Today’s top Christian artists are far from the worship music many of us listened to growing up. But birth from a want to hear the good word with a different beat, they deliver a message that’s only gotten stronger with time. 

Built on the backs of music radicals like Michael Peace, S.F.C (Soldiers for Christ), Dynamic Twins, The Cross Movement, and DC Talk– these artists have spread the name of Christ to a growing and sometimes unsuspecting audience. Crossing over to collaborate with huge secular names to add a touch of holiness in an often salacious arena. 

While many seem to have a consensus about who the top five are- our fans have their own favorites, and we’d be remiss if we ignored their preferences. What follows is a mix of our fan favorites and chart-toppers blowing up the scene. 

They are strutting their faith for the whole world to see, and we can’t get enough.

Our Top 5 Artists

5. Thi’sl

“This House I shall live” is Thi’sl namesake and his covenant to God. Growing up in the streets of St. Louis meant that’s where he learned how to survive, but a cousin’s death made him wonder if that was the life he wanted to lead. Upon seeing holy hip-hop star Flame at a neighborhood event, Thi’sl gave his life over to Christ; and after a year and a half of studying the word, he realized that spreading the gospel and his gift of music were one and the same. 

His first album, aptly named This House I Shall Live, was released in 2007. From 2009 through 2014, he also released four albums, collaborated with the likes of Lecrae, Flame, Json, Laquan Green, and Nonna, and debuted at number 115 on Billboard 200. 

                                     Image by Jeff Borts

4. Flame 

Marcus T. Grey was born into a life of hard knocks. With a schizophrenic mom and an absentee dad, Marcus’ life was chaotic and unstable. The only stable influence in the mele, his grandmother, passed away when he was 16, leaving him untethered and spiraling. A chance outing to a church exposed him to the unconditional love of Jesus- a love that Marcus, a drug user and criminal, desperately needed and willingly accepted. 

He went from being expelled for fights at school to standing up in class to preach the gospel to his classmate. Filing pews with wayward teens, he was determined to lead his friends to Christ. The Spirit-lit flame that now ruled his life and gave him purpose- became his new stage name and the namesake of his first effort, released in 2004. His album Our World Redeem would earn him a Grammy nomination three years later. 

The secular world knows him best for his collaboration with NF in “Starting Over,” released in 2014.

                              Image by Jeff Roberts Agency                 

3. Andy Mineo 

Andy has been in hip-hop since he was a kid, making and producing music in his home while still in high school. A fated visit to a camp where his sister was a counselor led him to Christ, and he has been on fire ever since. 

In college, he met producer Alex Media and Nick Cruz’ T.R.U.C.E. project, where he would meet long-time friends Wordsplayed and Rich Perez. What came after was a long list of releases and collaborations that put Andy among Christian rapper all-stars despite his rejecting the label. 

Among his most notable work are his studio albums, Heroes for Sale (2013), Neverland (2014), and Uncomfortable (2015), all of which landed in the top 20 of the Billboard 200. 

                   Image by Spotify                          

2. nobigdyl

Dylan Phillips was born in Hayward, California but moved to Bell Buckel, Tennessee, at nine. At a young age, he expressed interest in music, became heavily involved in school theater, and then studied audio and production at Middle Tennessee State University. He became a road manager to Derek Minor, who would later fire him to encourage him to pursue music seriously.

He released his first album, Smoke Signal (2015), and was named an artist to watch that same year. Since then, he has been featured in albums by Derek Minor and collaborated with Nate, Jordan, Lawren, Davis Absolute, and others. 

                           Image by Anthony Ferrell Photography

1.KB

Born Kevin Elijah Burgess to a military family on July 21, 1988- KB suffered from depression and suicidal ideation at a young age. He credits a Christian rap CD a friend gave him for saving his life. 

His natural talents earned him a loyal social media following and attracted the notice of Lacrae, who would later sign him onto Reach Records. He topped the Billboard Christian Albums chart with his debut, Weigh & Glory, and an additional three times from 2015 through 2020.

Now with shelves full of awards, he will add author to his many accolades with the release of his book Dangerous Jesus. In a recent interview with The Christian Post, KB said: “He (Jesus) is a force that moves in, changes everything, cannot be bought, cannot be canceled, cannot be deleted. And He is a danger to all the things that would be dangerous to us.” 

This book is a call to all followers to get to know this dangerous side of our Savior and be transformed by it. 

.                                  Image by whoiskb.com

But wait! There’s more. 

If you are anything like us- always on the lookout for new tracks to add to your playlist- let the next artists inspire you and take your tunes to the next level.

Up and Coming Artists

1.1k Phew

1k Phew wants to keep it 1000 and share his life with you, hoping you will follow his lead into the light. 

Growing up in Atlanta to God-fearing parents didn’t prevent 1k Phew from trying the wayward path. By his own admission, every time he tried doing things his way, it wouldn’t work- and when he saw himself face to face with the barrel of a gun, he knew it was time for a change. 

He turned instead to music, reflecting faith’s power over earthly obstacles hoping anyone who listens knows there is a better way. 

                                          Image by soundcloud.com

2. Childlike Cici

If you follow any Christian hip-hop artists, chances are you’ve run into Childlike Cici. She is a social media darling with a solid fan base- impressive for a young rapper who released her debut album a year ago. She has already left her mark on Holy Culture, and we can’t wait to see how far the Lord takes her. 

                      Image by Spotify 

3. Wande

Commonly known as the First Lady of Reach Records, Wande knows a thing or two about facing opposition. Growing up with a Muslim father and Christian mother meant she had to wake up early before her parents to devote time to God. 

While struggling to find her calling, a dream showed her her fear kept her from her God-given purpose. Once she chose faith over fear, the doors opened wide, and she went from serving artists at Reach Records to becoming one of their own. 

                       Image by Jesus Freak Hideout

4. Rare of Breed

Raised by the system since he was 8, this North Carolina native had plenty of sorrows. He began peddling drugs as a minor, did a stint in military school, and eventually landed in jail at 18. Strung out and broken in mind and soul, he found Jesus in 2011.

Since, he has been pushing hip-hop with a country slant, a combination he affectionately calls GodTwang. 

                 Image by Gigsalad

5. Manafest

From hip-hop with a twang, we bring you an artist that flexes to an edgier sound. Chris Greenwood, aka Manafest, lost his father at five to suicide but luckily found solace in Christ a short time later. 

After his dreams of becoming a pro skater were crushed, he turned to music and 2001, released his first EP, Misled Youth. His sound is inspired by big names in hip-hop (Beastie Boys, Eminem, and Ye), with a little bit of Linking Park and Sum41 thrown in the mix. 

His most famous song is “Impossible,” featuring Trevor McNevan from Thousand Foot Krutch- which gives fans the complex sound of rock with the lyrics they have come to crave. 

                  Image by louderthanmusic 

Christian rapper is a misnomer for the ladies and gentlemen on this list- to us, they are Christian artists of the highest caliber, worthy of moniker despite their reluctance. 

Their music can lift the darkest clouds and refocus our gaze upward, away from our powerlessness to the One who can do it all. 

Turning life’s bitter pills into songs of worship and praise, they give their listeners hope in the face of impossible odds- with a style only hip-hop can bring.

God’s gift to them has been a true blessing to us all.