Hip Hop “Glory, Gospel, Church, World” from Omri Miles
I first started listening to hip hop music in the late 80s. If there’s one thing that characterized the hip hop I listened to from then through the 90s, it was filled with musically gifted, but lyrically vile, musicians. For that reason, I’m grateful for brothers like Omri Miles, and his latest album, “GGCW” (Glory Gospel Church World).
Born and raised in New Orleans, Omri came to faith in Christ in 2008. Since then, he completed the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program at The Master’s University in 2016, became a certified biblical counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, then finished the Master of Divinity degree at The Expositors Seminary in 2020. Omri currently serves as an elder at Grace Bible Church in Tempe, Arizona. He is married and has four children. In the midst of all that, he’s been making music since 2008.
Omri’s purpose of the album is to present four pillars which support a biblical theology of missions (Glory, Gospel, Church, World). And he accomplishes that purpose. GGCW is theologically loaded. It’s impossible to take it all in after just one listen. And the theological edification is not accomplished at the sacrifice of musical skill.
The song C.H.U.R.C.H is one example. It’s a brilliant song. In each verse, Omri uses words that begin with the letter from the word “church” to feed listeners a musical ecclesiology. In that sense, it’s sort of like a Psalm 119 version of ecclesiology. Here’s an excerpt:
First C verse: Her [the church] covenant’s credible, her chaste commitment can’t change. And her concerns are consumed with something celestial. The cross created a clearly complex complexion, consisting of contrasting colors that craft connections.
R verse: A royal race, robed in regal raiment. Raised and rallied from the rest, rose then relocated. Rapidly racing, but rests in the Rock she reveres. Rescued from wrath when her royal Ruler reappears. Her Redeemer is really rather remarkable. Redeemed and released from the reaper to reach in the rawest role. Refusing to retreat, she’s restless and wrestles. Remaining to retrieve rebellious, resident rebels.
The song Instructed kicks off the album with lyrics like this:
Since the Son died, one Guide controls our substance. Not the trends, men, melanin or social justice.
Away With Words is another great and needed song today. Here’s an excerpt:
Twitter trending don’t mean He isn’t offended. Or that you’re with him on mission, He’s shown us before. First, you lower substance, then give ‘em social justice. Without the Lord of justice, of course it’s opening doors. What you expect, fam? You’re telling the sons of the dirt their indignation is just, but not that they hate the Judge of the earth. When, in truth, compared to that hypocrisy, nothing is worse. Add to that your habit that you think it’s cute shunning the church. Imagine me being in public without my wife, highlighting all of her flaws. You would say I’m a terrible husband. But when these rappers diss the church, we quickly applaud. See the contradiction? You trying to win ‘em and not offend ‘em…
The album is filled with so much gold, it’s hard to nail down a favorite song. Salvation Reflection is excellent. Instructed is great kick-off. The Booktable provides a chuckle. But if I had to pick one, I’d say C.H.U.R.C.H. Pastorally, it shepherds people in how I want them to think about the church. Lyrically, it’s brilliant and edifying. And musically, it features all the excellence of the hip hop genre.
As a bonus, Omri has included valuable accompanying resources to the album called “Bar for Bar.” Found here on the Wrath and Grace website, he includes a lyric and resource guide, and a few teaching videos. The lyrics guide contains lyrics for each song, as well as Scripture references for just about every line in every song. There is also an edifying, three-episode break down of the GGCW album on both the theology and artistry of the project. Think of this like a great Bible study on missiology and ecclesiology, accompanied with explanation on the musical complexity of the album. He devotes an entire episode to addressing the social justice issue. The resource guide is packed full of references to blog posts, sermons, and books on missiology, ecclesiology, and a section of resources geared to Christian Hip Hop Artists.
You can buy the album here. While there, you’ll find other helpful resources on the Wrath and Grace website, including a number of Omri’s videos. And, you can listen to the album on the Wrath and Grace app.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD, Praise the LORD!” (Ps. 150:4-6)
Author: ERic Davis Cripplegate
