My Side Job as a Gospel Rap Music Agent

Back in the day when I was a Lipscomb student, my nickname was "Snoop." It's too long to explain how I got this nickname - I'm not even entirely sure how I acquired it. But since it stuck, I would occasionally bust out a rhyme, my white bread version of rap. Nothing professional or anything, but just for fun, when my friends would least expect it, I would let loose with some verses. People were always surprised "where did you come up with that?" I started to think there was a rap music star within me.

Well, I didn't make it as a rapper, to my everlasting chagrin, but I am now helping some guys here in POA to try and make it in the music biz as their unofficial "agent". Call me Snoopster JB - as in John da Baptist, preparing the way for young Christian talent to showcase their skills.

I've posted here before about G.A.P., a gospel rap trio formed by three chacara graduates (L-R on their CD cover): David (VidBrasa), Jefferson (Mano Fino), and Elder (DiMC). For those who doubt my prowess, here is their CD backcover with yours truly alongside for the ride:

A pretty neat story happened last week and it goes something like this: I gave a G.A.P. CD to my sister-in-law Patricia to give to a friend of her choice. She gave it to her friend Tamiris, who shared it with her mother, Aparecida. It happens that Aparecida studies social work at IPA, a Methodist university near our house. Aparecida just loved their music, and happened to be working on a presentation on alcohol & drug addiction for one of her classes. So she asked me to invite G.A.P. to come to her class and represent.
L-R: Mercedes, one of Aparecida's colleagues, VidBrasa, DiMC, Aparecida, and a third colleague whose name I didn't catch. G.A.P. were the stars of the show. They spoke about their lives and performed two of their songs. The class gave them a standing O, bought several of their CDs, and spent a lot of time talking with the guys afterwards. I was quite surprised by the warm and open reception. I wasn't sure if the class would be receptive to faith-based methods and testimonies of overcoming drug addictions, but they were, and I believe G.A.P.'s story reinforced the fact that God can and does transform lives in extraordinary ways!
The post-game celebration at Habib's, an Arabian fast-food joint (yummy). Paulo Renato was with us and gave his testimony to the class of how he overcame alcoholism through his time at the chacara & his commitment to Jesus. I kick myself for not having filmed his speech because it was one of the best summaries of his story that I've ever heard him give. DiMC's wife, Elisangela, was with us as well. G.A.P., as a result of this visit to IPA, may be invited to perform at other college-related events, and at a well-known chemical dependency clinic run by the city.

This is my side job as JB - I take joy in preparing the way for people like Paulo Renato, DiMC and VidBrasa to have opportunity to share their stories and thus provoke people to reflect on their own faith & life. Peace out!