Gospel rapper shares faith
Vallejo artist creates new music genre
By RICH FREEDMAN/Times-Herald staff writer
Vallejo Times Herald
Uniting rap and gospel seems as logical as the Chevron CEO driving a Toyota Prius.
Isn't it rap that glorifies sex, violence and the love of money?To those who listen to the offerings of E-40, Jay-Z, Kanye West and other high-profile rappers, perhaps. But not to B.J. Smif, a raised-in-the-church Vallejo gospel rapper who hopes to parlay his gift for poetry and God into a viable career.At 22, he's got a good head start, not to mention a good head on his young shoulders."I strongly believe in my music. I believe that God is going to carry me to these people," said Smif, who has seen music as his outlet for many years."It all goes back to growing up in the church," he said. "It's something that was in me and I knew I couldn't do anything else. Being a Christian is what I knew."Smif unveils his second CD, "Unfinished Journal," Aug. 26 at Church on the Hill, which is about 200 yards from where Smif lives with his wife, Rubina, and 6-week-old daughter, Isabella."The first thing I think about when it comes to the CD is 'accomplishment,' " Smif said. "It took e a while to complete. I'm happy. It's a sigh of relief."Unfortunately, Smif's supportive mother, Michelle Alexander, is left at home in Texas and can't make the big event. "I'm really crushed," she said by phone. "But I'll be praying for him."There was a lot of praying going on when mom heard son was rapping."My goodness, my mom does not like rap music," Smif said. "But when she came to California three weeks ago, she listened to the whole album and her exact words were, 'This album is hot.' When my mom said that, it meant a lot to me because she's not a big rap fan.""He's been singing most of his life, and I thought that's what he was going to do," Alexander said. "But then he says to me, 'Mom, I'd like to rap.' "Not that Smif's mom believed son would go where most rappers go - into the word of scantily-clad women in videos."He's always been a good kid," Alexander said. "I never had a problem with him as far as getting into any trouble.""She listened to my stuff," Smif smiled. "She showed me she was listening to the words and the stories behind each song and wasn't just listening the 'clicks' and 'clacks.'"Smif believes mainstream rap does effect the behavior of today's young generation. "It gets into your head and you start repeating it, then you start acting on it," Smif said.It doesn't have to be all negative, Smif said. "All these (rappers) have the talent to not make a song without cussing or something that means something. They have the potential to where they don't have to make music that has sex or money. They're looking at the hype and the money it's bringing them."Smif said he has the confidence to walk up to someone in "the hood," hand him a gospel rap CD and say, "Take a listen to it. Don't buy it if you don't like it."Smif is thrilled with the results of his CD's recording quality, believing he can't defend his own work if the sound quality "isn't parallel with a secular CD.""And I love the quality," he said.After the Church on the Hill CD release, Smif will continue to get his music to the public. And that includes "brick and mortar" record stores like Rasputin's and Tower Records."They don't have a 'gospel rap' section yet," Smif said. "They're putting gospel music in a box. They say gospel rap isn't marketable but I think anything's marketable."Smif said if God tells him to give away the 1,000 copies of "Unfinished Journal," then he'll give them away. And if he doesn't pack the church this coming Sunday, so be it."It's not about B.J. Smif," he said. "It's about God. The No. 1 thing is ministry. I want t make sure that people know God and what God is about and His work."Whether he signs with a major record label or continues as a local gospel rapper, "I do it at 150 percent," Smif said. "My heart is not where the dollar sign is. It's about winning souls."
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Gospel music has always been a part of B.J. Smif. Born the son of a locally renowned gospel singer, he grew up in the church where music became his refuge from the adversities he faced in life. It wasn't until B.J. moved to live with his father that the Lord called him to do His Work. During this time, God set B.J.'s heart on fire to write songs about everything he had been through at such a young age and to praise and worship our Savior for getting him through it all. And while his music continues to evolve and recapture his audience, one thing essential to his art will never change-it's purpose is to glorify the One that brought him to where he is.For booking please contact Dyron Rolling of Koky Entertainment at
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