The "Tug of War" of One's Soul. (A Real Story of 6 years of the Lords Unconditional Love)

Just recently I have slowly but surely come across an incredible story of the Lords work at hand. It involves many of the Music industries most influential players! So lets get started!

Now a lot of you guys might have heard of the following artists; Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, Andy Mineo, Lecrae, Da TRUTH, KB, Tedashii, and Trip Lee. The reason I am writing this story is because almost all of these artists had such an impact in my life, whether it be good or bad, My point is is that they still currently have a large influence on the general public and possess huge followings in their own respects!

 

Lets start with Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko. These guys are HUGE! A big underground following in the rap community, and Owners of the Strange Music Records Label. During my High School days, I admired and looked up to them tremendously for their incredible flows, Hooks, Unique beats, and huge passion to try and do their best to share what they believe to be important in their hearts. Unfortunately, Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko don’t sing about the best of things… Sex, Parties, Drinking, Drugs, and much more. Your probably thinking, "Typical rappers pssshh", Hey, If you agree/disagree with these things, Im alright with that, I still Love you! I personally don’t flow that way anymore however. When I recommitted my Life to Christ I made the conscious decision to listen to something that glorified God a lot more, thus ending my days of Listening to Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko. And to be completely honest and human with you guys…. I was a little bummed a bit, Not because of what they stood for, but just because their music (And Just the Music part, Not the lyrics) was so unique and fresh. I thought I wouldn’t be able to get that anywhere else anymore.

I began to pray…

I began to pray that somehow God would show me some music that gave me that same feeling to get down and have a good time AND be able to glorify him at the same time! I also prayed that… somehow… even the slightest chance, Maybe…. JUST Maybe, Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko would turn their lives around, That way people could see and understand their talent that was blessed upon them by the Lord! BOOM! …. And this is where the story begins! :)

 

Waaaay Back in 2006, Gospel Christian Rapper known as Da TRUTH reached out to Tech N9ne and Krizz. He wanted to share what Christ had done and see if they would be up for having a talk, spending some time together in fellowship. Unfortunately when Da TRUTH called, Tech and Krizz were in the recording studio and couldn’t take the call, thus he left a message. Later, Tech N9ne returned this phone call to be met with a different reaction. The woman that ran Da TRUTH's record company ended up what Tech called "Shunning him and his friends because they were secular and not christian". This inevitably drove Tech and Krizz Kaliko further away and they even went to the lengths to write a song about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUyq4CE7lB8
*Notice the Lyrics*

1. This verse was intended for a gospel rapper that we all admire
   and he goes by the name of Da T.R.U.T.H.
   All we wanted was a righteous man to lead us in the right direction
   and maybe if he came we could change and regroup
   So we laid it down and sent it hopin' we would rap wit us, track splittas,
   Waited, and none of his people got back wit us
   We kept callin' and they finally answered, when a month passed
   We was prepared to do whatever, give it if he wants cash
   but the lady who represent em would never send 'em a message from a secular messenger
   Never be no nepotism, we supposed to be brothers, on the road to teach others
   but the flow would be covered, don't wanna mess with Tech they know that we smothered
   anybody who diss us, retire they weak flow
   Cuz this is the pinnacle, nobody flyer than me, bro
   If you didn't like it then I admire the ego,
   And if they never told ya, then you better fire ya people
   Cause fallen angels came for your help and then she pushed 'em
   but Christians be the first to run they mouth about Muslims
   but they always helpin in the hood, but y'all closed me out
   y'all didn't even really wanna know what we bout
   And we bombay, trippin on this on the don spay
   and I had to spit on in cuz I couldn't afford Kanye
   I needed help, your people showed me the wall
   be lowly as y'all, I guess y'all wasn't holy at all... naw!"

 

Years pass and Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko are still diligently working on composing and writing music, when suddenly, Tech N9ne's Mother is diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Naturally Tech is hurt and in shambles about this news, thus he writes a song about his frustrations on the situation. Tech goes to great lengths to display that his mother lived a great life, things such as; going to church every Sunday, raising Tech and his family in a christian home, always striving to do the right thing etc. Here below you can see his emotions and his cries… As well as his frustrations.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUx0Cgifx-Y

Its unfortunate, but you can see and hear the hurt in his lyrics, in the song itself! He is just straight up angry with GOD! Something that a lot of us were guilty of at some point or another in our lives. The point is… He is being a human. He is searching for an answer.

 

After this song was released, there was much silence between both Da TRUTH, Tech N9ne, and Krizz Kaliko.

 

Lets Fast-Forward here to 2012… 2 1/2 years later.

 

Krizz Kaliko released his newest EP, Neh' Mind (Nevermind), November of 2012. As usually it had about 5-6 songs of things happening in his life, things he has dealt with growing up etc… But, One song stood out the most…. The very last song on the EP is called "Proof of God", you all gotta here this one! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mNp2jy-92g

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

 

You hear that?!?!?! Straight from Krizz Kaliko!?!?..... Am I hearing this??? God? Jesus? Your doing this right?? :D

 

I was BEYOND ecstatic to hear this song! Krizz Kaliko is genuinely searching to make his life right. He WANTS to know God, he WANTS to serve God. He DESIRES God! :) THAT’S HUGE!! Krizz Kaliko is a Married man with two children at home and when he goes to work, he sings albums about woman, sex, drugs, drinking, partying… Anyone who has been even remotely involved in that kind of lifestyle knows, that over time two things happen. It gets boring… and you get lonely. That’s the truth coming from Krizz Kaliko and I can also tell you that from personal experience. I know what Krizz Kaliko is going through. A Tug of War of lifestyles. WANTING to change, but totally and utterly scared of changing! "What about this? What about that?" These are the questions going on in his mind right now and we got to pray for him! :)

After seeing this and seeing what happened to Tech N9ne… One could say, Its about to get even better! ;D

On January 29th, 2013, Da TRUTH released his newest album, Love Hope and War. On this album featured a song directed straight at Tech N9ne and Strange Music as a whole. JIFE (Jesus is for Everybody). Listen Below!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUqiTQYOoOE

 

Da TRUTH specifically apologizes to Tech about the situation that transpired between them, then proceeds to tell them that Jesus is for Everybody, no matter who you are! A powerful message. :)

Now for the grand finale of things, and the part of the story that is my personal favorite! Andy Mineo, a member of the 116 Clique, Signed Artist at Reach Records, and Close friend of Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, KB, Pro, and Sho Baracka. He just recently came out with an album titled "Heroes for Sale", along with an incredible mission statement for the album. Andy Mineo stated that the concept behind the album is that "we make heroes out of a lot of things. We make heroes out of people. We believe ourselves to be greater than we really are. We make ourselves look like heroes to other people. What I really wanted to do is show the brokenness of the heroes that we create and the heroes that we try to be in order to show that there is ultimately only one great hero." BOOM! That’s awesome right? It gets better! As I continue to read about this album I see something that catches my eye…  "On "Tug of War", Krizz Kaliko of Tech N9ne's Strange Music expresses that he is in the midst of a war for his soul. Nyon(Interviewer) explained that "the ministry from an artist to artist standpoint that may get overlooked, is that the Strange Music artist has made songs expressing a desire to want to believe and live for God and this could begin the pouring into what Tech & Krizz have longed for so many years." ….wait…. Noooo…..NO WAY!!!....  Krizz Kaliko himself is featuring on Andy Mineo's album! :D WHAT?!?!

@#$%#%^$%^ <-- That was my initial reaction to the whole thing.

 

Ill let you guys hear it for yourself. Andy Mineo directly empathizing with BOTH Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko about the true thoughts that go through peoples mind when they are on the fence about committing their lives to Christ. This song nearly brought tears to my eyes… Hearing Krizz Kaliko cry out about his concern for his soul… Ugh, God….. Your unconditional Love is so amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uubPjUhxAyQ

This could be the beginning of something absolutely incredible. The tremendous following that Krizz Kaliko, Tech N9ne, and all of Strange Music for that matter has is huge! We could possibly see the same kind of revival that occurred when Brian Head Welch left Korn as their Lead Guitarist and formed his all new band, "Love and Death". Hundreds of people saw that leap of faith he committed and followed in his footsteps. I urge you all to pray on this. I feel passionately for this situation, as not many people know what exactly has transpired between the artist over the past 6 years. In the end, I can't tell at this point what is going to happen. But one thing is certain, Krizz Kaliko and Tech N9ne are searching… No, Yearning to know God personally and intimately. Whether that takes them ten days or ten years, Lets not forget what really happened over these past 6 years. Andy Mineo, Da TRUTH, and the rest of the guys at Reach Records reflected that unconditional love and acceptance that God has for everyone, and directed that Love towards Krizz and Tech. Showing them that no matter their past actions, or even their current ones, They still love them as the Lord does and they aren't going to be shunned for that, They are going to be Loved. Lets not let that lesson fall to the way side! Love and ACCEPT everyone for who they are… and then truly I say, The Lords love will shine through you. :)
 

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

• 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13

Thank you all! Love you guys!
-Samuel Mattioli