VIDEO: Recap of Master's Tournament winner's megaconcert with Christian rappers

Worship artist and CCM radio mainstay Jeremy Camp created a video recap of this weekend's Bubba's Bash concert that raised funds for the Bubba Watston Medical Clinic in Livayo, Kenya.

The megaconcert was organized by PGA golfer and 2012 Master's Tournament winner Gerry “Bubba” Watson and showcased mostly Christian hip hop acts - including Houstonian and recent Rice University graduate Ronnie "Reconcile" Lillard. Look for his white tee and swinging dreadlocks starting at the 2:15 minute mark.

Masters winner Bubba Watson to host fundraising concert with Christian rappers

Bubba Watson and Christian rapper Thi'sl on a recent golf outing

These days, when a high-profile sports figure is known as much for his athletic talent as his faith it’s really no surprise that he has connections to the world of Christian rap. Hip hop is simply that mainstream.

Now it’s professional golfer Gerry “Bubba” Watson who has both rallied and raised new fans in the arena of urban music ministry. And next month he’s holding a megaconcert that includes performances by a Christian rapper from Houston.

The “Bubba’s Bash” lineup (to be held in Columbus, Ohio on May 29) includes top Christian music draws like Toby Mac and Jeremy Camp as well as artists like Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, Thi’sl, and Ronnie “Reconcile” Lillard – a gospel rapper who played football for Rice University. It’s designed to be a fund raiser for the Bubba Watston Medical Clinic in Livayo, Kenya.

Bubba Watson, Lecrae, and Jordin Sparks

The event has an even higher profile now that Watson wears the green jacket as the winner of the Masters Tournament – the biggest contest in all of professional golf. And as one might expect, since it occurred on Resurrection Sunday, it launched plenty of enthusiastic support on Twitter from Christian rappers who like to flip phrases like “Bubba won the Masters on the day the Master won.”

Bubba, who has fun with his image as a member of the “Golf Boys”, has also appeared in Christian rap songs like “Michael Jackson” from Andy Mineo’s recent Formerly Known free album from Reach Records. Listen for his shoutout around the 3:50 mark in the clip below.



Other athletes with recent Christian rap connections:

Tebowin' and other Tim Tebow Christian rap songs
Linsanity's Christian rap connections

Rice University linebacker making waves with free Christian rap album & Marvin Sapp remake

Just a few years ago Ronnie Lillard was turning heads in Reliant Stadium for his linebacker play with the Rice Owls versus the University of Texas Longhorns.

Now, after an injury sidelined his collegiate football career, he's making waves as a burgeoning Christian hip hop artist named Reconcile with the Full Ride Music Group recently formed by St. Louis rapper Thi'sl.

Thi'sl told me that Reconcile was the "epitome" of the type of artist he would want on his record label and added him to the company after seeing Lillard's work ethic from afar and hearing positive reports from Houston about his character.

He said he was impressed by Reconcile's self-shot and edited videos frequently posted on DaSouth.com. He continued to follow the young rapper's moves and got to really connect with him when Thi'sl was a headline performer at the "Hope for the Tre" concert in Third Ward.

"The thing I love about him most is that when I went to his church they spoke so highly of him," Thi'sl said. "They talked about how he was studying at a top-rated college, actively serving his community, and discipling new believers."

"And on top of all that, he's dope musically!"

I caught up with Reconcile at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin a few weeks ago where he told me more about his connection to FRMG, his post-college plans, and the importance of hip hop to urban ministry.



Full Ride Music's first official drop is Abandoned Hope - a free album released online last Friday, March 23. It contains a remix of the "U Rydin" song (now featuring PRo) that lit up SXSW 2011 and a hip hop interpretation of the Marvin Sapp gospel hit "Never Would Have Made It" (seen below).



Sample or download Abandoned Hope for free via the widget below.

VIDZ: "Go Girl" - Corey Paul feat. Reconcile

H-town's Frontline Movement (Corey Paul and Reconcile) has a new clip, partially filmed at the University of Houston, for their song "Go Girl" which aims to uplift and encourage women - particularly those of the Christian faith.

We need more songs like this on the radio and BET.

15 minutes of highlights from Lecrae's 10k Kemah show

Here's a killer compilation of highlights from last week's Lecrae show in Kemah, Texas that reportedly drew 10,000 people to the boardwalk.

Video courtesy of the Frontline Movement's Ronnie "Reconcile" Lillard.

Look for cameos by DJ Promote and Cannon (the drumming/back flipping hypeman.)