Faithfully Podcast 20: How the CCM and Gospel Industries Fail Christian Rappers

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Hip-hop artist Canon joins Faithfully Podcast to discuss his work, fake Christian rappers, how the gospel and CCM industries fail artists like himself, and much more.

Canon (born Aaron McCain) is perhaps best known for working as Lecrae’s hype man and for his collaboration on the rapper’s Rehab: The Overdose album. However, Canon, signed to Reflection Music Group, said he has been doing music his entire life, as he “comes from a family of music.”

The rapper also clarified that he was never signed to Reach Records, Lecrae’s home label, despite that common perception.

Among Canon’s discography is 2009’s The Great Investment and three volumes of Loose Canon. His most recent album, Loose Canon: Volume 3, charted on Billboard during its 2016 release.

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Canon, originally from Chicago but now living in Nashville, also made headlines in 2014 when he nearly lost his life while trying to help a car accident victim. The rapper wound up with “a shattered ankle, a broken jaw and a concussion.” Although he said he is feeling much better nowadays, Canon was reluctant to discuss the incident during his appearance on Faithfully Podcast.

Canon was not shy, however, about dishing on a variety of other issues.

Among subjects he gets into on Faithfully Podcast is hip-hop’s reception and rejection in Black churches and how the mostly-White CCM industry tends to overlook gospel rappers. That part of the conversation was inspired by an LA Weekly article titled “Christian Hip-Hop Still Isn’t Quite Sure What to Make of Chance the Rapper.”

Here is a breakdown of the podcast episode featuring Canon. Jump to the player below to listen.

• 00:00-04:17 – Introduction and background on Canon’s career
• 04:18-05:33 – Canon talks tour plans and tentative projects
• 05:46-09:25 – Canon on “fake Christian rappers” (in reference to LA Weekly article)
• 09:26-14:03 – Canon on the appeal of rappers who do gospel rap and Christian rappers failing to lead
• 014:05-18:06 – Canon says Christian rappers need to put in work and play the game right
• 18:07-27:07 – Canon’s take on how contemporary Christian music (CCM) and gospel music industries fail Christian rappers
• 27:22-31:00 – Canon on race and the church
• 31:12-33:28 – Canon gives his shout-outs

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