Rappin' for Jesus

"Rappin' for Jesus"
Single by Pastor Jim Colerick and Mary Sue Colerick
ReleasedFebruary 5, 2013 (2013-02-05) (video)[1]
February 14, 2013 (2013-02-14) (single)[2]
Genre
Length2:32
LabelSelf-released
Music video
Rappin' for Jesus on YouTube

"Rappin' for Jesus" is a parody song from 2013. Brian Spinney uploaded it to YouTube, where it has over 92 million views, on February 5, 2013, saying he directed it in high school[3] and Pastor Jim Colerick and his wife Mary Sue wrote it for a Christian youth outreach program by West Dubuque 2nd Church of Christ in Dubuque, Iowa.[1][4] It became more well known using Reddit.[5][6]

The video links to the church's website, which says it was closed in 2004. It and Brian's YouTube channel were made on January 15, 2013, so The Daily Dot said it and the song are fake.[6][3] The Huffington Post did not know if it was, but said it is "Very peculiar indeed".[5] Chris English, pastor of GracePoint Church in Dubuque, Iowa, emailed The Christian Post to say he had never heard of the song's pastor or church, and the use of the word nigga was "clearly over the line, and offensive",[7] and it would not work because it had many negative stereotypes about Christians.[7]

The Dallas Observer said "it's cheesy. It's bad. It's painful." and it made Christian rap look bad.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spinney, Brian (February 5, 2013). Rappin' for Jesus. Retrieved June 19, 2020 – via YouTube.
  2. ↑ "Pastor & Mrs. Jim Colerick". Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Bandcamp.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hoffberge, Chase (February 13, 2013). "That "Rappin For Jesus" video is obviously fake". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Home Page". West Dubuque 2nd Church of Christ. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas, Emily (February 13, 2013). "Rappin' For Jesus: Music Video Births New Rap Star Of Christianity (NSFW Language)". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "White Pastor Rhymes 'Jesus Is My N*gga' In Rap Video". NewsOne. Urban One. February 15, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Schapiro, Jeff (February 21, 2013). "Iowa Church's YouTube Hit 'Rappin' for Jesus' Video a Hoax?". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ Skinner, Paige (June 12, 2018). "Dallas' Christian Rappers Have Beats and Holy Spirit, But Is What They Do Rap?". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.

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