ABSTRACT
Latinx Hip Hoppas have made numerous contributions to Hip Hop and although some scholars have recognized them, there is a dearth of scholarly attention given to Latinx and religion. Even more specifically focusing on Hip Hop and Christianity, there is no scholarly work that fully analyzes Latinx Hip Hoppas. Jonathan Calvillo’s ground-breaking study of Latinx Hip Hoppas in Los Angeles illustrates the importance of focusing on Latinx Hip Hoppas who overtly identify as Christian. If scholars and practitioners do not account for Latinx Hip Hoppas in LA, then they will miss out on women Hip Hoppas, the connections between LA and New York, the African diasporic aesthetics and culture practiced by Latin American immigrants, and the relationship between Pentecostalism and Hip Hop. One of the most notable and recognizable collaborations is between Rene “T-Bone” Sotomayor and Lawrence “KRS-One” Parker, on the song “GospelAlphaMegaFunkyBoogieDiscoMusic.” KRS-One is not the only Hip Hop pioneer who is a part of this narrative, but many others, and the movement of Latinx Hip Hoppas in LA, offer numerous additional examples.
