Rapper NevaHurd brings a Christian alternative

8 November 2011 No Comments

NevaHurd

By Shanichia Henry

With the exception of a few artists who are discussing issues relevant to the common person’s life, the majority of rappers are still using the same formula of money, women and clothes to sell records.

Christian artist NevaHurd has a completely different approach to life. When asked about his idea of success, the rapper replied, “Following Christ and lending a helping hand to those in need is my idea of success. You can have million of dollars and still feel completely worthless at the end of the day, but I know I have a purpose and that means more than money to me.”

The artist whose real name is Ryan Daley, was born in Scarborough, Ontario, to a single mother. His father moved to New York shortly after his birth and was physically absent for most of his life. NevaHurd admitted that his father’s absence did have an impact on him growing up.

“My father was never really there to teach me the simple things that people with fathers take for granted. I taught myself how to fix my tie and I couldn’t just wake my dad up on a Sunday morning to go to the park and play ball. I mean, it seems very simple but those bonding moments can really shape the way you think about family and life on a whole. I got over it and I love my dad, but I think his presence would have made a difference. ”

NevaHurd’s first official album Unseen Proof is a musical testimonial of his transition to a place he describes as peaceful and secure. After hearing his album, it is impossible for the listener to deny his talent and dedication to encouraging a younger generation to live a life in which compassion and responsibility hold great importance.

According to NevaHurd, his album title borrows its inspiration from the book of Hebrews in the Bible. NevaHurd says his faith is “the foundation on which [he] built his music.” Admittedly, some of the tracks on his album are raw and gritty, sometimes challenging one to ponder complex issues such as spirituality and one’s life purpose. Although NevaHurd makes no apologies for his Christian beliefs, he describes himself as “an open-minded dude, who has a diverse group of friends and family.”

Perhaps NevaHurd’s authenticity can be attributed to the fact that he has lived the lifestyle that he now warns people against. Around the age of 13, NevaHurd fell in love with hip-hop. His clothes, attitude, and commitment to having freestyle battles in the schoolyard was a precursor to a life that would circulate around promiscuity, drug use, and would almost cost him his life. NevaHurd describes an incident that occurred during a night of hard partying.

“I was at a club when gunshots started going off. Everyone ran for cover but for some reason I couldn’t find a place to hide and one of the gunmen came after me. He backed me into a corner, pressed the gun against my temple and pulled the trigger. The gun jammed and after looking at me in disbelief, he fled the scene. It took me a few minutes to compose myself. I was this close to losing my life. I just felt that it wasn’t a coincidence. Life is a gift from God and we should use it to do positive things”

Apparently, NevaHurd’s perspective on life is also reflected in his commitment to the youth of his community. His experience in working with young people is especially inspirational because he has not only participated in youth focused initiatives, but has been the founder of such programs as well.

The uniqueness of NevaHurd’s music is that it is very personal and he gives reason for this when he says: “Real recognizes real. I didn’t want to tell kids they shouldn’t do something because it’s bad. Sometimes that’s not enough. You need people who can be honest with you about the mistakes they’ve made, and the consequences it had on your life. That’s why I’m not scared to talk about my struggles with promiscuity, weed smoking, and alcohol abuse. If I convince a few teens that they’re capable of greater things, that’s enough for me.”

And his message seems to be working as his audience ranges from pre-teens to 30-somethings who are seeking an alternative to mainstream hip-hop’s shallow and often destructive paradigm of life.

With a vested interest in his community and a life void of drug use, and materialism— Nevahurd proves that money, women and clothes is not all a brother knows.

If you want to learn more about NevaHurd’s music, visit www.nevahurd.com