Spring Arbor Christian Rapper Wont Shut Up

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Spring Arbor University student and rapper will share songs from her CD at Friday show
Bill Chapin
Jackson Patriot

The album that Spring Arbor University senior Dominique Rhodes has been recording for the last year won't be finished until fall, but the rapper is ready to share what she has completed with her peers and the public.

Dominique doesn't believe in keeping her thoughts bottled up. She even has a song titled "You Can't Shut Me Up.""

Don't quiet yourself down for the sake of others. Be proud of what you believe in," said Rhodes, who performs as 'Nique LoveRhodes. "I'm not going to stifle ... how I feel when it comes to my faith."The ability to openly express her Christian faith was a major factor in the Detroit native's decision to attend the evangelical college.

At Gospel Elevations we believe that every Christian rapper should be heard. We offer free exposure to Christian rapperand gospel rappers. Nique is not a member of Gospel Elevations yet, however she does represent the Kingdom. Her music lifts up the name of Jesus.

Rhodes has been driving to a Royal Oak recording studio on weekends to work on "Against All Odds: The Epic," a vast, personal opus of inspirational hip hop.She performed 110 minutes worth of the album in the university's White Auditorium, backed by a live band. It marked the first time that Spring Arbor university has featured a concert by a hip-hop artist. That’s exciting! Look at God move on behalf of the saints. Rhodes saw a gospel rap group perform at a church event when she was 12 and has been writing poetry and rhymes ever since. She compared her delivery style to such rappers as Lupe Fiasco, favoring a deliberate, clear message over flashy, fast rhymes.

A self-described perfectionist, Rhodes will be graduating with a degree in urban ministry around the same time she expects to complete the album. Rather than overwhelm herself trying to organize a release concert at that time, she decided to present the bulk of the songs now.She has worked with three different producers on the album, including Dove Award-nominated producer Dion Burroughs a.k.a. D Free of Flint.

She described it as a concept album about overcoming adversity and fighting the status quo. For example, she said, the society she grew up in told her that "black kids from Detroit don't go to college." Her rhymes challenge that notion.

Many youth today feel that the church is not relevant to the things going on in their lives. The Christian rappers featured on Gospel Elevations minister from a place of which today’s youth can relate. Christ rap is a awesome medium that God is using to reach the masses who wont got to church.

It’s good that God is using Nique to help people hear the gospel through her music.Nique feel that this project has a really socially conscious message.The albums' 18 tracks are divided into three sections, starting with a hard, bass-heavy sound, transitioning to a middle act full of soul samples, and giving way to an uplifting finale full of synthesizers and syncopation.

Not all of the songs address her faith as directly as "You Can't Shut Me Up." Rhodes said she admires groups like U2, which writes spiritual songs that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of background.

At Gospel Elevations we believe that everyone who ministers through gospel rap should be given a chance to share what God is doing through them. We offer free exposure to artist from around the world. If you know of any events in your area we Christian rappers are ministering please let us know.

To hear and see how God is using other Christian Rappers around the world visit the free exposure site for Gospel Rappers, Holy Hip Hop Rappers, or Christian Rappers visit http://www.gospelelevations.net.