Music itself is not 'worship' (in a sense) but an avenue of worship from and for the worshippers.  One could chant gregorian chants without giving it a second thought or one could jam with Jesus.  Which would really be worship?

There is Good and Bad in all types of Christian music.

The times at which i've seen this music produce no fruitfulness has been largely in churches in which the opposition is so stiff that everyone gets the silent message that they won't be allowed to enjoy it, nor successfully share it.

Yes............

There are several old blues guys I like that were very biblical & had no qualms about coming out & saying they were preaching the word in their music......

I think Christian music of any style should help us to enter into the presence of God. Unfortunately a lot of it does not!

I think there is a lot of Christian music out there, rap, rock and otherwise some of it good, some of it very good but a whole lot more of it just simply bad or poorly done.

Too many people want to sing that are not gifted to do so...its not that they shouldn't sing, its just that they shouldn't record, sell and promote it but pride being what it is, they persist mostly for the notoriety, less for the glory of God which could be received by God through the intimacy and privacy of one's personal time of praise and worship at home  

That stated,
There are a lot of good rappers, in that their use of scripture is phenomenal ...yet for me that form of music does not help me enter into the presence of God, same with heavy Christian rock and Christian blues.
I don't understand how Christianity and blues even work together because the idea of good news and blues cancel each other out, yet there are those who love it.
Personally I think its because many of us enjoy the forms of music which remind us of the past we've left behind.
I grew up listening to country so I like country flavored gospel, I grew up listening to Rnb so I prefer Rnb flavored gospel, etc, etc etc

Either way to me I think its whatever brings you into God's Presence, if that is your goal. Eventually we should grow in our relationship with the Lord in a such a way that we do not want immerse ourselves in listening to music that reminds of us past lives of reckless behavior. For example I used to love Led Zeppelin but where is the growth in my Christian walk if I only look for music that sounds like and fits that mold?  
Bottom line, I believe music should destroy the yokes, the weight and the oppression of the world, thereby the enemy!
Those are the things that keep us from going into God's presence.
Music that does not do that it is mere entertainment with a Christian label. Unfortunately most Christian music is in that category in my opinion.

If it does not lead one to a higher revelation of The Lord Jesus and into a closer fellowship with Him, it is all a waste other than for the value of entertainment which I guess has some place. There are a lot of movies and tv shows I watch on the same basis...entertainment, no redeeming value, yet personally screened to exclude anything overly offensive to my faith and Christian walk.

A lot of Christian music simply fits into that category...pg or g rated, an alternative to the abyss of crass erotica and the foul stench of degradation of which most contemporary music has descended and in that regard ....serves a true purpose.

If my kids must listen to rap, I'd prefer it to be a gospel rapper rather than Snoop Dogg. I'd really prefer them to grow out of "having" or "needing" to listen to any rap at all out of necessity but.....I like dreaming too  

I enjoy Christian music which helps brings me into God's Presence. Music of which you can discern that the vocalist, the musicians and the composer and lyricist has spent some time of intimacy with the Lord and in turn they are sharing it with us.
That's what I enjoy ...of almost any style at a given time. If it achieves that, it is because it is anointed.

Only the anointing of God, God's ability can accomplish bringing anyone into God's presence, for the Power of the Holy Spirit resides in the anointing. Only He can draw us to The Presence of God and a Revelation of Jesus
As it is written
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.  Isaiah 10:27

Unfortunately most music is simply just not anointed, it is mostly rooted in man's ability and not Gods, requiring no reliance upon Him and total reliance on the performance, skills and ability of the musician, the vocalist and the cleverness of the writer, arranger and producer

May God continue to bless us with those who are gifted in producing
Anointed Music

1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Sorry for the long response, please count it towards the fact that I hardly ever post in this forum at all

God Bless

Well said and I agree 100%
yet I would also add that anointing is not a subjective term as much as it is an actual something, that being God's ability, that which produces something God can use

In the case of music, I believe anointed music can produce an atmosphere where the tangible manifest presence of God leads to a conversion, a spiritual, emotional or physical healing or an atmosphere conducive to a spirit of prophecy and/or teaching as examples

An individual may have a moment to worship and adore and praise God any time, any place.  Sometimes the background -- which could be anything from music to lighting to how many people are around you -- sometimes that background assists you and smooths the way to more heartfelt worship.  Sometimes you get your deep meaningful moment of worship in spite of the background.

No way you can select one genre of music and deny that it can add to worship.  It's clear however that not all styles help all people.

Here's a song with loads of important theological ideas -- it covers redemption, forgiveness, the "old man" dying and the "new man" living.  It touches upon the importance of being part of a church family.  It mentions the way seemingly simple pursuits can really pull you into a horrible lifestyle, fit to make demons laugh.

The chorus brings us back again and again to the need for dedication and rededication to God.

It's a lot more melodic and lyrical that the hardest plain rap, but it's still rap, and "too much" for many traditional Christians.

But it's a terrific song, and if you can stomach the music style well enough to listen to it a couple times, you'll really appreciate the words.

I'll put up the song from its album, then I'll put up the version performed in the movie The Fighting Temptations.  (That one ends with an interruption from a churchlady who, apparently, doesn't like rap much, hah!  The next scene immediately shows everyone out at the river getting baptized.  The tall guy actually wears a life jacket.  It's so funny and sweet.)



"Down To Da River", T-bone, Zane, Montell Jordan






"Down By The Riverside / Down To Da River", The O-jays, T-bone, Zane, Montell Jordan