Sean Slaughter

SS: I don't know… Seriously, I do think that God has given me a gift and that I take time to learn and craft my gift to a point of excellence. When you copy someone else and try to sound like them, you're just being lazy with what God has given you. You have a responsibility with what God has invested in you and he definitely wants a return on his investment.

GC: Mason Betha (Ma$e) has returned to hip hop after a leave of absence. Originally, he said that he'd never return to secular music. And, he has stated that he doesn't believe in gospel rap. Any thoughts?

SS: I don't know him personally, but it does seem a bit hypocritical. He does not believe in gospel rap but he believes in secular rap? I just pray the church he pastors (S.A.N.E.) won't suffer from whatever's going on in his soul. I haven't had contact with him, but my father (Alvin Slaughter) interviewed him a year or two ago and said he was a genuine Man of God with a heart on fire. I've also heard him preach—about 4 years ago— in Harlem and the dude has a powerful anointing. It's hard to serve two masters and be faithful to one. You can't serve the mindsets of people and the will of God and be faithful to both.

GC: Would you ever consider a secular career? What if God said, “Sean, I want you to do this type of music?”

SS: The Webster definition of secular is "not connected to church." Christ died for the church because he loved it. So no, I believe God would not ask me to do music that is not connected to church or the Body of Christ. Music can touch your emotions and mind but God-music changes your life.

GC: Many in the Christian community have a hard time accepting the church musician who makes money as a secular artist. Is that fair? Do you think it's possible to be an effective Christian in the entertainment industry?

SS: You can be a strong Christian in the entertainment industry, but it's hard. Let's say you have a church musician who plays an instrument at the nightclub on the weekend to pay the bills. We can understand he has a family and the church won't pay him, so he feels he has to play secular cover songs to eat. His problem is not so much what he's playing but the atmosphere that surrounds him: drinking, flirting, etc. The musician who actually writes the music, forms the band, and has purposed in his heart he is going to do secular music. Not only is he constantly in a demonic atmosphere, but in order to write certain kinds of music, you must have it in your heart. Out of your mouth comes the things stored up in your heart. It's hard to write about things you don't experience.