ATTENTION, his music is not for the weak of heart. Prime Minister chose rap as the language to win Generation X to Christ. He strives to penetrate the heart faces from the past such as the gang leader, the drug dealer, the gang member, and those trapped in violence of the streets.

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Prime Minister feels he can best relate to this audience because of his similar experiences. Born in Detroit, Prime Minister’s lack of parental guidance caused him to look for attention elsewhere. His mother worked long hours to support the single-parent family of six.

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Prime started getting involved in drug selling and gangs in Rockford (outside of Chicago) during junior high. His involvement with gangs/drugs created a pit of problems. His gang activity led to a drive-by shooting on his family’s home. His responsibility in his gang ranged from carrying out the gang’s dirty work to insuring that other members stayed loyal. Prime Minister fell deeper into the pit when he attended Northern Illinois University. His drug dealing tied him to the Chicago mob. The road of problems grew longer. During a gang fight Prime Minister stabbed a rival gang member in the heart. The victim took him to court. He received a pardon for his life sentence to attend college and the case finally dropped after the victim was imprisoned because of car theft. This was not his first view of a jail cell. another offense included mob action. The pressures of his life caused him to turn to drugs, and landed him in a mental institution. To diverge his attention from problems Prime Minister took his tales and started rapping in 1986. Later, under the name “Sir Fish”he opened up for Bobby Brown and Heavy D. He started touring with Ice Cube, De La Soul and Geto and won first place in RAMA Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop artist in 1996 and 1997. Despite his success, the life of fast women, money and drugs pulled him to greater lows until 1993. Until a church sermon touched him. The pastor gave his message on the pulpit as usual when he started talking about Prime Minister saying that God wanted to set someone free.

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“I felt this heat on my body,” said Prime. “Then I was moved and started to jump up, sing, and shout. God had delivered me supernaturally from my drug addiction and life of violence.”

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Prime’s raps changed to those expressing humility and solutions to gang-related problems. Television journalist interviewed him concerning his conversion from the Gangsta-Rap to Christian Rap scene. The man he stabbed in the heart quietly watched this interview and called Prime Minister for forgiveness.

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“I was shocked; he hugged me” said Prime Minister. “This man, who I stabbed should have been angry. Instead, he said that he knew that if God changed me that He could change anyone.”

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HOMETOWN: Detroit, Michigan

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ORIGIN OF NAME:
Someone appointed by a king to deliver his message to the people.

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PURPOSE OF MUSIC:
“I try to present solutions, not just talk about the problems of the world.”

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REASON ARTIST CHOSE CHRISTIAN RAP:
“I can express myself through humility and point people in the right direction. I try to reach young people on the streets and bring spirituality into the hip-hop culture.”

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STRATEGY:
“Try to make rappers Christian not Christians into rappers. I call it Evangelism Funk because I don’t want to classify as strictly for Christians.” Prime Minister wants the name to raise questions in the minds of those to whom he talks.

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FAVORITES:

FOOD- Chicken

COLOR- Black

MOVIE- Something About Mary

ACTOR- Wesley Snipes

SPORT- Football

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BIRTHDAY: February 13, 1970

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PETS (NAME/TYPE): Poodle named Fluffy

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UNKNOWN NICKNAMES: Duck by friends at school when he was young because of his lips and voice.

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Taken from grapetreerecords.com