June 9 marks the feast of St. Ephrem of Syria, the patron saint of my music, and this very blog.

Often times, people think because I make music, that Cecilia or Gregory should be my preferred saints of patronage. I have chosen Ephrem, and here is why.

Ephrem was a theologian, Church Father, and Doctor of the Church. He did not write treatises on theology, by the pattern of other Church Fathers. Ephrem wrote his theology in prose, poetry, and hymns. He is one of the few who could be credited with doing such. Although, not a composer of music in the traditional sense, his theological prose was appropriate for the melodies that were popular among heretical christian factions of the day.

So, if you can understand, where I am coming from with my music. I intend to weave the rich tradition of theology in hip hop lyrics. I do not believe I need to “water down” our theology for the sake of easy listening, or an appeal to the audience. In fact, most underground hip hop is in your face, somewhat inaccessible, and inconvenient. It is such, to challenge the listener to their very best. I make my hip hop in the spirit of Ephrem, who needed not to “water down” the doctrines and truths of the faith for the sake of convenience and easy listening. To “water down” only tells the listener that they are incapable of intelligence.

For instance, I am working on a song inspired by the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation of the Second Vatican Council. It wouldn’t be theology if it was too common, it wouldn’t be hip hop if it was easy listening.

Some other cool things. Ephrem was a deacon, and not a priest. Deacons in the Syrian rite, needed loud and robust voices in the Liturgy. So I am sure, his voice would have been something to behold.

Ephrem was a hermit, and I have a desire to walk on the inner pilgrimage.

Ephrem was also a chaplain to a convent of women. I imagine being a convent chaplain could be one of the most fun things imaginable, should the sisters be so.