I recently caught up with Christian rapper/pastor Von Won via e-mail to discuss this Saturday’s Holy Hip Hop 4 Hunger event.
Sketch: What inspired you create and organize this event over 5 years ago?
Von Won: When I first dedicated my life to Christ, I was motivated to start once a month events called 4th Fridays where I would highlight some of the top Christian rap artists in the city. One night a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Rufus Hill, was in the audience and approached me about doing a concert/food drive at the University Of Houston campus. I thought it was an excellent idea so my friend Johnny Fusilier and I organized and launched the first event. Since then the event has been at Rice University and now at my home church Christian Temple.
Sketch: How exactly do you get the food and clothing you collect to the people who need it most?
Von Won: I am a strong advocate of people operating in their strengths. For years the Houston Food Bank has done an excellent job of distributing food to needy families in our city, so after collecting the food, it will be delivered there. Donating socks is a new idea brought to me by a good friend, Jason Branson. It seems while doing homeless ministry a request for socks has increased, so I thought it would be a great addition to the event.
Sketch: Why add in the award show component to this event? Isn’t the Christian life about putting others before your self and not showing off?
Von Won: At the very first event, the only award that was given was called the “Hunger For More Award.” That year a new Christian rapper named Litarodi, was doing an excellent job inspiring the city through his gift and we wanted to do something to uplift him.
Thanksgiving season is about giving back and this is a great time to highlight artists who throughout the year have been serving communities, ministering in prisons, to the homeless, to the youth and more, on top of working hard to produce quality faith-based music. The Christian life is about putting others before yourself and that’s why I am not on the ballot for awards.
Sketch: How do you decide the winners?
Von Won: Initially a committee was chosen to bring all categories down to five nominees each. Those 11 categories are then placed online by the Christian rap community to be voted on. Voting is done by the fans, family and friends of the artists, and that’s how the award winners are chosen. It is completely based on online votes. Then a smaller committee and myself combine to choose the most prestigious winner of the night, the original “Hunger For More Award!”
I think giving awards are a great thing for the morale of the Christian rap genre. It is also a breath of fresh air to see some artists come and thank God for an award that are actually serving God.
Sketch: What type of highlights should we look forward to this Saturday night?
Some highlights you can look forward to is Ky Meyer from CW39 Newsfix hosting the event.
I’m excited to see the performance and debut of DJ DMD’s new music video, “25 Bibles On My Dresser” ft. Bizzle.
We will be putting together a 100 member choir to kick off the night. 007 From the 5th Ward Boyz and Gifted Da Flamethrowa will be performing a new song of their upcoming album and a few surprises you have to be in the building to see! The entire Houston Christian rap community will be out in stellar form so you can expect to see Christ get glorified in excellence!
************************
Click here for a recap of last year’s Holy Hip Hop 4 Hunger event.
{youtube}1eNCpM8mZG8{/youtube}
