As founding members of Christian rap, these former members of Gospel Gangstaz made a name for themselves as God’z Original Gangstaz and were nominated for two consecutive years for Dove Award Rap Album of the Year. The two members, Mr. Reg. NICE and Preach DOG, created four albums together: True 2 Da Game, Resurrected Gangstaz, and Pawn’s In A Chess Game, and now Tha G Filez.

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Their pasts however were not so filled with success. Mr. Reg. NICE started gang-banging at age 12 in LA, and landed in prison for strong armed robbery at age 15. Preach DOG nurtured a strong addiction for cocaine. He played the roles of Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde during his drug selling and using days.

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“In the morning, I would pray Lord, please take this from me,” said Preach DOG. “and I’d start dealing dirt.”
While working at the Pamona Airport, Preach DOG met a young man who later became his pastor. He went to church months later encouraged by a friend. He then discovered that God planned him to be a minister to people through the wise words of the church’s pastor. This pastor happened to be the same man he had met in the airport months ago. It was at that time that Preach DOG was miraculously cured of his drug addiction. He remains clean of all illegal drugs since.

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When Mr. Reg. NICE met Preach DOG, Mr. Reg. NICE dabbled in gangs and illegal activity. His mother encouraged him to come to church to meet a reformed man. Mr. Reg. NICE thought after he met Preach DOG that there was no point in a relationship. Preach DOG formed a relationship with Mr. Reg. NICE’s brother and would go out and practice music with him. Mr. Reg NICE would sit at home making music alone. It was only then that he saw potential of a friendship between himself and Preach DOG.

“God finally tied us together by the lyrics we were writing,” said Mr. Reg. NICE. “He was the first Christian rapper I had heard who’s lyrics and beats could compare to secular beats. Others just were not up to par.”

Mr. Reg NICE and Preach DOG made a connection when they saw the similarities in their past struggles in life. They had gone through the same problems and that fact unified them.

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“We told each other stories of how our mothers cursed our secular rap music before we met each other,” said Mr. Reg. NICE. “They individually would pray that our immoral lyrics would never make it. But when God allowed us to become friends, all that changed, and we’ve produced music for Him ever since.”

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Taken from grapetreerecords.com