In this episode of Da Fixx, we discuss the impact of hip hop on culture. Guest artist Eddy Puyol reflects on his journey in the Christian hip-hop scene and his upcoming music. Co-host Dice Gamble leads a salvation prayer and emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth. DJ Focus shares his personal journey into ministry and the importance of serving the community. We also discuss the significance of living a life that reflects Jesus and the role of Christian hip-hop in their faith journey. Let’s jump right in!

The Importance of Authentic Music

Our conversation began with a discussion on the significance of authentic music that pushes the culture forward. We believe in the power of our work and its potential to revolutionize the music industry. We emphasized the need for genuine music that resonates with listeners and sparks a cultural shift.

The Privilege of Airwaves

We discuss the privilege of being on the airwaves. Dice Gamble acknowledged the responsibility we have to reach both believers and non-believers. Responding to feedback about not discussing salvation enough, Dice led a salvation prayer for non-believers who wish to follow Jesus Christ. She reassured listeners that it’s okay to repeat the salvation prayer and encouraged them to read the Bible to deepen their understanding of the faith.

The Journey of Spiritual Growth

DJ Focus added that accepting the prayer is just the beginning of a spiritual journey. He urged listeners to find a Bible-based church to continue growing spiritually. He emphasized the importance of understanding Jesus Christ to fulfill one’s purpose and the significance of spiritual health.

Honoring Pioneers in Christian Hip-Hop

Our conversation took a turn towards recognizing and honoring pioneers in Christian hip-hop, specifically Eddy Puyol. We acknowledged Dice Gamble’s contributions to the genre and the challenges she faced as a female artist in a male-dominated industry. Dice reflected on her nearly 20-year career and the progress made for female artists in Christian music. She expressed gratitude for the younger generation of female artists who are confidently pursuing their ministries.

The Power of Authenticity

Our guest, Eddy Puyol emphasized the importance of authenticity in his music and outreach, which he believes has been crucial in connecting with people in urban communities. He stressed the importance of treating everyone with respect and making them feel loved. Eddy shared that his love for Jesus and his calling to fulfill his purpose have kept him in the music industry. He sees God as cool and believes in being true to himself and his faith.

The History of Christian Hip Hop

Eddy took us back through the history of Christian hip-hop, sharing his early days in the music industry. He mentioned his first project in 2003 with a dirty south vibe and his collaborations with Urban D and Spec. Eddy fell in love with the Christian hip-hop culture and saw a need for artists to do hip-hop worship. He started creating worship records that could be sung by large groups of people, not just hip-hop enthusiasts.

The Impact of Eddy’s Music

Eddy’s music and influence opened doors for the movement, including being asked to create a theme song for a tour that had never featured hip-hop before. He also mentioned influencing TobyMac to use auto-tune in his music. Eddy emphasized the importance of serving and helping the movement grow. He mentioned his involvement in various events and shows, including ESPN and the Dove Awards.

The Future of Christian Hip-Hop

Eddy concluded by saying that while the sound of hip-hop has changed over the years, the movement is still progressing and pushing forward. He expressed gratitude for the growth and development of the culture.

The Importance of Trusting God

Eddy shared that he is currently working on a new record that focuses on trusting God. He believes trust is a crucial aspect of his life and wants his music to inspire others to trust in God as well.

Incorporating Culture into Music

When asked if he plans to incorporate more of his Cuban culture into his music, Eddy confirmed that he is working on a full album with a Spanglish feel to it. He explained that he has always been drawn to his roots and wants to reflect that in his music.

The Importance of Reflecting Christ

Our conversation concluded with a discussion on the importance of reflecting Christ and conforming to his image. We quoted scriptures that encourage believers to imitate Christ and practice righteousness. We believe that older people who have walked with the Lord for a long time often have wisdom and knowledge to share.

The Unexpected Call into Ministry

DJ Focus shared his personal journey of how he was unexpectedly called into ministry. He recalled how God constantly showed him that he was meant to have spiritual conversations in unexpected places like barber shops and corner stores. Through his obedience to God’s calling, DJ Focus has been involved in feeding the homeless, helping the community, and participating in a program called Teen Challenge, which supports incarcerated individuals.

The Importance of Living a Life Reflecting Jesus

Dice Gamble emphasized the importance of living a life that reflects Jesus. She encouraged listeners to constantly confess their faith in Jesus and ask God for guidance in areas they need to change. She believes that by transforming our mindset and aligning our lives with Christ, we can become effective Christians in all aspects of our lives.

The Power of Christian Hip Hop

DJ Focus and Dice expressed their gratitude for Christian hip hop music, as it has played a significant role in their lives. They credit the music for saving them and keeping them inspired and rooted in their faith.

The Power of Connection

We ended the podcast by encouraging listeners to reach out to us through DM or email if they ever need to talk. We believe in the power of connection and the importance of redirecting people back to Jesus. We plan to make this a regular segment, offering the opportunity for listeners to reach out to us once a week.

Our conversation with Eddy Puyol was a profound exploration of the power of authentic music, the importance of faith, and the role of Christian hip-hop in our lives. We look forward to continuing these conversations and pushing the culture forward.

TIMECODE REFERENCES:

The Impact of Hip-Hop on Culture (00:00:10) Discussion on how hip-hop music has influenced and pushed forward the culture.

The Salvation Prayer (00:02:17) Explanation and guide on how to say the salvation prayer to accept Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.

The Evolution of Christian Hip-Hop (00:07:30) Highlighting the career and contributions of Eddy Puyol, a pastor, artist, speaker, songwriter, and producer in the Christian hip-hop genre.

The pioneers of Christian hip hop (00:08:33) Discussion about the pioneers of Christian hip hop and the importance of paying homage to them.

The evolution of female representation in Christian music (00:09:24) Highlighting the progress and challenges faced by female artists in the Christian music industry.

The significance of bearing fruit (00:11:13) Exploring the concept of bearing fruit and its importance in the Christian faith, using fruit as a metaphor.

The Christian Hip Hop Scene in the Early 2000s (00:17:09) Discussion on the early days of Christian hip hop, collaborations with other artists, and the need for hip hop worship.

Influencing TobyMac and Opening Doors (00:20:01) Talking about creating a theme song for a tour, meeting TobyMac, and influencing his use of auto-tune.

The State and Culture of Hip Hop Today (00:25:13) Reflecting on the impact of hip hop over the past 50 years and the development of the culture.

The impact of hip-hop on the culture (00:26:19) Discussion about how hip-hop music changed the speaker’s world and influenced their career as a rapper.

The history of hip-hop (00:27:39) Conversation about the origins of hip-hop and its impact on the music industry, mentioning Stephen Wiley’s contribution in 1985.

Creating new music with a trust in God theme (00:28:08) Explanation of the inspiration behind the Eddy’s new record, emphasizing the importance of trust in God and how it revolutionized their mindset.

The process of becoming like Christ (00:38:13) Discussion on the journey of transformation and conforming to look like Christ, with references to daily prayer, carrying the cross, and leading others in the right direction.

Connecting with Pastor Eddy (00:37:04) Information on how to connect with Pastor Eddy Puyol on various platforms, including his social media handles and radio show.

Imitating Christ and practicing righteousness (00:40:22) Exploration of the importance of imitating Jesus and practicing righteousness, with references to scriptures that guide believers in walking in the right way and loving others.

The spiritual conversations at the barber shop (00:45:01) DJ Focus talks about how God showed him the importance of having spiritual conversations at the barber shop and corner stores, leading him to start sharing his faith and eventually becoming a deacon at his church.

Street ministry and helping the incarcerated (00:45:55) DJ Focus talks about his involvement in street ministry, including going to homeless shelters, feeding the homeless, and participating in programs like Teen Challenge to help incarcerated individuals develop spiritually and gain resources for their reintegration into society.

Becoming transformed and looking more like Jesus (00:49:11) The co-host emphasizes the importance of following Jesus, keeping His commandments, and serving Him. He encourages self-reflection and prayer to identify areas where one can grow to resemble Christ more and be a positive representation of God to others.

The Power of Transformation (00:52:47) Discussion on the importance of experiencing freedom in Christ and constantly confessing sins to become better Christians.

Changing Mindsets and Praying for Guidance (00:53:34) Encouraging listeners to pray and ask God for guidance on which area of their lives they need to change to become more like Jesus.

The Evolution of Christian Hip Hop (00:55:20) The hosts discuss the impact and evolution of Christian hip hop, acknowledging its role in inspiring and uplifting listeners in the foundation of Jesus Christ.

The prayer feedback (01:00:57) Listeners are encouraged to provide feedback on their experience with the prayer and redirecting them back to Jesus.

Leaving a voice memo (01:01:06) The hosts discuss the option of leaving a voice memo for the show, which they can listen to while on the go.

Talking about salvation on Winning Wednesday (01:01:23) The hosts announce that they will discuss salvation every Wednesday and encourage listeners to reach out to them for support.