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Perreo for Jesus: Reggaetoneros also pray


By Ángela González

Héctor "El Father."

Hearing is believing.

"I had everything, but it was really nothing," says reggaetón star Héctor "El Father," explaining his conversion to Christ.

"Not even fame or money could fill this void I had in my heart. Now I feel a joy I can’t even explain."

The former member of the duo Héctor y Tito, whose real name is Héctor Delgado, joined the Pentecostal Misionera Church in Puerto Rico five months ago, after attempted murder charges related to a gas station shootout in February 2008 were dropped.

Although he said he would retire from music, last September he released a Christian album titled "El Juicio Final" (Judgment Day).

"In this CD, you’ll find songs that will make you understand that Christ is the way," says Delgado, 30. "I live to give a message that God put in my heart for all humanity."

The message might sound odd coming from a pioneer of a raunchy genre whose signature dance move — perreo — mimics canine intercourse, but Delgado is hardly the only Christian rapero in Puerto Rico.

Ramón Ayala, known worldwide as Daddy Yankee, is a devout man, and his brother Melvin is a pastor.

"It’s not like I want to be like my brother, but I do want to follow the Lord, which is what matters," says Yankee, 31, the author of the megahit "Gasolina."

Another reggaetón pioneer, Don Omar, is also a devout Christian who credits his wife, Jackie Guerrido, a Univision weatherperson, with leading the way to Jesus.

"She’s the one who gives me the Word, who soothes me and who talks to me about God," says Don Omar, 30.

But Puerto Rico’s most notorious Christian rhyme buster is probably hip hop en español pioneer Luis Armando Lozada, aka Vico C.

"More than 20 years ago, a friend invited me to a Christian church. Since then, all my new songs have a message of faith," says Lozada, 37, who’s had several bouts with drug addiction.

Of course, not every Puerto Rican rapper embraces religion.

Latin Grammy favorites Calle 13 lampooned the trend in their latest album "Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo," whose song "Fiesta de Locos" says, mockingly: "I know my music is profane, but when I stop selling I’ll make Christian music."

To which Héctor "El Father" responds: "I can’t judge them because I come from there, and just like the Lord had mercy on me, he will have mercy on them.

"We’re praying for them to know that the alternatives are many, but Christ is the one solution."

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Introducing the new Christian National Anthem: Guns & Jesus.

http://ccrg.info/cas.htm

Tell All!!!