J Prophet “Breathe”

Introduction to Hip-Hop

J Prophet hails from Mt. Vernon, NY by way of Cleveland, OH. A child of poetry, he performed Langston Hughes’s “I, Too” in church at the age of 4. And his grandmother proved to be a major influence on him as she challenged him, even at an early age, to use the written and spoken word to express every fiber of his emotion.

When his family moved to New York in 1996, he became immersed in the Hip-Hop culture that pervaded the environment around him. Because the city of Mt. Vernon is next door to the Bronx, where Hip-Hop originated, the atmosphere was always influenced by the sounds and energy of the music.

J Prophet’s Music

This is why music is J Prophet’s primary focus. Not only does he simply love making art, but he also believes in the power of music to inspire, heal, and empower. With a sound that has been influenced by artists like Kirk Franklin, Cross Movement and Lauryn Hill, J Prophet blends his music with a Christ-inspired and spiritually oriented message of love.

J Prophet has shared the stage with artists like Vashawn Mitchell, Lupe Fiasco, and JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise. He has also been featured on Bobby Jones Presents on The Word Network where Co-Host Merdean Gales proclaimed, “If you’re going to rap about God, then that’s how you do it!” WadeORadio, “overdosin on his lyricism,” describes J Prophet as a “game changer.” And The Black Gospel Blog believes “J Prophet shatters all stereotypes of the typical hip hop artist, secular or sacred.”

J Prophet’s Writing

In addition to making music, J Prophet also utilizes his gifts of writing and speaking. Hypebot notes that J Prophet builds with “lyrical content based on his beliefs but he’s also building with projects related to his community of belief.” In partnership with Urban Cusp Magazine, J Prophet has developed an “In the Word Wednesdays” biblical commentary and podcast series seeking to tap into the transformative power of the Word in culturally relevant ways. J Prophet has also published articles that examine the relationship between art and society with a spiritual lens.

Peace and Power Family

Pulling all these things together, J Prophet aims to build community by helping to construct a place where young passionate followers of Jesus Christ can connect with others and use creativity to spread the message of Christ through their God-given abilities. J Prophet intends for the #PAPFam to be a support system to help folks identify their unique, individual gifts and cultivate them for the fulfillment of purpose, the bettering of humanity, and the advancement of social justice.

Background

A 2010 graduate of Yale University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies, J Prophet was a member of the Yale Football Team, WORD Performance Poetry, and served as President of the Yale Black Men’s Union. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He currently attends Yale Divinity School where he is working towards a Master of Divinity. In 2012, he became a licensed minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at his home church, Grace Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, NY.