Daniel Hodge, author of the ground-breaking book, The Soul of Hip Hop (IVP Books), talks about his book with Bobby Duran. In this 12-minute interview (Part 2 of 3 parts), Daniel explains, "Hip Hop tells you how much of America lives. It becomes a canary in the mine because it shows you how America really is."

Daniel digs into the spiritual relevance of Hip Hop because it reveals "A Theology of the Hip Hop Jesuz" (one of five Hip Hop theologies in the book). Hodge explains: "Jesus was born multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. He had his own baby mama drama, he was hated by the police, and his boy did him in." 

Hodge's goal is to help the church understand that Hip Hop can be a positive element in reaching the culture, and to show how to communicate Jesus through a theology of Hip Hop.

Hip Hop is the soundtrack of forgotten streets that defy our forgetfulness. Its tones are sometimes inspired, sometimes enraged, sometimes despairing, sometimes hopeful.

So begins a fascinating new book by Daniel Hodge, a long-time ConversantLife.com blogger and the author of The Soul of Hip Hop (InterVarsity Press). Bobby Duran, Events Production Manager for Urban Youth Workers Institute, sat down with Daniel for a three-part interview that will inform and inspire you (even if you aren't a Hip Hop fan). In this interview, Daniel gives a birds-eye view of this cultural phenomenon. "Rap is something that's done, but Hip Hop is something that's lived," Daniel says. "People have a story and they want it to be heard. How do we engage that?"