Meet one rapper who's stuck in the 80s

Jonah Sorrentino is perhaps the only Christian hip-hop artist who proudly admit he's "stuck in the '80s."

How much so? He's actually recorded a rap song called Stuck in the '80s. Click here to download and listen to his song.

"The original inspiration came from a song I did where I said, 'I think I'm stuck in the '80s, shout-out to all the fellas and the ladies,' " Sorrentino says. "I had a friend and he was like 'Man you're stuck in the '80s man!' because all I would do is keep talking to him about the '80s movies, songs, etc."

Sorrentino, who performs under the stagename kj-52, grew up in the Tampa Bay area, attending schools in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs before moving to Fort Myers before high school graduation.

The new single Stuck in the '80s appears on his album The Yearbook, which was re-released this week. He's planning to film a video for it at a rollerskating rink in December (and he's asked Sean Daly and me to appear in it.)

"I think the appeal of '80s now comes with the fact that it is such  a definable decade," he says. "It has such a clear image in my opinion that is much more definable than many other decades, from the music, movies, clothing, politics. Eighties babies have been clearly influenced by all aspects of it that it's impossible to shake. Plus I think the music was the bomb-diggity."

Well said, sir. But Christian rapping?

"I didn't really aim to jump into Christian hip-hop," he explains. "It was just a kind of natural outgrowth of my decision to turn my life around. The music was an natural progression of what was going on in my life."

Click here to visit kj's official Web site. The album The Yearbook is available via iTunes and in Christian bookstores.

[Publicity photo]

Comments

[elen]

some basic mixing
http://www.ihappyshopping.com/
http://www.laptopspartstore.com/
never stop

[don in tulsa]

mine as well, galaga i mean.

[Spears]

Sean has a well-documented hatred of weed, which I believe he outlined on a previous podcast.

That being said, he did always seem to get a lot of joy from Jay and Silent Bob.

And for the record, I believe "Galaga" was his video game of choice.

[don in tulsa]

maybe sean would be the guy hanging out by the gameroom selling weed.

[Douglas Arthur]

Ok, I just listened and I think I would rather listen to Danny Bonaduce try to play real drums instead. Full of every rap music cliche I have ever heard. But I hold no ill will toward the man himself. Keep pluggin' dude.

[Douglas Arthur]

yeah! Tonnianne is still alive!

I haven't listened yet, but what is Sean's opinion on how favorably this guy compares to rappers of other faiths like 2 Live Jews and the current Matisyahu?

[Miguel]

I just hope you won`t decide to use this song as your new anthem for the podcast.

[don in tulsa]

i had you as the older guy hanging out staring at hot chicks (whom you later find out are lesbians) and sean as the guy over by the video games offering his opinions on what the best games are and what the player should do next, etc. close?

[Spears]

I had Sean has the guy who eats all the pepperoni off the pizza and then just sells them as "cheese only" slices.

[Jeff in Cuba]

I had Sean pegged for the guy handing out the rental skates and huffing the disinfectant.

[Spears]

My ankles are no longer rollerskate worthy. Maybe I can play the rinks' DJ. And Sean can play the guy who works behind the concession stand.

[Melissa]

Hmmmmm...I'm trying to picture Sean and Steve lacing up their rollerskates.

[Sherrie]

I'm not familiar with Mr.Sorrentino, but one excellent Christian hip hop artist was Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez. He released his first CD in 1989 and was dead (at 23) by the end of 1990. Great music and great use of sampling, he's worth a listen for anyone who likes the genre.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Crap.

I entered a "Who-Will-Appear-In-A-Rap Video" pool, but I didn't pick Steve & Sean, and opted for more likely candidate.

I thought for sure that Sandra Day O'Connor was going to come through for me!

[Bassnote]

I really didn't like that tune. I'm not a big fan of rap to begin with, but I've always found Christian rappers to be kind of cartoonish. I'm not knocking all Christian music because I own quite a lot of it, but the Christian rap is not so good.

[Tonianne]

I'm so glad Chase went there first.

You guys featured in a Christian music artist's video?

So the Book of Revelation has Eight Seals after all...

[chase]

Because when I think of "80s" and "Shining examples of clean, Christian living" ... the first thing that pops into my mind: Sean and Steve.

I mean, it's a natural.

Say, is Wild Turkey a sacrement?