Throwback: Cypha Grind (Hip-Hop Series 2 of 4)
Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
The cognitive science of linguistics. Smooth studied every emcee he came across. At the age of sixteen, Smooth got a job to be able to cop the latest album or to pay for shows, even though he was well provided for. You know the type of kat I’m talking about. His hip-hop education made him well respected amongst his peers. Not only did Smooth have the knowledge, Smooth had incredible skill. That’s why they called him “Smooth”. The daily bus ride to and from school was his official cypha spot. People who didn’t even live near Smooth would catch his bus to hear him battle. After his competitors were silenced, someone asked, “Smooth, where do you get it from?” Smooth responded, “A dedicated emcee exhausts every possible means to enhance themselves.”
Smooth’s life as an emcee applies to the life of a Christian. A Christian who is serious about their relationship with God will do everything they can to know Christ. They “Seek first the kingdom of Heaven and all its righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33) Emcees in the cypha circle battle each other and grind away weakness and impurities. The purpose is leaving better than what you came in as. An emcee won’t give up on hip-hop because his album didn’t do well on SoundScan. He learns from the experience and sharpens himself for the next round. So it is with Christ…a Christian will not give up on Christ because of a difficult period in life. They pray through it (Eph 6:18), stand firm (1 Cor. 16:13) and gain wisdom from Scripture and other believers (James 1:5).
During my sophomore year, I walked into my high school and noticed the buzz of student conversation was louder than it normally was. The police were communicating with the principals and teachers, who were normally inside their classrooms, escorted students wearing the color red into the main office. I quickly found out that someone had caused over $10,000 worth of damage to the art building, using red spray paint. The school administration believed the damage was gang related. As the weeks passed and the buzz quieted, I found out those involved were the same people I had hung out with for the past three years. I can remember knowingly distancing myself from my crew because of my choice to follow Christ and their decision not to. If I had not chosen to distance myself, I likely would have endured a felony criminal mischief arrest.
“Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor. 15:33) Do the people you run with challenge you in Christ or do you leave you with drama? Do they pray around you or play around you? Do they sharpen you through correction or tell you what you want to hear because it feels better. Fam, so much can be said for accountability. If you don’t regularly meet with someone to sharpen yourself in Christ, find someone you know will be real with you.
If you’re not sharpening someone else for battle, you’re keeping yourself dull.
