First, I don't disagree with any of the above comments, and I appreciate the insightful and well-thought replies to this post. But this whole argument smells like fundamentalism where one's spiriuality is measured by the music he listens to or avoids.

I'm old enough to remember the debate over whether or not a Christian shoud listen to The Beatles when they first became popular. They, and before them Elvis, only played "the Devil's music".

Now that I am have been liberated from that mind-set thanks to Reformed thought and practice, I can simply enjoy music--any music--without concerning myself with whether or not I'm going to sin by merely listening to it. Of course I'm not going to listen to music that overtly exaults and glorifies Satan or sinful conduct. But I'm no more holy because I avoid it. I've read in some fundy publications that two of my favorite artists, Yanni and Chris Spheeris, are both "New Age" and on the black list. So if I listen to a beautiful composition by Yanni--his CD "Tribute" is superb by the way--I'm going to run out and buy crystals and start chanelling evils spirits? It's just kooky fundamentalism.

One final rant: I would far perfer to listen to an old song by those godless Beatles than "Christian" hip-hop. All of my fellow fiftysomethings say "Amen."