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RAPPER STRIVES TO ELIMINATE STEREOTYPES 

By Tarik Robinson (Mount Royal College) 

Nathan Lenet aka "NDIT" of the Crown of Thorns Crew wants to help change the image of hip-hop. 

The local emcee happens to be white and a Christian- not most people's image of a typical hip-hop artist. 

"From people who know and love hip-hop, there's no problem about good, intelligent music- that's what I hope to get judged by." Lenet says, "From people on the outside who just listen to 'pop-rap' I get that once in awhile, that 'how can I make good hip-hop if I'm not a black gangsta from the ghetto'" 

"In the mainstream people see rappers like Eminem and Everlast, without going any deeper that's all they see of white emcees. Good, underground hip-hop, there's lots of races. It's just people who make good hip-hop." 

Eminem, the popular white rapper who seems to have the eyes of media around the world on him, created a stereotype Lenet had to fight while performing on a church mission's trip to Scotland this past summer. 

"There was a bit of initial shock from the Scots because they were expecting some angry white guy. The only white emcee they knew was Eminem. I definitely feel that they gained an appreciation and became more open-minded through my performances, and they're still singing some of my choruses!" 

Lenet's brand of hip-hop, with no profanity and uplifting God, is something he'd like to see get more of the spotlight. 

"I speak on what I've been through and it's very direct and honest. People actually have to think when they hear it, exercise their heart and mind to listen to it. I'd like to see our music and message 'out there' more than any personal fame I could gain from the music. The purpose is to present God in a way people aren't used to and to make Him more famous as opposed to myself as His creation." 

Lenet and his group appear to be doing that. According to him, they put on a show November 17th with other Christian hip-hop and R&B acts at the Jubilee Christian Centre in front of about 600 Calgary youth, of both the secular and Christian lifestyle. 

"The overall reaction we got was more one of surprise that a show of that caliber could come from Calgary. There was no stigmatism to the fact it was in a church, it was just another venue. It was a lot doper being in their converted theatre than a musky warehouse!" 

With all of the efforts Lenet put into his music, doesn't the ignorance he has to face bring him down? 

"I'm not surprised to encounter stuff like that," he says, "for all of those who get hung up on colour instead of listening to good music- they don't deserve to listen to good music anyway. They can chill with their stereotypes, I've decided not to surround myself with negativity!"