When hip hop music first emerged in America, it was associated with the gangster lifestyle. Over the years, this notion has been demystified. Many Christian rap artists now use this genre of music for evangelization, encouragement, and inspiration. Christian rappers started sprouting in society in the 1980s, and since then, they have continued to release quality faith-based tracks.
Today, some Christian rappers have soared great heights in the music industry and have been honoured with numerous globally coveted awards. This vibrant genre has transformed, showcasing a more uplifting and faith-centered narrative, which resonates with audiences worldwide. The journey of Christian rap is a testament to how music can evolve and inspire, merging faith with creativity.
Top 15 Best Christian Rappers
Since Stephen Wiley released the first original Christian rap track in 1986, the genre has had numerous artists. These musicians have been coming up with carefully selected lyrics that promote the word of God and inspire people at the same time. Below, we will explore the top Christian rappers today, highlighting their contributions and impact in the world of Christian hip-hop.
15. KJ-52
Jonah Sorrentino, commonly known as KJ-52, was born on June 26, 1975, and grew up in Ybor City in Tampa. This rapper got born again when he was 15 years old after years of rebellion and substance abuse. In his early years as an artist, he released a few demo CDs that, unfortunately, failed to capture people's attention. In 1998, he stepped down from his position of youth minister to focus on rapping full time.
He released his debut album in April 2000 and has since then released 16 more. Here is a look at some of his notable albums:
- 7th Avenue (2000)
- Collaborations (2002)
- It's Pronounced Five Two (2003)
- Soul Purpose (2004)
- Behind the Musik (2005)
14. Canton Jones
Canton Jones was born on January 9, 1977, in Deerfield Beach, Florida, United States of America. He came from a musical family and started singing at only five years of age. Additionally, Jones is a pastor at Free Life Church. In his college days at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he was a member of the Glee Club and got the chance to sing for celebrities such as Bobby Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder.
Canton was also in the church choir of the World Changers Church, by then headed by Creflo Dollar. Here is a look at some of his albums:
- 20 Yrs. 3 Mths. & 12 Days... (2002)
- Love Jones (2005)
- The Password: Access Granted (2005)
- Kingdom Business (2007)
- Kingdom Business, Pt. 2 (2009)
13. Canon
Aaron McCain, commonly known as Canon, is from Chicago, Illinois. He was born on March 1, 1989. Rapper Lecrae mentored him in hip hop music by tagging him along on his tours. At the time, he worked as a full-time hype man for Lecrae.
Canon was then signed by the Reflection Music Group and released his first EP titled Loose Canon: Vol. 1 in 2012. He currently has five albums to his name, including:
- Loose Canon: Vol. 1 (2012)
- Mad Haven (2013)
- Loose Canon, Vol. 2 (2014)
- Loose Canon, Vol. 3 (2016)
- Going Up (with Byron Juane and Derek Minor) (2019)
12. Thi'sl
Travis Tremayne "Thi'sl" Tyler was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, on March 17, 1977. Shortly after his birth, he and his family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. At the age of 14, Travis began rapping under the name Uncle Y. However, his music at the time was largely influenced by the gang activities in which he was involved. After a while, he left his street way of life and focused on gospel hip-hop.
Here are some of the rapper's best tracks:
- Let's Get to It
- Tears feat. Ellie Holcomb
- King Without a Crown feat. Corey Paul & Swade
- Majestic feat. The Social Club
11. Black Knight (BrvndonP)
Brandon "BrvndonP" Peavy was born in Sacramento, California, and he graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 2010. He pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Audio Engineering. The artist's father is also a musician, which contributed to BrvndonP's exposure to music at an early age.
To date, BrvndonP has had the chance to share the stage with the likes of Canon, Chris Lee, Rhema Soul, Alex Medina, Dmaud, and many others. Here is a look at some of his EPs and studio albums:
- BrvndonP (2016)
- We Live It (2016)
- Off the Record (2016)
- No Fakery (2016)
10. Bizzle
Bizzle, originally known by his stage name Lavyss, is perhaps one of the most controversial Christian rappers today. The artist's birth name is Mark Julian Felder. He was born on July 21, 1983, and caught the world's attention in 2010 when he released the song You Got Some Explaining to Do.
In 2013, he won the Music Video of The Year, Rap Single of The Year, and Hip-Hop Album of The Year awards at the Kingdom Choice Awards event. Here is a look at Bizzle's albums:
- Tough Love & Parables (2011)
- Best of Both Worlds: The Album (with Willie 'P-Dub' Moore Jr.) (2012)
- The Good Fight (2013)
- Well Wishes (2014)
