West Palm Christian rap artist nominated for local award

by Post Staff

 

Christian rapper JDUB.

JDUB, a West Palm Beach-based Christian rapper, has been nominated as Best Gospel Hip Hop Artist of the Year by the South Florida Gospel Music Awards.

JDUB is one of 12 acts nominated in the category. The public can vote on this category, along with 15 others, until Jan. 31 at the awards’ website, www.sfgma.com. Awards will be given Feb. 8-9 at the Engrafted Word Worship Center, 1233 45th St. in West Palm Beach.

In a release, JDUB said he has been involved in ministering in South Florida since 1996.

Christian Hip Hop Artist Nominate for Award

Jeff Williams has three music albums, one music video and dozens of concerts under his belt. The Palm City resident who raps about Christianity now can put something else on his list of accomplishments: he's been nominated for "Best Gospel Hip-Hop" artist of the year by the South Florida Gospel Music Awards. The awards, which have been honoring musicians for eight years, recognizes South Florida's best independent gospel musicians.

Thirty-five-year-old Williams, who goes by JDUB, has been rapping locally since he was 13, but he didn't start making music about God until he was 17. Before then, the topics the troubled teenager rapped about were anything but godly.

Hundreds around the world, including people in Japan and Australia, have bought the rapper's albums and singles on iTunes.

Williams' focus is to reach troubled teenagers by spreading the gospel through the music he writes and performs. Last month, he found his music also reached the ears of those involved with the awards ceremony.

"I wasn't seeking that type of recognition or trying to reach out to them. I had no idea I was being considered," Williams said. "I'm humbled, shocked, honored that the local community is recognizing me as being legitimate — as someone who is putting forth effort to produce something that impacts the community for God."

Williams is competing against 11 other Christian artists from South Florida. The artists have to get the most public votes on the ceremony's website to win.

"Just seeing my name there, that's a big thing for me," Williams said. "I know of some of the other rappers on there, and they're good. They're really good."

Williams is the former part-time children's pastor at Stuart's Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church, and now volunteers at the Christ Fellowship campus at South Fork High School while focusing more on his music. He performs at churches from Fort Pierce to Miami, and he has opened up for other Christian artists like Grammy-nominated rock band Fireflight.

But first and foremost, Williams said, he is a husband, father and someone whose job is to spread the word.

"Winning this isn't the purpose of what I do or what I strive for, so it's great to be recognized without trying," he said. "For me, the purpose of what I do, the goal at the end of the day, is just to use whatever talents God has given me to share the message of his love with others."

A Godly Movement of Rhymes Click the link to read the article.

Christian rapper aims to inspire others through his music

Through hip hop beats and catchy lyrics, Stuart rapper Jeff Williams, 33, preaches the word of God.

But at the start of his music career, a 13-year-old Williams was skipping school and going to bars and night clubs with his father's local rock band, Baracuda, to rap about glorifying drugs, sex and riches.

"My brother, who is my mentor in all things, saved me and led me to the Lord," said Williams, who goes by JDUB. "Going to church was like a slap in the face and a dunk in cold water. I realized the music I was making was the opposite of what it should it be."

Williams continues making music about the same topics. This time, though, his perspective is different.

"I still talk about smoking weed and wanting money," he said. "My audience is the people who are listening to Lil Wayne or Kanye (West). But, I'm telling listeners the truth about where weed and sex and wanting money will really lead them — nowhere good."

Amy Yeager, 19, first heard JDUB at a concert at her local church, First Baptist Church of Lake Park.

At the time, she was getting into trouble at school and dealing with an abusive boyfriend.

"One of his songs, called 'The Key,' made me want to change my life," Yeager said. "JDUB made me accept Christ. He, his music, saved me."

Yeager, who now goes to church every Sunday and Wednesday, was baptized last month.

Williams spends several days a month performing at churches from Fort Pierce to Miami, as well as occasionally opening up for such Christian artists as Grammy-nominated rock band Fireflight.

The independent artist has completed four CDs, of which 4,000 copies have sold. In the works is his fifth album, titled "5."

This year, Williams, who writes all his lyrics, released the single, "He Changed Me." The song was picked up by six stations across the nation, he said.

"Would I love to get signed by a big label? Absolutely," Williams said. "I want to be able to do my music full time, but right now I'm doing the things that are most important to me."

Williams is a husband and father of two girls, Jalynn, 7, and Eden, 10, both students at Crystal Lake Elementary in Stuart.

When he's not rapping, he's working at Palm Beach Atlantic University as a records coordinator and as a part-time children's pastor at Stuart's Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church.

Williams said he maintains his spiritual health mentally by listening to Christian songs.

"Sure, if there's something new I want to give a quick listen to, I will," he said. "But, it's that mainstream rap that encouraged me as an adolescent to do what I was doing. Because of it, I thought missing 46 days of school in sixth grade was cool. Music is a state of mind, and that's why my music is the same beat as what's popular, but it sends a message of love, respect and faith."