The job of a MC nowadays comes with many hats. Long gone are the days of only needing dope lyrics and hot beats. Nowadays a rapper is their own promoter, stylist, A&R, scheduler, & producer. Basically a one man show doing whatever it takes to elevate themselves to a level of success & superstardom. However, the arena of Christian hip-hop is drastically different. Talent, dedication, favor, a calling, and God Himself will elevate you to areas the human mind can’t even imagine. Enter B. Moses; an MC on a 12 year journey which has produced two albums, worldwide acclaim, and opportunities to minister alongside J. Moss, Da T.R.U.T.H., Lecrae, Sonic Flood, Trip Lee, and Tye Tribbett. More than anything, while talking to B Moses you’ll know instantly that more important than his talents & gifts, it’s his heart that keeps him at the forefront of the Columbus Christian hip-hop scene.
How long have you lived in Columbus? What do you love/hate about the city?
I’ve lived in Columbus all my life, born and raised on just about every other block on the east side. We moved a lot *laughs*. I love my city…not too fast, not too slow. It’s a great place to raise your kids, and there’s lots of talent. The knock on Columbus is the lack of support for each other, I think there is some validity to that, if we can get past that this city could do a lot more damage on the national scene.
Describe the Ohio/Midwest hip-hop scene & what you see in it (good & bad).
The Midwest Christian hip hop/rap scene is very underrated here, I’m biased but I’ve heard artist from across the country and I think talent wise we can definitely measure up. Now, I’m not in to competition amongst brothers in Christ. Just speaking from a talent stand point.
The downside to the Midwest Christian hip hop/rap scene is the lack of outlets and resources a NY or LA or ATL has… radio, events, record labels, etc. We’re loaded with talent but many times we have to go to these other cities to establish ourselves on the national scene.
There seems to be new Christian MCs coming out everyday, what do you think separates you from the pack?
What I believe separates me from others is the content of my lyrics. One compliment I receive the most is that there is a lot of substance in my songs. Not a lot of fluff and surface stuff. In today’s rap world (In my opinion) there is a serious lack of substance, and that trend is even starting to spill over into the Christian rap world. I could go so much further than this… but ill resist the temptation.
Give some advice to any up & coming artists who feel a music ministry calling on their life.
I would advise up and coming Christian artists to first and foremost examine themselves, examine there motives and agendas. If we feel we truly have a ‘calling’ for music ministry than we must die to self so that Christ can be truly Glorified in us and through us. This is KEY…music is a very powerful tool, we see how the enemy is doing a lot of damage through music, But greater is he (Christ) in me, than he (Satan) that is in the world. But we have to submit ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the word of GOD. Don’t get caught up in SELF, SELF and compromise is an epidemic in the body of Christ right now and its diluting the purity of the message that God is trying to send through us. It’s all about establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, through whatever gifting we operate in. If we first seek the Kingdom and all of its righteousness all these things will be added unto thee (Matthew 6:33)
What is success to B. Moses? And have you obtained the level of success you desire yet?
Truly, success to me is not just being a hearer of the word of God, but a doer of the word of God. That may not be the cliché’ and popular answer but I believe that with all my heart. God is concerned with all areas of our life; family, health, finances, everything. It’s a great thing to have a lot of money and status and accolades, but to me that means nothing if Christ is not first in our lives. This faith is a fight & an everyday process. Sometimes there will be ups and downs, nobody is perfect. But we if can say like the apostle Paul “we finished the race, and we kept the faith” when it’s all said and done. Than we will be in good company.
To you, how do you perceive Christians can fit into todays violent/sexed up hip-hop culture?
Well really, I don’t think Christians can fit in with the violent sexed up hip hop culture. I believe we have to see ourselves as messengers, infiltrating the “violent sexed up culture”. Not trying to sound like them or be like them, in order to get there attention. The fact that we use music as a medium is already going to grab there ear. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is still able to draw men to God! If we get in Gods face and submit our gifts to him, instead of depending on our little additives and preservatives in the food we serve them, they WILL come!!
Talk about your most memorable performance & why it stuck out.
My most memorable performance was when I opened up for Lecrae and Trip Lee. Biggest crowd I had been in front of up to that point, so I was a little nervous, my set had a lot of energy and I think I really did well. It was a great atmosphere. A lot of engagements and opportunities came from that Concert.
Describe your style musically & lyrically? Influences, etc.
I think it’s hard to really pin point what my style is, cause I don’t really sound like any emcee out there in my opinion. I’ve definitely had influences musically. I grew up listening to a lot of east coast emcees. KRS One, Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, NAS, Mos Def, Wu Tang and a lot of others, with my favorite producer being DJ Premier. But as my interest expanded I took a liking to other emcees from other coast. For example, Outkast is one of my favorite groups of all time and of course they’re from down south. So you may be able to pick up little things in my music that remind you of these types of artists I just listed. But I’m a lyric first guy to summarize it.
You just celebrated your 1 year wedding anniversary, give some advice to the single men looking for a wife; what you saw in your wife that was peculiar from the others & how did she prepare & make herself available to become a wife. What does that look like?
For those that are out there looking for a wife, I would say don’t settle, don’t settle for less than you know God has for you. Sometimes we get lonely, or we are just so concerned about how she looks that we disregard the things that really matter long term. Now don’t get me wrong fellas… You need to get you a beautiful wife, its important that she is attractive to you… *laughs*. But don’t stop there, make sure her heart for God is equal to yours and that she is willing to take on the responsibility of a wife. My wife is very pretty, but what I like about her is she is very loyal, and dedicated to being consistent in just about every aspect of her life. She is very responsible and educated and mature (except when we argue *laughs*) and also my wife kept her virginity until our wedding night *laughs*. I know that’s a unique thing, but to me that is huge because with past relationships come past baggage, and soul ties and on and on. She isn’t perfect, but she is pretty well put together. And by the Grace of God I didn’t settle for the counterfeits
Your album “Reppin’ the King” was very in your face as far as the approach & topics you spoke on. How important is that to be confrontational concerning the things of God?
Yeah I think ‘In your face” is a good way to describe the “Reppin’ the King” album. I think confrontation just comes along with the gospel message. It goes hand in hand at times. To quote “Da Truth”, “People try and make Jesus a hippy picking lilies with his friends” But if you look at the Gospels, Jesus was very in your face with the Pharisees and other religious groups. He even told them to there faces at one time that they were Children of the Devil *laughs*. If that ain’t confrontational I don’t know what is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying every track or every sermon should be a podium pounding rebuke… but it definitely has its place and is absolutely necessary at times that’s for sure.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your walk so far?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned in my walk so far is that Gods ways are not our ways. The more I know the less I realize I know. This walk is certainly an everyday process, and in our finite minds we struggle to figure out why we go through the things we go through, but as I’m getting older I’m gaining more wisdom and patience, trying to cling to the understanding that all things work together for the good.
What’s next for B Moses?
What’s next for me is more promotion of the “Reppin’ the King” Project. It’s available on iTunes, cdbaby.com and the trunk of my car *laughs*. Also, I have hooked up with “The Elevationists” camp. Ill be doing a lot of collaborations with them in the near future as well as preparing for my 3rd album.
What are the 1st 3 things you do in the morning when you wake up?
Well, the first thing I do when I wake up is hit the snooze button for the 19th time. Second thing I do is get on one knee and ask the Lord if I can call off…*laughs* then after he says NO…I stumble to the bathroom to get ready for work.
What is something you could do all day every day & not get bored?
I could watch sports all day everyday and not get bored. I’ve played sports and loved sports most of my life; definitely enjoy it.
Favorite book in the Bible…why?
The book of Samuel is my favorite book in the bible… 1st and 2nd combined. I love the book of Samuel because I love reading about the life of David. To me, (Besides the Lord Jesus Himself of course) David shows just about every facet of how a man should be. Warrior, Worshipper, Priest, and King. Of course we would apply these things spiritually. Im not telling yall to go out and slay a bunch of phillistines *laughs*. And when David sinned or made mistakes, his repentance was real and true.
Name one place you’d like to visit that you haven’t yet?
I would love to visit Israel, I think it would be an incredible experience to walk in the same cities that Jesus walked, and David and Moses and the apostles and Prophets walked. Also, I would love to go to Tokyo Japan, Egypt, South Africa, and France to name a few other places.
Name your three favorite albums from any genre
I have a lot of favorite albums all time, but ill try and narrow it down to three and in no particular order.
1. Outkast- ATLiens
2. Tribe Called Quest- Beats Rhymes and Life
3. Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt/ Nas- Illmatic (tie)
Honorable Mention: Raekwon-Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Biggie- Life After Death, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Blackstar, Redman- Dare is a Darkside and Muddy Waters.
Kobe or Lebron?
Kobe over Lebron!! I’m a Cavs fan, and I love Lebron…but the notorious game 5 and that Boston series overall just confirmed that Lebron still isn’t on Kobe’s level quite yet. Athletically Lebron is a freak, but he needs to get that consistent killer instinct on the court and the hunger and passion to never give up on your teammates like I believe he did in Game 5. But I might give him a pass if the rumor about Delonte West and his mom is true *laughs*. But that’s a whole other rant I could go on. Selah.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment was in elementary school when we had the D.A.R.E to keep a kid off drugs band playing live in concert in our school, and I walked in the auditorium and I tripped down the stairs and fell really bad and a lot of the other kids seen it and was cracking up man.. salty…*laughs*
What’s one thing about you that nobody else knows?
Well, I don’t know… I had a really bad chili bowl in the 6th grade and I was getting blazed until I got it faded properly…and I had the five heart beat finger waves in the 7th grade, thank God there weren’t camera phones and You Tube back than *laughs*
To reach B Moses for music and booking information
http://www.facebook.com/bmosesministries
http://www.myspace.com/mrbmoses
bmosesministries@hotmail.com
614-506-7101
His latest album “Reppin’ the King” is available now via iTunes & http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bmoses
