CANOGA PARK : Private Boiz to Bring Message to Hope Chapel

At a recent rap concert in Orange, a young man with a shaved head and baggy pants hanging over his sneakers, walked cautiously up to the front of the room.

Bandleader Johnny (The Jam) Rosado, a 27-year-old man with a kind face who wore sunglasses and an earring, hugged him and began to pray for him.

The scene was a Private Boiz performance, a Christian rap concert of five young men who sing, dance, rap and minister to youths throughout Southern California.

Tonight at 7 they will bring their message to Hope Chapel of the Valley, 7930 Mason Ave., in Canoga Park. Admission is free.

With their album Check da Flava, Private Boiz became the first U.S. group to be signed to the growing Chatsworth label N-soul Records in February.

The artists have just returned from a week in Nashville, where they attended the Dove Awards, the Christian music equivalent to the Grammys. They also performed four shows, gave seven interviews and mingled with some of the Christian rap industry’s top names, including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and D.C. Talk.

The five men from Riverside County, all in their 20s, are riding the wave of a trend in which Christian churches minister to youths in ways other than traditional preaching.

They say that speaking to young people in their own language and their similar backgrounds give them an edge with the kids.

“They understand where we’re coming from,” said group manager Hector Rosado, “We’ve been where they’re at.”

Eric Kissick arranged tonight’s concert, which also will include performances by Gina Foglio and the church’s own dance group, Jammin’ for Jesus. He said he first saw Private Boiz at a concert in San Bernardino.

He agreed that the group has a gift for reaching out to youth. “Not only do they have a strong message, but they are also very entertaining,” he said.

Members of the group consider their shows to be more than just performances. “It’s not really about entertaining,” Hector Rosado said, “God has called us to be ministers.

“A lot of kids are turned off by just preachers. Kids are more willing to listen to us. They understand where we’re coming from.”