5 years in the past, when Yewande grew to become the primary feminine artist with Dis Wealthy Information, it was a milestone for the Christian hip-hop label and all of Christian hip-hop. The 28-year-old Nigerian-born rapper, who presently stars as Wande, is one in every of solely a handful of ladies on the scene.
Wande began as a reporter for Christian Hip-Hop On-line, then took a job in artist growth for Wealthy, an impartial label based by Lecrae and Ben Washer.
In 2019, she signed a cope with the label and since then, her lyrics, charisma and vitality have helped her forge a brand new path that she hopes different girls will be capable to comply with. In one other step towards gender equality in a decidedly male-dominated phase of the music business, not too long ago signed author and artist Jackie Hill reached out to Perry.
Now primarily based in Atlanta, Wande brings his lyrical creativity and circulation to collaborations with artists similar to Maverick Metropolis Music (“Farm Basis (He is Gonna Make a Manner)”), Lecrae (“Blessed Up”), and TobyMac (“Discovered”). He has constructed a loyal following on-line, connecting with followers by hilarious inspirations of biblical characters and “Get Prepared with Me” movies.
He sees his work as a calling and his music as a possibility to steer folks to worship. Tracks like “Discovered” showcase his capability to transition between melodic strains and rapped lyrics. His newest single, “Ship That,” that includes Lecrae, is an anthemic declaration of religion in prayer and the ability of the Holy Spirit. It’s unapologetically victorious. “If God is for me, who could be in opposition to me? / Ship them prayers and watch him transfer,” he raps main into the primary refrain.
Wande spoke with CT about his childhood because the youngest little one in a multiracial immigrant household, the decision to pursue a profession within the music business, and the state of the Christian hip-hop scene.
You simply launched a brand new single that includes Lecrae and also you’re gearing as much as drop a brand new album this summer season. Does life appear busy?
Sure, and I’ve a life replace! I’m altering my identify
It is a huge change. What made you determine to do it?
I used to be born in Nigeria, and most of my household is both Muslim or one other faith. My identify aligns with the Muslim religion and reincarnation, and I really like Jesus! I by no means actually considered my identify once I was little, however God introduced it to my thoughts earlier this 12 months and put it in my coronary heart, like, “Hey, I would like you to alter it.”
So I am releasing a brand new single subsequent month known as “Pray for Me” and it will likely be beneath my new identify, Anike. It means “somebody you cherish and do not take with no consideration.” It is also the title of my new album out later this summer season. In all probability early August.
It looks as if your loved ones’s multi-faith story has deeply formed your music and identification. What was it like rising up in a household with each Islam and Christianity?
My household moved to Texas once I was a toddler. I had immigrant life at dwelling, after which I had the complete American expertise at that college. And that was all I knew. I knew that I eat completely different meals at dwelling after which this different meals at college. Or at dwelling they communicate Yoruba to me, which is a Nigerian language and at college we communicate English.
I grew up with that duality, and I see it as a blessing as a result of I feel it opened my eyes to different cultures and gave me the guts to see the sweetness in these issues.
My mom grew to become a Christian as a younger grownup. Rising up, I assumed it was regular to decide on what you needed. I encountered Jesus for myself once I was in center college. I used to be truly allowed to go to church as a result of my father needed to be man. He did not need me to be “saved”, however he thought it greatest for me to go for the ethical factor. However I discover the opposite youngsters all the time need to go to summer season camp. I wasn’t allowed to do this, as a result of it was too late to observe on Sunday.
I went to a camp in Columbus, Texas and did an internship program there and I encountered Jesus. And it modified my life radically. After that, all I needed to do was inform folks about Jesus.
Was there any opposition to your conversion from your loved ones?
I got here dwelling from camp so excited, like, “Dad, have not you heard about Jesus?” After which he is like, “No, it is an excessive amount of.” So he determined, “I can resolve it, you do not go to church anymore.”
There was a extreme ban for nearly a 12 months the place I couldn’t go to church, however it was very nice as a result of my mom grew to become my advocate throughout that point. She was on her personal private journey as a spouse and mom and discovered, “How do I assist my kids and myself?” And eventually she was capable of rise up for herself and for me too.
It has been a journey, however God has been devoted.
So that you skilled this highly effective transition in center college. When did you begin seeing music as a part of your identification?
I by no means actually anticipated to be a rapper. I began taking part in music as a result of our faculty had extra-curricular actions. It began with center college band, the place it was simply, “Decide an instrument,” and I selected the flute. I loved it, and I used to be good at it.
I began rapping in highschool, however satirically it was for a ninth grade biology venture. My instructor was like, “Hey, you possibly can both do a PowerPoint presentation or you are able to do a rap,” and I used to be like, “Why do not you’re taking the rap choice?”
After that my life modified. I might do these freestyle circles at lunch, and I used to be making an attempt to inform folks about Jesus in 30 seconds of rapping. Then I realized to file on YouTube and began making movies. It was all very small in measurement. However issues advanced from there. I did some expertise exhibits and a church convention in Dallas, and I began to really feel God telling me He needed me to do that as a profession.
It was terrifying and fully out of my consolation zone. My complete life at that time, I used to be on monitor to grow to be a physician.
Had been you plugged into the Christian hip-hop scene on the time?
Yeah, I’ve heard of Lecrae and Tripp Lee, which is loopy as a result of we work collectively now. I bear in mind getting on YouTube and on the lookout for like Christian remixes of Younger Cash or Lil Wayne and I truly discovered one thing. Then I began discovering actual Christian rappers like Lecrae and I noticed him carry out at a summer season camp.
My freshman 12 months in faculty, I grew to become a reporter for Rapzilla. I used to be actually conscious of the Christian hip-hop panorama, and I used to be obsessed with sharing it with different folks.
I needed to search out individuals who have been possibly like, “I really like God, however I haven’t got music that matches my vibe.” So I can say, “Here is some Christian rap, there you go!”
Then, my junior 12 months of faculty, I obtained an internship at Wealthy Information they usually supplied me a job in A&R. [artists and repertoire] After my senior 12 months. After working there for six months, I obtained an artist contract.
It sounds such as you have been open to working within the business even when it did not imply a profession as a performer. Do you suppose it was far-fetched to hope to make it as a rapper?
On the time, I used to be pondering, “God, I assumed you instructed me to be a rapper, why am I simply working for rappers?” However now, I see God making an attempt to assist me. He launched me to varied folks with whom I used to be going to work sooner or later. I obtained to see the again finish of the contract and issues like that, which was useful when making an attempt to barter my contract. And he was cultivating humility in me.
I feel God wanted to refine some issues in me, like, “Hey, even for those who’re not a rapper, are you continue to happy with the life I am supplying you with?” So I truly needed to come to phrases with that. What if my job is to affect just one particular person to get saved by rapping on a expertise present? Will I be happy if God desires to make use of me?
However you grew to become the primary feminine artist signed to Wealthy Information. How was it to be the primary, and attempt to assist make it simpler for different girls sooner or later?
I really feel just like the oldest sibling. How I describe it in the meanwhile. It looks as if loads of trial and error. I have to go to the Lord and ensure I by no means get bitter. I need to be certain I am joyful. An enormous factor for me is holding folks accountable but additionally giving grace.
I additionally went by a private journey about my femininity. This world is so male dominated. I went by a part the place I assumed I needed to be robust or gangsta. However I feel I am extra snug that I like female issues, I like pink. It would not make me a weak particular person. It is simply who God made me to be, and I am leaning that method.
There have been some robust moments, although. There was a producer who did a file with me, then took all my beats and would not give them again when it was time to finalize it and launch it. So I needed to begin throughout. Nobody at Wealthy has ever had this occur earlier than. They often do not attempt guys like that.
And there are different little issues like hair and make-up. Our workforce has needed to study that I want time to do every part. On tour, they’re like, “Get up! Brush your enamel, examine the Bible on stage!” And I am like, “Yeah, I really like Jesus, bro, however I want a while! I do not need to look loopy.”
However truthfully, I feel we’re in place. We’re seeing extra options on the tracks, and the women signing on Now we’d like individuals who assist girls by coming to exhibits and supporting girls by doing their very own excursions To get to the following stage, we’d like folks to placed on exhibits and assist these girls to allow them to maintain a profession.
You collaborated and carried out with Maverick Metropolis Music on songs like “Farm Basis”. How do you suppose the connection between worship and your efficiency?
I feel many artists even have a coronary heart for worship. I like songs that mirror and do not simply glorify me. However it’s within the strategy planning stage, it’s important to take into consideration your refrain, what you are able to do to steer folks to worship. That is been one thing I have been actually intentional about my upcoming album.
And I feel it has to come back within the early levels of writing and creating. Generally once I’m writing, I am fascinated by my life and what I am feeling or what I am going by, however then once I go to a present, I understand, “Man, I actually want I could lead on folks to worship immediately. ” Then you definately return to the studio and you concentrate on what it’s essential to say to assist folks worship or create a sure environment.
Wealthy Information turns 20 this 12 months. The Christian hip-hop business is rising. What makes you optimistic while you take a look at the scene and take into consideration its future?
I feel what makes me most hopeful is that artists actually love Jesus.
You might have artists who’re going to impress folks for Christ, however on high of that, you are going to get high quality music. They’re pushing for high quality whereas being adamant about being outspoken about their beliefs.
This music has been an ideal entry level for people who find themselves open to looking for God however do not feel “holy” sufficient to hunt out Christian music. In a method, music disciples folks by giving them a soundscape that they get pleasure from, that they might usually hearken to, however the phrases communicate of Jesus.
Individuals can hearken to this music and never know they’re listening to a Christian music. And I feel that is nice, as a result of this music can reside in a number of locations with out feeling intrusive, however on the similar time, the reality is being instructed.
