Christian rapper Hulvey (Christopher Michael Hulvey) is an award-winning rapper, songwriter, and producer, best known for his song “Altar” with Forrest Frank, as well as “Beautiful” and “Reasons.” He also recently won a GMA Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for his album Could Be Tonight.
Hulvey had a sold-out show in Amsterdam at the Melkwe cultural complex, but after exceeding ticket sales, promoters moved it to a larger venue across the street that seats 500, Club Annie, without his knowledge or respect to the different environment.
However, in a video posted on social media by an attendee, he shared that he had to cancel the show because the venue featured sexually explicit and pornographic images on the walls.
While we won’t be posting images of the club (which does indeed feature pornographic images), in a September interview with Het Parool, programmer Milou Zoer explained the vibe and decor of the venue:
“An abandoned sex club—that’s the vibe we’re going for. It should become a bit of a dark sex den here.”
Upon seeing the wall art and decor, Hulvey asked officials to cover it up, which they refused. He then canceled the show and explained to his disappointed fans:
This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I’ve never canceled a show in my life. Let me tell you all something. We walked in the venue today and there were pornographic images in that venue.
When we first booked this show, they had us booked in a different venue, but we sold too many tickets. They moved us in another room without telling us. Into a room with pornographic images.
And I have kids. And I respect, and I respect God’s creation way too much to make people walk in there and have to see sexual images on a wall.
I stand for Jesus only. If that cost me a show, who cares? Who cares? Because I answer to him. And so I am so sorry to you guys on behalf of Under My Name, but I will not let any of you guys have to go in there and see that. So we’re working on rescheduling immediately.
And just know my heart, I’m standing for Jesus, man. The show might be canceled, but let me tell you something man., All this is a reminder of for me is man, ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for his name.’
They’re not happy with us right now. And guess what? I’m frankly not happy with them. But I love them. And so I want to ask, we just respectfully, we’re going to reschedule. We’re going to give God the glory.
Hulvey then began to pray for his fans out loud
“So Father, I thank you for every person who came here tonight. And I pray that they would just see their brother here having to do something hard, remind them, if you’re calling them to do anything hard, they do it.
I thank you God for purity. I thank you for your forgiveness. Lord, you would never ever ever willfully lead us into any type of temptation…”
He later added in a video posted to his channel:
“I was meeting 7-year-old fans at the meet-and-greet, and there are tons of kids outside. I am not okay with people seeing what were on those walls and the type of things that they could be exposed to at a Hulvey concert would not be okay to me.
So, I made the hard decision to cancel tonight in Amsterdam, and we are working to reschedule immediately. And I’m so sorry to the fans. The way that y’all just made me feel so comforted for making this decision means a lot.But there is one that I answer to, and that’s Jesus. I answer to God. And I have to do what He convicts me to do, and I have to make sure that I take care of the little ones.”
12 responses to “Prominent Christian Rapper Cancels Sold-Out Concert Over Pornographic Images At Venue: ‘I answer to Jesus’”
Very good, but still a bit weak. Don’t be apologetic. Never apologize for the Lord or for His standards. And don’t say it’s about the kids. Wickedness isn’t appropriate or good for anyone at any age. A scripture backing up what he said about temptation is found in James 1:13.
Right. Don’t be apologetic and say “sorry you guys, but …”. Instead say ABSOLUTELY NOT! Let your yes be yes and your no be no (Matt. 5:37)
Leave apologies and apologetic tone for when you’ve done something wrong. Never apologize for doing what God says is right, and what He says to do. Never apologize for righteousness. To do so gives way to wickedness. You can love wickedness or love righteousness, but you can’t love both. There is nothing loving about being apologetic about righteousness. There is no love in wickedness. Never apologize for righteousness. To do so is to call the Lord hateful and mean. His commandments are love. His commandments are not grievous. They’re what’s best for us. He warns us because He loves us. (1 John 5, etc.)
I’d never bash anyone for doing what’s right and for honoring the Lord. That’s not my intent here. He absolutely is to be commended. He’s strong for his age, but he still has a bit of growing up to do. We all need to grow up a bit and get a bit tougher and stronger in the Lord …
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” – 1 Cor. 16:13
Now he needs to honor what the Lord has told us to do, and turn away from any and all who were involved, and dump any who have a problem with him honoring the Lord. Any who have a problem with it, or contest his doing what the Lord said to do, are 2 Tim. 3 fake believers, not truly born again, and so “from such turn away”. Even if that means he has to fire everybody and find a new record label.
Only the Lord’s opinion matters. But if mine mattered, I’d say to him well done young man. Bit of room for needed improvement and growth, and there’s much more to do, but he’s headed in the right direction.
Follow the example of Jesus and the Apostles. They were never apologetic, conciliatory, appeasing or compromising toward wickedness. They knew when not to be nice. They spoke with authority. They were tough. An apologetic or conciliatory tone toward wickedness is neither loving nor merciful. Don’t be “iffy”. If you know what you know, then you know what you know. Speak with conviction, knowing that there is no love in wickedness, understanding the tremendous grace and mercy the Lord has shown specifically because of the severity of wickedness and the condition of mankind, knowing the truth of the Gospel with conviction. Speak with authority. Don’t be a follower of men or a people-pleaser. Follow the Lord and please Him. And let Him worry about whether or not you have money in the bank, food on the table, and shelter over your head. Put it all on the line for Him. Seek ye first the kingdom of God (which is not of this world), and THEN all these things will be added. Don’t skip the first greatest commandment and then try to fulfill the second. That doesn’t work. God knows far better than us what’s good for mankind, what’s loving and what’s not. Understand these truths, in order to be strong in your conviction. Listen to the Holy Spirit, receive and pay attention to the implanted word. This is all a part of growing in the faith. When you know what you know, you know what you know.
Would Jesus have said something like “I’m sorry, but I just can’t …” ???
If you think He would, then you don’t know the real Jesus. Pick up your Bible and read it.
Jesus would’ve said “NO!” and then He would’ve slammed the fire out of those who moved the venue, calling them to repentance.
And the Apostles would’ve done the same.
They were not weak men …
You’re a minister and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we all are to a very significant degree, a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9). Act like it. Know when to stand up, speak with conviction, and spit fire …
When you make a public statement, it’s as if you were standing behind a pulpit. Preach! Teach! Speak with conviction!
Never apologize for the Lord …
I don’t mean to be too hard on these young men. They just have some growing to do.
You have to learn how to stand firm, just as the scripture says. Neither offensive nor defensive, but firm and immovable. You can’t stand on the solid rock weak-kneed and fearful. No, you STAND on it …
And if you don’t know what you need to know enough to have the conviction to do so, then dig into the Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, and receive the implanted word. It’s a free gift. Knowledge and wisdom come from the Holy Spirit, the scripture says. Understanding comes from Him. If any lack wisdom, let them ask …
God is not a liar. So quit acting like you’re not sure …
Compared to the Lord, we are all infinitely stupid and understand nothing. Without Him we know nothing. So learn to understand how it is true that the fear of the Lord, and humility in His sight, is the beginning of wisdom. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)
All authority is His. We don’t speak with our own authority. When we speak the truth He has given, submit to Him and hold true to His word, then we speak with His authority. With His divine power (2 Cor. 10)
Do what He says to do, and let Him worry about the results. He knows better than we do …
And if you know that – if you truly know it – then you will never apologize for Him, for His word, or for His commandments …
Right, you’ve got to have conviction before you can speak with conviction …
Everybody here knows I have a hard time saying things concisely. I’ve posted too much already. But it cannot be stressed enough.
When you do what God says to do, never apologize for it …
Absolutely do not apologize for doing what He says to do. If you are doing what He says to do, never let the words “I’m sorry, but …. ” leave your mouth.
STAND FIRM …
And if/when you’re not doing what He says to do, then leave of the “, but …”
rap is thug culture, regardless of the lyrics
Good on him!!!
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I praise God for his authenticity. So many in the Christian music industry are not.