Hip Hop for Soul Survival

April 21, 2024 By Alan Lechusza

Hip Hop for Soul Survival There’s no secret that Hip Hop has both a direct and underscored ability to contest issues of socio-political, pedagogical, and ethnic differences. Building upon the classic 4 Principles of Hip Hop (cut/mix, rupture/flow, sermonizing, layering) this intersectional discourse, as a cultural agent, has secured itself firmly within the core dialectics for academics and Hip Hop Headz alike. Early Hip Hop scholars who were equally invested in other areas of epistemological discourse used Hip Hop’s agency... Read more

It’s a G thang. Faith and fashion in Christian Hip Hop

March 3, 2024 By Alan Lechusza

It’s a G thang. Faith and fashion in Christian Hip Hop My weekly Youtube episodes include a section call The Fashion Police. This is where I delve into the fun happenings in social and political circles related to fashion. This started as a whimsical off-the-cuff discussion but developed into a regular segment. It’s fun to share my input on the fashionable (non)sense from the week in review. Check my style While researching Christian Hip Hop for another blog post I... Read more

Why Christian Hip Hop Matters

February 27, 2024 By Alan Lechusza

Why Christian Hip Hop Matters: Faith and Identity in Christian Hip Hop Who said anything about Christian Hip Hop? My interest is in Hip Hop as a signifyin’ lexicon of socio-political-economic value for identity and representation. To complicate matters I write projects based around the value and importance for Christian faith-based Hip Hop. Taking this exciting direction I authored short articles and sent them out to any publication that may appear to be interested. It should be no surprise that... Read more

Not just for kids, Nemo, Elmo, and calling 311

February 8, 2024 By Alan Lechusza

Not just for kids: Missing Nemo, Elmo’s question, and calling 311 I’m not going to sugarcoat the obvious, I watched Finding Nemo. I’m guilty as most others, I’ve given more than my adulthood share of attention to Elmo. To round out this sobering confession, I too have had my moments of head-banging to tracks from the band 311. Combined, does this make me any less of an apologetic punk deconstructionist? Hardly. It is because of this unlikely trio that my... Read more

I am what I am? A punk apologetic deconstruction of Popeye

January 27, 2024 By Alan Lechusza

What did he say? It’s true, today, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, is National Popeye the Sailorman Day. Seriously, it’s a fact. Here’s the proof! Now, given this unexpected day, we have some choices to make. We can all light a candle in a can of spinach. We could go to a dock and sing the “Popeye the Sailorman theme song.” Or, we can spend money and time to get an anchor tattoo on our overly defined forearms. Let’s – for... Read more

Good House Keeping: House, Faith, and Stoicism

January 9, 2024 By Alan Lechusza

Good House Keeping: House, M.D. and Faith through Stoic Philosophy Thousands of years of blazing insight are available to the world. It is likely that you have the power to learn anything you want at your fingertips. So today, honor the Stoic virtue of wisdom by slowing down, being deliberate, and finding the wisdom you need. – Marcus Arelius It’s about truth. ― David Shore Massive Attach, Teardrop (Instrumental) There’s a need for a doctor these days The year was... Read more

The Diaspora of a Faith-Based Im/migrant

December 24, 2023 By Alan Lechusza

Van Halen. Dreams. 5150, 1986. Diaspora – A Tragedy of Circumstance for Liberal Existence I have come to realize that we all live, reside, and participate in our own diasporic trajectory. The act of a diaspora is defined by vocabulary.com as: The term diaspora comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “to scatter about.” And that’s exactly what the people of a diaspora do — they scatter from their homeland to places across the globe, spreading their culture as they go…But... Read more

A Track for the People – A faith-based reading of the Hip Hop track People by Classified

December 10, 2023 By Alan Lechusza

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Classified, Song Kick, 2023. Let the People Speak After watching the video People (Classified, People 2023), and assessing the reactions that immediately follow, this track just begs to be reviewed and given critical inquiry. After the first review of the track, it’s easy to come away with a negative sense of this work. But that’s where the excitement begins. Listen again; watch again; then remember that the track holds a proper position of “People” – use of... Read more

“Hey Mr.!…Mister! What’s that song?” – An apologetic deconstruction of Broken Wings by Mr. Mister

November 30, 2023 By Alan Lechusza

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“Hey Mr.!…Mister! What’s that song?” – An apologetic deconstruction of Broken Wings by Mr. Mister Mr. Mister. Broken Wings. Welcome to the Real World, June 1985, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKhN1t_7PEY. It all started in the 1980s with a sense of trying to feel good The year was 1985. It’s the middle of the proverbial, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” era (Bobby McFerrin, Don’t Worry Be Happy (1988). Primetime comedy shows are all the rage. Mullet haircuts are everywhere (you remember, “business in the front,... Read more

“Sheena Had Faith In Being A Pop Punk Rocker – Can Pop Punk Be Positive? A Discursive Reading”

November 22, 2023 By Alan Lechusza

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“Sheena Had Faith In Being A Pop Punk Rocker – Can Pop Punk Be Positive? A Discursive Reading” Alan Lechusza November 22, 2023 Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, Fandom, https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Sheena,_Queen_of_the_Jungle The Ramones, “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” (official video), Rocket To Russia,1977. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCW7Aw8ugOI It’s that season, Comic-Con. I continue to get email advertisements seeking my attendance to this iconic subcultural event. I’m not even a fan of comics, fantasy, or other relations within this cultural sphere. Yet, my limited... Read more