Stephen Wiley (born 1958) is an American rapper and minister, who is often credited as the first artist to release a Christian rap album.[1]
Biography
Wiley was born in 1958 and grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A University of Oklahoma graduate, Wiley began a career as a jazz drummer in 1979. By 1982, Wiley was performing rap music with Christian lyrics, and in 1984 he took a job as chaplain at a juvenile detention center.[2] In 1985, Wiley released the album Bible Break, the title track of which received airplay on Christian radio.[3] A 1988 article in Spin magazine nicknamed Wiley the "Grandmaster of God".[2][4]Bible Break was later acknowledged as the first Christian rap album by T-Bone in his 2002 song "Our History".[1]
Wiley would later serve as assistant pastor/youth minister at the predominantly-black Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, CA under televangelist Frederick K.C. Price.[1] He eventually released a total of six albums, with Rhapsody in 1991 including a guest appearance by the gospel group Witness.[2] Wiley later founded the Praise Center Family Church in Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma where he serves as pastor.[5] He is also the Assistant Vice President, Director of Christian Ministries, and Assistant Professor of Religion at Bacone College in Muskogee where he teaches full-time.[6]
Discography
Bible Break (Brentwood Music, 1985)
Rappin for Jesus (Brentwood Music, 1986)
Rap it Up (Brentwood Music, 1987)
Get Real (Brentwood Music, 1989)
Rhythm and Poetry (StarSong Records, 1990)
Rhapsody (StarSong Records, 1991)
Citations
^ abc(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Page 3
^ abcPowell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 1037. ISBN1-56563-679-1.
^Moody, David L. (2012). Political Melodies in the Pews? The Voice of the Black Christian Rapper in the Twenty-first-century Church. Lexington Books. pp. 4–5. ISBN9780739172360.
^Francis, Bill (November 1988). "Rappin' for Jesus". Spin Magazine. p. 22.
^"Pastor's Corner". Praise Center Family Church. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
^"Center for Christian Ministry Staff". Bacone College. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
January 06, 2023
stephen, wiley, american, attorney, politician, stephen, wiley, born, 1958, american, rapper, minister, often, credited, first, artist, release, christian, album, biography, editwiley, born, 1958, grew, muskogee, oklahoma, university, oklahoma, graduate, wiley. For the American attorney and politician see Stephen B Wiley Stephen Wiley born 1958 is an American rapper and minister who is often credited as the first artist to release a Christian rap album 1 Biography EditWiley was born in 1958 and grew up in Muskogee Oklahoma A University of Oklahoma graduate Wiley began a career as a jazz drummer in 1979 By 1982 Wiley was performing rap music with Christian lyrics and in 1984 he took a job as chaplain at a juvenile detention center 2 In 1985 Wiley released the album Bible Break the title track of which received airplay on Christian radio 3 A 1988 article in Spin magazine nicknamed Wiley the Grandmaster of God 2 4 Bible Break was later acknowledged as the first Christian rap album by T Bone in his 2002 song Our History 1 Wiley would later serve as assistant pastor youth minister at the predominantly black Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles CA under televangelist Frederick K C Price 1 He eventually released a total of six albums with Rhapsody in 1991 including a guest appearance by the gospel group Witness 2 Wiley later founded the Praise Center Family Church in Muskogee and Tulsa Oklahoma where he serves as pastor 5 He is also the Assistant Vice President Director of Christian Ministries and Assistant Professor of Religion at Bacone College in Muskogee where he teaches full time 6 Discography EditBible Break Brentwood Music 1985 Rappin for Jesus Brentwood Music 1986 Rap it Up Brentwood Music 1987 Get Real Brentwood Music 1989 Rhythm and Poetry StarSong Records 1990 Rhapsody StarSong Records 1991 Citations Edit a b c Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on October 4 2011 Retrieved October 6 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Page 3 a b c Powell Mark Allan 2002 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music Peabody Massachusetts Hendrickson Publishers p 1037 ISBN 1 56563 679 1 Moody David L 2012 Political Melodies in the Pews The Voice of the Black Christian Rapper in the Twenty first century Church Lexington Books pp 4 5 ISBN 9780739172360 Francis Bill November 1988 Rappin for Jesus Spin Magazine p 22 Pastor s Corner Praise Center Family Church Retrieved March 17 2011 Center for Christian Ministry Staff Bacone College Retrieved March 17 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Wiley amp oldid 1117501146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
