Inmates reach out -and are reached.

The lyrics of the "Rap of Redemption" were created by a maximum-security inmate, Essex Sims, at Lansing Correctional Facility, with the arrangements done by the East Hill Singer’s conductor, Elvera Voth. The idea of mixing the chants of the third century with modern rap was Voth’s.

"I wish I’d never hurt you, hurt you," Sim’s lyrical refrain proclaims.

The Gregorian chants are the "Kyrie" and the "Angus Dei." The text of the "Kyrie" means "Lord have mercy," and the text of the "Agnus Dei" says "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us."

"Essex was written up in the Lawrence Journal World as being a rapper," Voth said. "He is a talented poet. I thought it would be interesting to combine this latest form of musical expression with the earliest form of musical chants from the third century, so while he is rapping his remorse, we are singing, underneath, very softly, a Gregorian chant."

Many of the inmates had never listened to Gregorian chants before this experience.

"It has become a favorite thing to sing," Voth said. "It has taken a hold of them. Part of what we do is sacred music and part is not. This is not a church concert. We have a large variation of music. For every piece that we do, an inmate gets up and talks about his life and where he is now. It allows the congregation to see these men as individuals. I have gotten calls from all over the country from people who are really interested in seeing it.