From Hard Core Rapper To Christian Rapper- The Testimony of Bushwick Bill
Bushwick Bill, a former member of the horror-core gansta rap group The Geto Boys, is one of the most recognized and respected artists in rap music and has lived a life of radical testimony.
Beginning his professional career as a rapper in 1988 when joining up with the two other Geto Boys and making quite a success together as a group, Bushwick Bill dived head-first into a debased lifestyle while rapping about the worst in humanity. He knew Christ when he was younger, but once with the Geto Boys, he became so out of control in the industry and fame, that it took an extreme series of events, including a drunken suicide attempt to eventually give him the wake up call he needed.
Finally, in 2006, Bushwick Bill rededicated his life to Jesus Christ and planned the release an album entitled “Testimony of Redemption” in 2007. Although Bushwick gave thanks to Jesus Christ within the inserts of previous Geto Boys albums, this time it provided a stark contrast between the lyrical content of the albums and professed personal views of the artist. While some viewed these self-expressions as polar opposites and potentially hypocrytical, others found it to be a transparent testimony of a man struggling with his faith and the harsh realities of life.
In the 2007 release, Bushwick Bill provides a summary of his life and struggles; combined with the influences of his faith is a classic good vs. evil struggle. In the song “Testimony of Redemption”, Bushwick professed to be an ordained minister by age 18, and falling into a life of fame, money, drugs, and the street life soon after. The lyrics of this song combined with the lyrics of “Going to the River” provide a revealing summary of Bushwick’s life to date.
Read entire article at: CCMagazine.com
i love it man. much, much love to you bill and respect and encouragement for what you’re doin. the only song i’ve ever known of ghetto boys is “my mind is playin tricks on me.” i just downloaded the clean version a few nights ago. i’m a huge fan of the song and i relate personally, and always used to hit repeat of the first phrase…”i sit alone in my 4 cornered room staring at candles.” (at least 10 times.) my family thought something was wrong with me. little did they know, they were right. if your looking for ears to hear your Christian path music. i’m fixin’ to download all of it. i have a feelin i won’t be disappointed. your work for the Lord is inspirational man and if you need prayer and support you got it brother. keep singin. keep praisin. there’s alot of us out here starving for music that relates to us as individuals and to make a way to that hunger for a closer walk. i love you bill in Christ. God bless you.
I used to listen to you as a teen, much like you, I did not seek God earnestly and it cost me quite a bit, however, in light of what it cost Jesus, it was nothing in comparison, and God brought me back in fellowship with Him, thankfully!!! PS, there were times that I would just listen to hardcore rap and pray for the artists and the hurts they were singing about…… I have prayed for you and Scarface! NAS Eminem and JayZ and others…. Christ will never fail us!