Some fans for Christian Hip Hop music are feeling “Uncomfortable” after a recent live performance of a favorite Christian rapper. Reach Records Artist Andy Mineo, formerly known as C-Lite, is being scrutinized by some for his “softball” response to the question of what 116 means on his ball cap. The response was simply “It’s my team” as it was aired live on Fox 5 in New York City, Wednesday October 28, 2015.
Some Christian Hip Hop fans have since critisized Andy’s lack of boldly proclaiming a Gospel message that reflects his “1-1-Six” headgear during the performance on Fox 5, New York. One group, called BSAC radio show [short for Basically Sound Artist Coalition] had gone as far as to make a mock video on their YouTube channel to show how some may feel about the situation.
It seems that the major discussion on social media is the contradicting response to what “1-1-Six” means, a reference to Romans 1:16, which is the motto of the Reach Records label, to be “Unashamed” of the Gospel. Many are watching Andy and his label mates, such as founder Lecrae, and others such as Tedashii and KB, searching for a bold Gospel message in their music, interviews, and performances, yet some Christian fans are feeling that the 116 Clique is not living up to their “Unashamed” ideals.
Andy, originally from Syracuse, NY, now living in Washington Heights, has a long history of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, long before joining the Reach Records team. In the late 2000s, Andy worked under Nicky Cruz’s super group called TRUCE, a ministry team in New York City’s streets. He was also a part of the “God Belongs In My City” movement, of which a single and video was made, along with Christian Rock group, Doubledge. The song ‘In My City’ became an anthem for many Christians world-wide.
