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Korean Catholic priest releases hip hop album

July 7, 2015

Rev. Egberto Noh In-bin has released a hip-hop album titled “Stromateis.”
(Courtesy of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea)

By Chung Ah-young

Father Egberto Noh In-bin, 40, is the first Korean Catholic priest to release a hip-hop album.

He has been working on “Stromateis” for three years and there are 13 tracks, including seven rap songs, written and sung by Noh. “The Stromateis,” the third in Clement of Alexandria’s trilogy of works on Christian life, inspired the title.

Noh was a rapper in his school hip-hop band and held hip-hop concerts, but this is his first album.

Noh, a priest at Cheongbuk Catholic Church in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, said the album expresses human emotions such as love, hope, courage, sorrow and anger to give listeners hopeful messages.

“This album is a kind of contemporary Christian music (CCM),” he said. “The songs are like popular songs within the church. I hope many young Catholics enjoy these songs and CCM should be younger so that it can appeal to more young people.”

His songs and lyrics reflect themes such as love, youth and social issues.

“My Conflict” is about youth troubles while “Pray” is a delightful rap song chanting for a religious life.

“Hypocrites” takes a shot at Catholics who live by double standards.

“Food Shock” lampoons the gap between the rich and poor and “Consolation” is dedicated to the families of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster.

Other gospel musicians such as Hong Ji-ho and Im Du-bin participated in the album.

Noh will hold a showcase at the Korea Catholic Cultural Center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 9.