Dove Award-Winning KB Urges the Church to Embrace Christian Hip-Hop: A Gospel Revolution for Gen Z

“Something is happening in the mainstream right now where they are paying attention to what is going on in something that isn’t just music,” KB said. “This is a movement. People are coming to Christ. Marriages are being saved. Folks are finding themselves in this gospel representation.”

Christian hip-hop artist KB, fresh off his third Dove Award win for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year with His Glory Alone II, is calling the church to recognize the untapped potential of Christian hip-hop (CHH) as a powerful tool for reaching younger generations. With six Dove Awards under his belt and a career rooted in his own transformative encounter with Christian hip-hop, KB’s message is clear: the church needs to embrace this genre to speak to the hearts of young people skeptical of traditional avenues of faith.

In a passionate post-award testimony, KB shared how he first encountered the gospel nearly two decades ago through a Christian hip-hop record a friend gave him. “The gospel never made sense until I heard it in the language of hip-hop, and God saved me,” he recalled, highlighting the cultural bridge that CHH built between his skepticism and faith.

KB’s journey exemplifies the unique power of hip-hop to connect with a generation that mainstream culture often portrays as disillusioned with religion. Hip-hop is more than just music; it’s a global cultural force, and for many in Gen Z, it’s the primary language of expression. However, mainstream hip-hop is often synonymous with content that can be coarse, materialistic, and morally questionable. KB didn’t shy away from acknowledging this, saying, “The devil knows how powerful a tool hip-hop is, and he loves to invest in it.”

Yet, he believes that the church has been slow to harness this powerful tool for Christ. “We’re talking about the massive deconversion and rejection of Christianity in Gen Z. What are they listening to? Hip-hop,” KB pointed out. While the church has been lagging in utilizing hip-hop as a vehicle for the gospel, KB believes there’s still an immense opportunity for revival, particularly among younger generations.

Christian hip-hop has already started to fuel movements of faith across the U.S., he noted, citing examples of young people experiencing spiritual renewal. “You think about what’s happening in Ohio State right now — these movements of mini-revivals that break out. Oftentimes, these are people who are young, and they are very much listening to Maverick City, but they’re also listening to Lecrae and Hulvey and Forrest Frank,” KB said, naming influential CHH artists who are helping to lead this revival.

For KB, Christian hip-hop is more than just a genre—it’s personal. “I went to Bible college because of a Christian rap song. I married the love of my life at 22 years old because of a Christian rap song. I gave myself to the local church because of Christian hip-hop,” he testified, underscoring the life-altering impact CHH can have on individuals.

However, despite its influence, CHH has yet to break through many of the traditional barriers that have hindered its growth. KB pointed out the lack of institutional support within the Christian music industry. While Christian hip-hop thrives in grassroots communities, it has struggled to gain widespread corporate backing or generate the kind of revenue needed to sustain a full-fledged industry. “We don’t have the institutions that turn this counterculture, organic movement into something that can be corporate, where folks can feed their families off of it,” he lamented, pointing out that CHH is rarely played on Christian radio stations and lacks the visibility of other genres within the faith-based music space.

But things are changing. Mainstream culture has begun to take notice of CHH’s excellence and impact. Kendrick Lamar, a 17-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, recently referenced Christian artists Lecrae and Dee-1 in one of his singles, a move that KB sees as a signal of CHH’s growing relevance. Lamar, who will headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, has brought the intersection of faith and hip-hop into the spotlight, further legitimizing CHH’s place within the broader cultural landscape.

“Something is happening in the mainstream right now where they are paying attention to what is going on in something that isn’t just music,” KB said. “This is a movement. People are coming to Christ. Marriages are being saved. Folks are finding themselves in this gospel representation.”

KB’s call to the church is clear: Christian hip-hop isn’t just a niche genre, it’s a movement that can bring hope, healing, and revival to a generation searching for authenticity. As the church grapples with how to reach younger audiences, KB’s message serves as a reminder that the language of faith can be communicated through the beats and rhythms of hip-hop—and it may just be the key to unlocking hearts for the gospel.

Watch KB and Lecrae Music Video: