Pure Souls spread the word through rhythm

DENNIS D. MUHUMUZA

After five years of true and firm discipleship through holy hip hop, Pure Souls are wrapping up 2008 with a celebration of their ministry’s achievements in a concert codenamed Urban Fest at Calvary Chapel in the city centre this Sunday.

The all-male crew based in Kampala have had school outreaches and visited many prisons “taking the gospel of hope to the hopeless.”

They curtain-raised for Papa San when he performed in Kampala early this year and have ministered in Kenya, California and around the country. Julius Mukasa , Joel Otim, Simon Mubiru and Odie Trophimus believe their meeting was divine.

“We were brought together by God for a great commission; to spread his word through beats and rhymes,” says Mubiru.

This much is clear in their two albums Doxology (2004)’ and Cross Reference (2006) which have been well-received in the Christian circles.

“Our music is urban-centred and our core audience are the youth especially those caught up in the misleading culture of secular hip hop,” says Trophimus. “God is leading us to show them the right way through spirit-filled and anointed rap songs.”

In Luganda and English, with an extra one or two songs in Swahili, Pure Souls “spit” unadulterated ‘sermons’ over hard-hitting beats that will not leave you lounging on the sofa.

Beyond glorifying God, their lyrics are drawn from personal testimonies; the struggle between good and evil and the challenge of “keeping it real for Christ” amid the lures and lusts of this world.

They also sing about social evils, the anti Christ, the last days and about false prophets and plead with God to deliver the city from adversity and let peace reign in the land.

One of their more popular songs, Vanity, is about a young man who falls for a pretty girl called Veronica. When she invites him to her place one evening, she tries to intoxicate him with booze, he stands up to her in defiance: “I’m born-again Veronica; no liquor…”

The song is dedicated to big timers in the music industry, They “gat” all the fame, money and the girls, but life without Christ, no matter how fancy is all vanity.

In some faint way, Pure Souls sound like Cross Movement, an American holy-hop quintet who inspires them. From their fashion and passion, this Ugandan act is an authentic representation of hip hop, the difference being that everything they do is based on “Biblical Truth.”

And more distinct is their versatility and creativity; the story-telling, the dramatic pauses between the songs, the suspense, wordplay and the conversational approach does make their music stand out. During the weekly Gospel Night at TLC on Tuesday nights, the quartet is loved for their spontaneity.

“Through Pure Souls Ministries, hundreds have given their lives to Jesus Christ –the masterpiece of God’s love,” says Mubiru.

Urban Fest is a free concert that has the blessing of their pastors --Josh Carlson and Brian Kelly. And will have other gospel bands, choirs and individual artists such as Levite Clan, Worship Harvest Choir, Soul 5 among others.

“It’s not going to be just another entertainment time,” says Trophimus. “It’s going to be different in that Jesus is the focus of our rhymes, so we encourage you to come in multitudes and you will return home rejoicing to the world what the Lord will do for you,” says Mubiru.

--Saturday Monitor, December 13, 2008