Bonafide and Coffee of GRITS fielded a couple of questions.

Grits

How is your relationship with Gotee?

Bonafide: As a label, they have been through some ups and downs throughout the years. Some people know about it, some people don't. We were there before Gotee became a label. We were there when they were a production company and we were working on the 'Erace' album. They are family to us, so it doesn't matter who comes and goes, we'll be there and support them as long as they support us.

How do you feel about Christian artists invading the mainstream and getting deals with big labels?

Bonafide: I think that's the way it should be. How can we influence a culture if we are not right there within the culture? We are in the world; we are not of it. That's like saying a Christian doctor can only work in a Christian hospital. If God has called you to be a doctor, you be the best doctor you can be. A Christian doctor has what other doctors don't have. When the book knowledge ends, then the Holy Spirit kicks in and enables you to go farther than the others. It's the same thing in our music. Our music is there for everybody, but we have that fifth element which is Christ.

Do you feel that mainstream success or success on a larger scale waters down the evangelical message most Christian music is known for?

Coffee: No, I don't think it does that. I think it tests the Christian's heart. The mainstream does not water down your message, you do. You start conforming to what they tell you to sell, and the next thing you know, you watered your own message down and you've got nobody to blame but yourself.

How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?

Coffee: I think they are looking for answers. Mainstream hip-hop is looking for answers, that's why you got all these summits going on. We got the answer and that's God but they won't admit it until they see it done in a real way. When they see that this can sell, that's when you will see the whole genre of hip-hop change.