Christian rapper KB might have lost out on opportunities because of his faith, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Let me say first of all that any cost that I talk about here in a second is really something that pales in comparison to the gain that I have in getting closer to Jesus,” he said during an interview with Air1 Radio. “The costs next to the reward…it makes the costs seem almost inappropriate to talk about.”
KB pointed to Paul’s writings in Romans, “where he says that the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.”
“There’s something so comprehensive and massive and grand and beautiful and astounding and healing about the glory that awaits us,” he said. “It feels unworthy to be compared to that, and what I am saying is that there’s something about the glory of God and getting to experience it, even now, that makes what I’m about to say feel very, very small.”
KB continued, “Early on, there were many opportunities for us to dumb down Jesus, to go a different direction, to sort of tap dance for other opportunities that would violate our commitment to Jesus. I have lost more money than I can think of. I have lost more opportunities than I can think of, and by God’s grace, with a smile on my face and no regret whatsoever, I have turned them all down. And I hope it happens again, so I can turn it down again, because the reward of getting closer to my savior has been more satisfying than every victory that I can ever imagine. Even the good ones! Jesus is better.”
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KB often speaks about how his faith and his music intersect, telling Guideposts, “We’re changing the narrative of Christian rap. As opposed to trying to divorce ourselves from Christian rap — because people are going to call you what they’re going to call you. It’s not what they’re used to. We’ve been able to really redeem it.”
“So now, moving forward, people are going to say, ‘No, Christian rap is good, because these guys are killing it.’ I think we’re going to be earning the name,” he continued.
On his most recent album, THIS CANNOT BE SOLD, KB took aim at what he views as the commodification of the Gospel.
“There was a moment where it felt like the Gospel was so for sale that it was to your advantage to package what you are doing as either adjacent to Christianity or directly from the heart of Jesus,” he told Relevant Magazine. “That’s a strange thing in history. Historically, Jesus has been a disruptor. He doesn’t fit well with our marketing campaigns.”
KB added, “I felt this strong conviction when I was writing this record that if we are not people that want Jesus for Jesus, then we are people who don’t actually know Him. God is calling people first to Himself. He’s not calling people into a party or a brand or a set of rules. There comes a time where some tables need to be flipped.”
KB might have lost out on some opportunities, but for the rapper, boldly proclaiming his faith is more important than career glory.
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