the head with the bible and those who might only mention Jesus once in the song or maybe not at all but you got it. I had to mature and realize its going to take all kinds to reach all kinds, the street guy, the afro fusion guy, the steeped in doctrine guy etc lol.. so i played all of them and had to mature, learn and get over myself. Years later, i wondered why i even struggled with that thought process lol

As a chh artist myself man I respect your stance. Love the content. Keep pushing!

Thank you for shedding light 👍🏼💯👼🏽

I'm sorry about what you went through but I'm glad you're speaking out about it. Keep doing what you do to please the Lord. You have my support.

Most Reggae Songs carry Biblical Truth that makes it so Universal ❤️🙏🇯🇲🎶

He said that as a Christian he believes that sin is prevalent in the world. That belief is precisely what generates ambient sin in their world.

I enjoy every moment of this. Well done, Shope.

Yo I’ve never heard it from this perspective when you talked about not trying to leverage the gospel message to finesse money. That’s such a valuable perspective

You said everything I believe in. Bless the Lord. Do you in a godly manner and the world will know you're God's.

I'm usually open to different forms of Christian music; Hip Hop, rock, urban gospel (actually my favorite), Christian Contemporary, as well as old time gospel music. I really enjoy putting music to any of my musical instruments; be it acoustic guitar, chromatic harmonica, diatonic harmonica, or recorder (alto as well as soprano). However, my favorite is old time gospel music played on my chromatic harmonicas. Am I in a band? No; but it would be nice.

"Music is therapy". Amen! I fully agree with you. Great video! God bless you and I hope you have plenty of successes. :)

Thank you very much for opening up advicing and sharing and last being honest.. may our Lord help us all ... ❤❤❤bless you