The First Jesuit Hip-Hop Album in History “Worship Real”
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Prophetic Beauty of Hip-Hop
“By virtue of creation, and still more the incarnation, nothing here is profane for those who know how to see.”
In its origins, the art of Hip-Hop was meant as a form of celebration. It was also used to stir and disturb the hearts and minds of its listeners by conveying raw and gritty truths through rhyme. It is not difficult to see the connection between Jesus Christ's own disturbing and prophetic rhetoric, and an MC’s ability to denounce the ugly side of reality using the beauty of words.
Hear Me As I Am
“True humility is seeing yourself the way God sees you. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
I humbly present to you my music. The following tracks range from more serious tracks to parodies, from English to Spanish, from questions to answers. In the end, music is but a small glimpse into an artist's soul. Hear me as I am.
Featured Videos
News Coverage of Jesuit Hip-Hop
Spirit and rhymes: 20 minutes with the Jesuit rapper
For more details on Mike Martínez SJ's philosophy and spirituality behind his Hip-Hop Ministry, read the interview "Spirit and Rhymes: 20 minutes with the Jesuit Rapper" (p. 37) in the latest Canadian Jesuits Magazine focused on Ignatian Youth Ministry (Issue #8, 2022).
In music video, seminarian at Belen Jesuit Prep uses rap to tackle coronavirus, global concerns
WSVN Channel 7News | Miami, FL
Rapping Seminarian Known As “The Jesuit Rapper” Writes Song to Inspire Students Amid Pandemic
NBC6 In the Mix | South Florida
Fighting COVID-19 through rap:
Miami Jesuit produces video about pandemic and other plagues
The Florida Catholic Palm Beach | Archdiocese of Miami
“ONE-BODY-SPIRIT-MIND” Instagram: Café con Brother Mike Martínez, SJ sobre su videoclip, la carta a los artistas de Juan Pablo II y las protestas en EE.UU.
Entrevistador Gustavo Mejía | Café con OBSM
Jesuits at the Frontiers: “The Rapping Jesuit”
Jesuits Global, Communications Office of the General Curia | Rome, Italy
Hip-Hop Ministry: Jesuit Scholastic Raps at Fordham
Fordham University | Bronx, NY
Jesuit Scholastic melds rap and faith in Holy Cross webinar
Special to the Telegram & Gazette | Worcester, MA
TEDx: Hip-Hop, Media and Faith
St. Thomas Aquinas High School | Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Reflections on Hip-Hop's Fire
“For it is not much knowledge that fills and satisfies the soul, but the intimate understanding and relish of the truth.”
Real MC’s ignite the fire for dialogue beyond the music. It is our role to learn from the conversations and accompany people in learning from the brilliant light this fire can shed on society’s concerns. But if we are quick to judge the fire the rapper ignited rather than addressing what the fire’s light has revealed about society, we will surely be burned by the rapper’s prophetic fire. In the end, it was never about the fire to begin with, but what the fire pointed to.
Music release: Vowed to love
Mike Martinez’s new Hip-Hop video for “Love is Above” features students from the Fe y Alegría school network to help show that the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience are meant to help us grow in our capacity to love.
Ignatian Hip-Hop: “Radical Prayer”
Have you ever prayed with rap music? Michael Martinez, SJ released a new album, “Worship Real”. The album’s fourth track, “Radical Prayer,” explores the question of how a deeper prayer life can lead us to live our Christian calling more radically.
“Mask Off God” Rap: Unmasking Hidden Holiness
Unmask the hidden sacredness behind Future’s original song with the release of the new “Mask Off God” music video.
You’ll be surprised by how much Kendrick Lamar has to teach you about being prophetic in his controversial “Humble” music video.
Festival de Arte Jesuita
No Festival Online Arte.COM, entrevistam ao Mike Martínez, SJ sobre o poder espiritual e humano do gênero de Hip-Hop. O festival reuniu o talento de alguns jesuítas por meio da arte para a maior glória de Deus. | 20 de julho, 2021
“Sing to him a new song;
Play skillfully, and shout for joy…
The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of his unfailing love.”
Psalm 33
Jesuit Hip-Hop Artists
Check out more Jesuits using Hip-Hop to reveal the Kingdom of God.
Bishop SJ: Building the Kingdom one song at a time
In recent years, his musical fascinations have converged in a style somewhere between hip-hop, R&B, and pop. If you’re looking for music that is honest and life-giving; spend a moment with Bishop SJ.
Lectures on Hip-Hop
Five Elements of Hip-Hop vs. Five Elements of Ignatian Spirituality
Webinar “The Wake-Up Call: Night of Hip-Hop, Faith and Justice” with more than 140 College of the Holy Cross students and guests on November 19, 2020
Prophetic Fire: The Power of Hip Hop, Media, and Faith
Jesuit scholastic and Fordham alumnus Michael Martínez, S.J., FCRH ’13, discusses his ministry of using hip-hop, new media, and Ignatian Spirituality in order to live a faith that does justice. Live hip-hop performance by a Jesuit included. Event was held at Fordham University (Bronx, NY) on October 25, 2019
Prophetic Beauty: The Power of Hip Hop and Faith
Michael Martinez, S.J. discusses the power of Hip-Hop as a prophetic voice in the modern world at the fourth John Courtney Murray Forum Beauty Itself: A Night of Engaging, Encountering, and Enlivening the Beautiful held at Loyola University Chicago on April 6, 2017
Live Performances
“It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. ”
“As Catholics, practicing the Tradition does not allow us to forget the truth that the love of God and love of neighbor are ONE. The Revolutionary part of the Catholic faith is that the Truth must not remain some philosophical principle taught long ago, but a Christian responsibility today — to incarnate (or make flesh) this Truth in our daily lives. This is what the Christian Tradition ultimately points to. This is the work of Christ’s Revolution. ”
