Battle Rap Gospel: The Story of the Tunnel Rats

[@fredhollis123]

No doubt, thanks for posting this. I have been listening to HHH since 1993. So when LPG, SFC, FOS, DII and the rest started hitting it was right on time for my rededication back to Christ. The Earthworm was the realest back then. It seems crazy but that stuff still bangs today and the lyrical skill could hold its own today...all classics.

[@topobadisang4129]

+FredorRick Hollis Very wonderful to hear from a man who has been part of the movement for that long....I've only been listening to CHH since 2007 thanks to KJ-52,Deepspace5'LA Symphony & Cross Movement...God Bless You sir!!!!

[@kdm5706]

Tunnel Rats and Cross Movement are the Pioneers of Christian Hip Hop. Lecrae, Propaganda, Sevin and Braille are also legendary in contributing to Christian Hip Hop since the beginning of it all. God Bless CHH ✝️

[@Hammer1978]

Awww yeahhh. Solid Gospel message from the jump. These guys never took things to heart, water off a ducks back.

[@Rawk4Life]

Deepspace 5 is overdue for a documentary themselves. Listener, Playdough, and DJ Dust were just 3 of the guys from this impressive supergroup.

[@josephebanks]

Love it! As an old christian hip hop head I remember when I found Peace586's Risen Son album and was 1st introduced to the TRz. Have most of their albums today. They paved the way many in the current era of Christian hip hop have the opportunity to walk. Grace & peace to all the emcees, crews and affiliates and much respect to Imade for the doc.

[@topobadisang4129]

+Joseph Banks I only started listening to CHH inb 2007... thanks to KJ-52 & LA Symphony. & Cross Movement...TRz paved the way no doubt...Peace to them & their affiliates..God Bless You & many more for Being part of the CHH movement & part of a the undying love for spreading truth to the world.

[@TheodoreBabustart-upcoach]

@@topobadisang4129 omw all these beats and artist was crazy cool and all this music came to Cape Town and then it was like this movement died. I use to be a Christian DJ and bang all this music. Loved that era and love this video

[@cmac9710]

I remember LPG ministering at Christian Chapel in Walnut Ca back in 94. Been listening to them ever since. Keep fightin the good fight fellas! You are truly CHH pioneers!

[@UEMusic09]

Thank you so much for doing this. A listener of hip hop influenced by Jesus since 1986. Have spent thousands of dollars on my collection. This right here was a blessing.

[@ERRGRR1]

I have some stuff. Too. Also do you have any of the underground battles?

[@deejaydaz-one6552]

This was so dope, Been a true supporter since I first heard Execution in 97. Macho & Elsie are two very good friends of mine. I'm just thankful for the ministry of the Tunnel Rats.

[@cardinringelberg8525]

Much respect to the Tunnel Rats for positive Christian music that helped me durring frustrating times and eventually back on track with the Lord. I will always give them credit for this

[@Gunner4D]

I have to comment! God bless you all! I love 2 Pac miss him. But he never loved Jesus Christ to my knowledge. I am a Caucasian man. I was looking for something that hit hard with a beat that I could bounce to and relate with Pacs music. Also I need the inspiration of Christ in my life. You Tunnel Rats are amazing and a God send! Thank you and keep rapping for the true rap God! Once again you are blessed and I am honored to call you brothers and sisters in Christ. Please dont stop with the hardcore stuff. You are inspiring to a whole new generation of believers and those that don't know they belong to Christ yet. With love and respect, Eric

[@VonBradley]

I am a huge TR fan. Have been since 1996 when “Experience” given to me when I heard it and loved it while visiting Oral Roberts University for college weekend. I still play the play both of the first two albums. I am so grateful to them for releasing these projects. Experience will always be a CLASSIC in my eyes!

[@hatfieldd]

OMG thank you for posting this, it was so cool to see the story, I just wish it was longer

[@MsLH208]

Dante Hatfield metoo

[@scars202]

Thank you so much for uploading this. I was never much for gospel music. I would listen to the Tunnel Rats and hear the word in their lyrics. It would move me to want to dig and look for those bible verses so I could connect more with the artist, truth , and the word of God.

[@Katalystuk1]

Powerful docu Gotta do a full length one. Great work. TRz go in !

[@Shelisa4]

Honestly I don't know much about the legacy of CHH so I'm thrilled to watch this. It's brilliant. Wish it was longer. Thank you.

[@derekhudson8696]

Thank you for posting this!!

[@euriebrown8831]

Truly dope. I stumbled across Tunnel Rats in 98 or 99. Them and Grits showed me where Gospel Hip Hop was going ten years before it got there!

[@Muttman]

Very cool. Thanks for creating. I've wondered how all these Tunnel Rats connected. Seems like a lot of my favorite artist claim connection to Tunnel Rats. It's cool to hear from their own words how it was for them. Really talented crew.

[@lazaroclarkeii8994]

What's good fam Big Up Shames Worthy aka Ralphi and OG Tunnel rats Dax and Jurny Big aka LPG! Good doc but only issue I had with it was the description of how the Christian Hip Hop scene was in 93! Being that I've been down since day one( and I used to be up at the hip hop shop with everybody including pigeon john and b twice aka brainwash projects who I met at the goodlife aka project blowed) the scene was lookin a little better than that in 93.what y'all showed was more like 91/92! Y'all forgot about groups like DII aka dynamic twins(the first cd came out in 90),Gospel Gangstaz( who dropped thier first cd in 93),e-roc aka Rocstar(90 1st cd),idol king( circa 91),PID(preachas in disguise),Mc Gee Gee,Mc RG,SFC(sup the chemist and dj dove before he put Gospel Gangstaz 1st project out) I was djing at youth events at various churches( and being called everything but a child of God and getting the plug pulled on my dj setup lol) one thing I liked about that time is the unity because everything was fresh and new at the time ( though I can admit the music got better once Tunnel Rats got that production deal with Word Records lol) but Good job on documenting the early days and it was a good time because we all were hungry and "Christian Hip Hop was the true underground loc"! :-) Don "DJ Anonamus One" Clarke II

[@ForeverDgw]

Shout out to Imade Nibokun & The Tunnel Rats 4 this video. Shout out to The Tunnel Rats 4 paving the way for many artists in CHH. THANK YOU!!!!! God Bless ya'll!

[@suthurnfaze1]

This was amazing, been a fan all these years, never knew someone made this🔥🔥 DOPE

[@MsLH208]

Dopest.group.EVER!!!!!LOVED THEM FOREVER.my brothers friend,Alan was who put me onto them..THANK YOU, ALAN

[@badwxlf9381]

It was only 15 minutes though man...I need a full doc. Also whatever happened to Dert?

[@suthurnfaze1]

Also if you missed Tunnel Rats Reunion a few weeks ago in LA boy oh Boy🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@rosariomartinez5941]

Blessing from Seattle, WachingTONE. Thank you for leading the way when other couldn’t and flooding the hiphop world with Truth of Jesus Christ🔥

[@djunclemilo]

Great doc. I remember when Christian hip hop looked like that montage (although Peace doesn’t deserve to be in that mix- although that was certainly the crossover-est track on Caught in a Land of Time). The TRS bust thru that wall like the Kool Aid Man- and just as refreshing.

[@AnaRodriguez-s7u]

Amen Amen God bless yall for never giving up..

[@lisaalicea6540]

Thank you! You are apart of my youth, your lyrics, your music did good things. Helped open my mind, boricua!! ❤tunnel vision my fav album!

[@DJNuMAN]

This was great I was always a fan now I have the history behind the group and have even more of an appreciation for the group.

[@swanstonmedia11]

Wow! thanks for the upload. Tunnel Rats definitely were instrumental in the growth of my spirituality when I first got saved... some 20 years ago!

[@derekhudson8696]

2022+!

[@tr3spalabras698]

dejaron un legado mas amplio del que se imaginan , son el mejor grupo de hip-hop sin lugar a dudas

[@daninwangabia6270]

I was a big fan back the day

[@jasonhonegan1371]

Thank you.

[@preforeclosuremobile]

Thank You Thank You Thank You.. I would of paid for this

[@mildmayheadless5217]

12:20 Nahoa is now a rapper carrying forward the TR legacy!!!

[@richardorosco1981]

Thanks for this.

[@mrSB93]

still dope. TR's for LIFE!

[@darrickross1419]

LPG-Earthworm" #1 on my top 5 list of hiphop albums.

[@TM-tc3om]

Just doing some random research on Old School Christian Hip Hop for personal enrichment. I never knew anything about this. Thank you.

[@Rawk4Life]

I don't get why Tunnel Rats got flack for battle rapping. KJ52, Heir Jordan, and MC Jin have also battle rapped, but without cussing like the TR's.

[@ruthlessramsey6054]

Love this group & Praise GOD for all the hard work that they have done !!!

[@tyronepetrie]

Anyone knows the song Prop. Was doing @ 13:27... thanks for posting! #knowyahistory #westcoast

[@jeremiahfarquhar]

“Move” from the album “Listen Watch Focus”

[@TimHarveybuysrealestate]

Wow! This was real hip hop to me! Thanks!

[@preforeclosuremobile]

This is too dope...yall just don't know... I was around then...so dope!

[@gocreate1039]

Nice!

[@pwilson1961]

Wow, awesome !

[@jesussavesnyc]

THESE DUDES R COOL I GOT ALL 3 ALBUMS

[@divinylsounds2904]

Great documentary. If you ever need anything, hmu. I’ve started a channel based on old skool chh.

[@jalontf2]

The modern church can't comprehend those of us on the front lines of the Kingdom interacting with the secular world.

[@ghostrider_2104]

What was the beef between LPG and TBone?

[@MsLH208]

ghostrider_118 Jay there's beef??

[@ghostrider_2104]

e p h Bone had a DS on LPG in one of his songs..."this is my 3rd LP....G" it was subtle...but it was there

[@Rawk4Life]

Was LPG the same Tunnel Rats duo that dissed on T-Bone in a freestyle by making fun of the fact that he drove a Lexus?

[@ghostrider_2104]

Rawk4Life it was Jurny from LPG...this was back in '94 before LPG became part of Tunnel Rats

[@marjoe32]

TR showed me the genre wasn't evil lile I was told, I remember when I lost Faith in The Church TR showed me I wasn't alone.

[@Hanna14187]

WOW THANX FOR POSTING THERE SOO RIGHT ITS ALL ABOUT SPREEDING THE GOSPEL THATS WAT CHRISTAIN RAP SHUD B ABOUT NOT THE FAME,ALL GLORY B TO GODThankz for posting!!!

[@mandomoralesjr1996]

🙏🏽🔥🔥🎵💯👍🏼

[@daninwangabia6270]

LPG different from the norm!

[@O.R.B.I.]

TR'Z!!!!! we want them back!!!

[@deejaysnag1152]

💪🙏

[@michaelroach2401]

You're not supposed to use foul language in a Christian video, folks.

[@nathandaniels4823]

The fact that these dudes consider battle rap a way to spread the Gospel of Christ blows my mind to this day. They might’ve been cool cats in person, I don’t know. But their lyrics were dripping with arrogance and were centered around 1) seeking admiration from peers for their abilities and 2) insulting folks who they deemed less talented. I know a few talented cats who ran into Dax and Jurny in LA back in the day and were surprised when friendly cyphers immediately got turned into hostile battles. Happy not to have anything to do with that kind of “Christianity”.

[@JazzSoulMetal]

Imade for the win!!!

[@africkinamerican]

6:55 bind that spirit of Religion!!

[@eee32mmm]

Dirty!! In a Clean way!!! HOLY HIP HOP!!

[@TheReviewSpace]

I think one of the main reasons why christian rap fails in general, much like TR'z potential for any sort of mainstream credibility, is that they focus too much on "preaching" instead of creating quality hiphop. There's a great video by Josh Keefe called "Why Christian Movies are BAD: The Problem with Christian Media" & touch upon this subject.

[@mildmayheadless5217]

I think this is where TR separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Earthworm by LPG was so dope it made it into rap magazines like The Source, which at the time was like the Holy Grail. Tunnel Vision was pretty popular too plus they were actual lyricists.

[@patricksargent5718]

WORD UP THATS DOPE BEEN BUMPIN TRZ SINCE 1999 PEACE BY THE WORLD FAMOUS PSWIF ONE SINCE 1999.. NOT FEELIN THIS NEW HOLY HIP HOP STUFF! SUCKS GARBAGE!

[@daninwangabia6270]

Propaganda was unique

[@ERRGRR1]

Dert ruined the tunnel rats tbh lol. He was making weak beats. Peace 586 all day

[@isaiahbanks3888]

The tunnel rats is trash