DOVER — Catholic Schools Week came to a loud and energetic end at Holy Cross School in Dover with two concerts by Christian evangelist rapper B-Shoc, who used music to share his message that God empowers all of us.
B-Shoc, also known as Bryan Edmonds, spent the day at the Dover school. He performed for the younger students in the morning and the older grades in the afternoon, and in between he spent some time with Holy Cross’ music honor society. The students talked about the role of music in their lives but also about other topics.
“What is your favorite board game?” one asked. It’s not really a board game, but B-Shoc told them he played Jenga recently.
“Pepsi or Coke?” a teacher inquired. B-Shoc is from Georgia, the home of Coca-Cola, but he didn’t hesitate before responding that he preferred Pepsi.
“That doesn’t mean that I don’t like Coke,” he insisted.
Asked about his music moniker, he said his mother told him he needed a rap name.
“She asked me what I wanted to do,” B-Shoc said. “I wanted to shock the world. And it stuck.”
The house lights dimmed after the students filed in, and the room was filled with strobe lights and colored spotlights. After a countdown – and with the students chanting his name – the performer emerged and got the show started.
“God gave me a vision,” he told the students. “This is more than music. I am here to B-Shoc the world!”
B-Shoc describes himself as a Christian music evangelist. He once pursued a career in secular music, but tired of the scene and turned to “Jesus music” instead. He travels the country spreading his message.
For the next hour, the students jumped up and down, clapping and chanting nearly the entire time. As B-Shoc performed, most of the lyrics were visible on a screen behind him. For one song, “Where They At — JC Flex,” he had the students flexing during the refrain.
“Do the JC Flex ’cause we’re strong in the Lord,” he rapped.
As the show drew to a close, B-Shoc had a message for the students to take with them: “No matter what your friends say, no matter what anyone says, the Lord has made you great.”
The response from the students was unanimous: “Amen!”
Photos by Mike Lang.
