Rappers who switched from Gospel to Secular Music
We often see artists switch lanes from church music to secular music. Stay with us as we highlight some artists that were known gospel rappers in their rights before switching.
CKay
The Love Nwantiti crooner whose critical acclaim song made him the best-selling African artist in America was once a Christian rapper and was part of a boy band called "Creative Music". The group was made-up of Lucid, CKay, Phatboi Shammah and Dip Ace and was affiliated with artists like Ojay Wyte, Leke Benson and Soul Flame (a subgroup of Ywap).
The group made raves in Northern Nigeria and is arguably the most successful music group based in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
They released many singles and a project titled "Secondary School EP" which enjoyed radio airplay from within and outside Kaduna.
The group also organised concerts like "Wow" and "Mono De" (I remember attending them).
CKay rose to prominence when he was signed to Chocolate City by Nigeria's O.G rapper M.I Abaga and went on to release global critical acclaim hits like Nwantiti which smashed records and stats on YouTube and Spotify.
Ric Hassani
Formerly known as Rico Slim, Ric Hassani use to be a rapper and was even featured by one of Nigeria's elite gospel artists Frank Edwards on an award-winning track titled "Super Star" off his ‘The Prince I Became’ album. He and the Rocktown Records executive have been friends for more than a decade.
Ric Hassani would later abandon rap to rebrand and start singing soulful love songs which finally shot him into the limelight. According to him, rap was something he learnt but singing was innate which helped him to smoothly transition back to it.
In 2022 Ric Hassani released an inspirational single Victory Belongs To
Jesus Ft. Frank Edwards &
CalledOut off his The Prince I Became album.
Skales
Nigerian record producer, songwriter and singer Skales used to be a rapper and was part of Soul Flame, a rap band out of the Christian youth group called YWAP (Youths with a Purpose).
He was later signed to EME Entertainment by Record Executive, Musician and Politician, Banky W in 2010. He was one of EME's earliest signees alongside Wizkid. His hit song Mukulu blew him up.
The Kaduna born and raised Raoul John Njeng-Njeng aka Skale is now one of Nigeria's superstar hitmakers.
In contrast, a worthy mention on this topic is Obiora Nwokolobia-Agu professionally known as Obiwon. His rap group the Thorobreds were industry heavyweights back in the day. In 2005 they emerged as the Best Rap Group in the maiden edition of the Hip Hop World Award (now known as The Headies).
Amidst a successful solo career in the music world with awards and fame to his name, in 2008 Obiwon called it quits and transitioned into gospel music. This was a result of his encounter with Christ which turned his life around.
Obiora Obiwon is now an evangelist and has made many gospel hits and also won many formidable awards in the Christian music genre. He is an artist that has enjoyed the best of both worlds.
Chidimma Ekile is also one artist that dazzled music fans when she suddenly reverted to her first love --gospel music, after winning the third season of MTN Project Fame West Africa and hitting it big in the secular music world and becoming a force to reckon with in the music industry.
Chidimma won various prestigious awards within and outside Nigeria.
Her transition came in June 2021 which was followed by the release of soul lifting single "Jehovah Overdo" and in August 2021 she dropped an EP titled "New Season" which was inspired by the Holy Spirit. On 14th October 2022.
Chidimma released her debut Christian studio album Psalm 16 which features some of Nigeria's popular worshipers Buchi, KS Bloom, and Cameron's Indira Baboke.
It is very important to know that in whatever you do you must stay true to your faith and never feel too far to return to your root and represent Christ Jesus in your career path.
Love and light,
HHHH editorial™
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