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 Interview with Hip-Hop Summit Producer Carolyn Johnson-Essex!
AWOE: How did the vision of the Hip-
Hop Summit begin?
Carolyn: I attend the House of Prayer For
All Nations in Las Vegas, NV and we
are right now in a season of destiny
manifestation. My Pastor spoke on a
Wednesday night about putting our
finger on the work of the ministry in
the house and finding out what we as
individuals could do to support the min-
istry… He talked about birthing our
own destiny and promise and that now
was the time to do it and not only now
but right where we sat is where you
should give birth.
Well my spirit began to scream and
contract as if I was having a baby!
Later that night while sitting at my com-
puter…the idea just came to me. 1st of
all I love Hip-Hop and I had just recen-
tly came into relationship with some
Holy Hip-Hop artists and DJ’s via the
whole MYSPACE thing... So voila. I
came up with the idea, well not me God
gave me the idea to do a Hip-Hop Sum-
mit but do it Holy, with a entertainment
tonight twist on it…you know red carpet
and everything!
AWOE: Why is it important for you to
use hip-hop to reach the youth of Las
Vegas?
Carolyn: Oh God! Our youth out here, like
most youth in the inner cities are lost and
isolated from us the church…they are not
interested in the church many of them were
born in the church but the church is not
speaking their language! And so it is important
to me to reach out to them in a manner
that they can relate to - which is the Holy
Hip Hop genre! They know Hip-Hop and
Rap in the flesh but in their spirit they can
connect to the message of Holy Hip-Hop.
They can relate to the Kingdom citizenship
because they are the Royal Priesthood a
chosen generation! I even tripped because
God showed me that he cares about “the ‘
Hood” by naming us a Royal Priest Hood!
Don’t trip God said it not me! ( ha ha)
AWOE: What have you seen God do so
far in the churches youth ministry?
Carolyn: I’ve seen God place it in the
youth to be faithful, to honor their mother
and father, to be faithful in coming to
church and getting involved by offering
their gift of Rhymin and dance. I’ve seen
God shift the mindset of the older saints
so they won’t look down at the youth anymore
for being youth.
If we can run around the church rolling,
shouting and jumping then surely the
youth should be able to rock with it, roll
with it and lean with it. I rather see them
praising HIM in their way then out in the
street praisin the enemies work. That’s
how I see it.
AWOE: What do you hope to accomplish
by having the Hip-Hop Summit every
year?
Carolyn: I hope to see the summit become
a movement for the Holy Hip-Hop genre.
And it’s my vision to nurture it into a
glorified state. Take over MTV even –
why not!. I already have my own show
on Myspace called P]R]L] Prayer Request
Live! You know . .. instead of TRL. I’m
just having fun with it the skies the limit!
AWOE: What churches are involved in this outreach?
Carolyn: The church I attend - House of Prayer For All Nations,
Remnant Ministries and DJ WADO… Metropolitan Baptist
Church.
AWOE: Who are some of the artists that will be attending Holy
Hip-Hop Summit 2007?
Carolyn: DJ WADO – HOLY HIP-HOP DJ interviewed practi-
cally every HHH artists in the biz,www.myspace.com/
wadeoradio. We have Prodigal Son out of Ft Lauderdale, he's
doing big things in Florida, Ohio, all over, winning souls for
Christ... http://www.myspace.com/pson1. And last but not
least We have...Koncrete out of Virginia coming through...
http://www.myspace.com/koncretemusik All of these artists
answered the call to minister out here in Las Vegas, NV and
we honor their intentions. We also have some local Las Vegas
groups coming through as well.
AWOE: What type of Christian hip-hop artists do you encou
rage to come out?
Carolyn: I encourage a certain type of artist to come out and
that is the type that is concerned about saving souls, period.
If it comes across to me that you have a different agenda than
that then i encourage you to probably not come around me.
I'm not interested in your sales and charting at this point...
that's important! Don't get me wrong but Jesus instructs us to
seek the Kingdom of God 1st & all these other things like fame,
charts, sales, finances, houses, cars, etc. will be added...amen?
 I must say though, through this experience, getting Holy Hip-
Hop Summit off the ground, I have yet to meet a Holy Hip-
Hop artist that have other agenda other than saving souls for
Christ. This keeps me proud and honored to be a producer of
Holy Hip-Hop artists!
AWOE: How did you come to Christ and did hip-hop music
play a role in it?
Carolyn: Wow...I came to Christ (on my own) at a Winans
Concert in Los Angeles, CA. I was 20 yrs old. They did an
altar call at the end of their concert and i answered the call to
come to Christ.
No, Hip-Hop music, I grew up on that....listening to KRS One,
Paris, Grand Pubba!, the Wutang Clan, they were funny to me.
Now I can't even listen to Wutang and them anymore. They do
not speak my new language, which is Kingdom.
AWOE: What is your message to the youth and parents who
attend?
Carolyn: My message is this...Hip-Hop music is what it is.
I know yall like it...some of it I like as well, but some of it,
most of it right now is full of lust and negativity. I understand
we like the beats and all that but Holy Hip-Hop is just as good
if not better. Holy Hip-Hop nourishes your soul and your spirit.
Whereas Hip-Hop and Rap often times blinds your spirit to the
truth. Parents, gift your children with Holy Hip-Hop, gift them
with the Lecreas, Trip Lees and Prodigal Sons. Holy Hip-Hop
is an answer to your cries when you're feeling depressed and
down about life...we all do. Listen to DJ WADO while you're
on myspace or the internet. These are the soldiers who have
stepped up to encourage you and help you make sense out of
your life and where it should be headed.
AWOE: How would someone find out about Holy Hip-Hop
Summit 2008?
Carolyn: Thanks for asking.
Keep it locked on www.myspace.com/princesskingint
The official myspace page for Holy Hip-Hop summit info!
Hip-Hop had a baby and His name is Holy!
Carolyn J. Essex gives a special thanks to Commission Magazine www.commissionmag.com & Local Radio Station KlAV 1230 - Gina Middelton - OFF THE RECORD LIVE SHOW HOST!
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