If the latest Grammy nominations are a measure, religion has found fertile ground in the hip-hop/rap genre. Why?

Daniel White Hodge is an associate professor of intercultural communications at North Park University, a Christian school in Chicago where he is also director of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies. He is editor of The Journal of Hip Hop Studies and author of The Soul of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs and a Cultural Theology; Heaven Has a Ghetto: […]

Imani Kai Johnson is an assistant professor of dance at the University of California, Riverside, where she founded the “Show and Prove” hip-hop studies conference, held every two years.

Matthew Harris is a scholar of African-American religion, popular culture and religion, and black studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He wrote a paper on “self-deification” in hip-hop for 2016’s “Show and Prove” hip-hop studies conference.

Robert Tinajero is an associate professor of English at Paul Quinn College in Dallas. His areas of studies include rap and hip-hop culture.

DJ Khaled is a musician and record producer. He is also a Muslim, of Palestinian descent, and many of his works reference his belief in Allah. Contact via his representatives at United Talent Agency.

Dee-1 is the stage name of David Augustine Jr., a Christian rap artist from New Orleans. Two of his mixtape releases have biblical themes — “David and Goliath” and “Psalms of David” — and he frequently talks about his Christian faith.

Chance the Rapper is the stage name of Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, a Christian rapper from Chicago who has had significant crossover success in the mainstream hip-hop/rap category. His 2016 release “Coloring Book,” with explicitly Christian lyrics and gospel influence, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. He is represented by Total Management.

Andy Mineo is a Christian rapper from New York City. He is represented by WME Management.