116 Life Ep. 120: Dante Pride – Giving God The Credit
When hosts Meah Evans and Ace Harris sit down with guests on The 116 Life, the conversations often reveal what it really means to live a faith-driven, purpose-filled life. Their episode with Dante Pride is no exception, a journey through years of waiting, moments of obedience, and the unshakable conviction that God’s timing is always perfect.
From Second Grade Rhymes to Signed Artist
For Dante Pride, music wasn’t a passing interest , it was a calling planted early. He laughs as he remembers scribbling Christian hip-hop lyrics on the back of test papers in second grade after hearing Canton Jones’ “Jesus” for the first time in his uncle’s car. His teacher — seeing something divine in those rhymes, handed him a Christian rap CD, sparking a passion that would define his life.
By middle school, Dante was recording songs on a USB mic in his bedroom, hustling free recording trials and passing out CDs in school only to be met with ridicule. “They laughed,” he recalls. “They had never heard of Christian hip-hop.” Yet, instead of giving up, he doubled down. By high school, he was getting radio play on a local hip-hop station and performing at school talent shows — the same kid who once got bullied for rapping about Jesus now had his songs on the airwaves.
When Obedience Outweighs Grind
One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Dante distinguishes obedience from grind. “There were things I said yes to that I wasn’t supposed to,” he says. “And there were things God told me to do that I was sitting on.” His story underscores that true success isn’t about viral numbers or streams, it’s about saying yes to God’s direction, even when it doesn’t make sense.
That obedience became the theme of his journey. From quitting basketball in 10th grade to pursue music, to working various jobs while creating on the side, Dante’s “yes” to God often looked like surrender more than hustle. “You can’t out-grind obedience,” he tells the hosts. “When you say yes to God, He’ll do more with your surrender than you could do with your striving.”
Hidden on Purpose
Before the viral moment came, Dante lived years in the shadows. From being a youth pastor to working as an ISS teacher, he was faithful in quiet seasons that few saw. But even there, God was preparing him. That preparation paid off when a simple act of obedience changed everything, sampling Lisa Page Brooks’ viral “The Devil Is a Liar” clip.
“I’m not a producer,” Dante laughs. “But I heard the Holy Spirit say, ‘Go add some trap drums to that clip.’” What started as a quick social post went viral overnight, launching “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” into national attention. From there came collaborations with Transformation Church’s Undefeated Champion album and, soon after, a record deal with Capitol Christian Music Group.
But Dante sees more than luck in that timeline, he sees God’s strategy. “When Mike Todd first reached out, I thought that was the moment,” he reflects. “But God let ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’ blow up first so no one else could get the credit for what He was doing.”
Faith, Family, and God’s Faithfulness
Even as doors opened, Dante remained grounded in purpose. The same day he signed his record deal, he was offered a position as Youth Pastor at Change Church under Pastors Darius and Shemekah Daniels. “That’s God,” he says, smiling. “I was literally on my way to my signing party when I got the call.”
Balancing music and ministry hasn’t been easy. Dante admits it takes discipline, scheduling, and Holy Spirit stamina to manage both. “You don’t get an award for being stressed out,” he says. “The only way I can do this is by staying at His feet. You can’t pour if you’re not being filled.”
He credits his wife, L’Oreal, as a cornerstone of that faithfulness. “She saw the vision before she saw it,” Dante says. “God’s faithfulness is seen in His ‘no’s’ as much as His ‘yeses.’ There were times I thought I was ready, but He was protecting me.”
Shifting Culture Through Authenticity
Today, Dante embodies what The 116 Life is all about, using your gifts to glorify God while staying authentically yourself. Whether in the pulpit, the studio, or scrolling through TikTok, he brings light with humility and joy. “Lights don’t talk,” he says. “When you walk into a room carrying His presence, the atmosphere shifts.”
As Ace and Meah close out the show, they remind listeners that Dante’s story isn’t just about success — it’s about surrender. Every no, every setback, every quiet season was building the man who would one day represent both faith and excellence in music and ministry.
“You are living in times you prayed for,” Dante says. “So steward them well, and remember, one yes can change your entire life.”
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Intro: Meah and Ace welcome listeners to The 116 Life
1:00 – Meet Dante Pride: From Tulsa to Transformation Church
2:30 – “One yes can change your life”: The power of obedience
4:00 – Second grade rhymes: Where Dante’s passion for music began
6:00 – Getting bullied for Christian rap and staying committed
8:30 – Choosing between basketball and music
10:00 – When faith and calling collide
12:00 – Learning the difference between grind and obedience
14:00 – How a viral clip turned into a life-changing song (“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”)
16:00 – Transformation Church and working with Mike Todd
18:00 – Signing to Capitol Christian Music Group
20:00 – The same day blessing: From record deal to youth pastor
22:30 – Balancing music, ministry, and marriage
25:00 – Discovering purpose in the quiet seasons
27:00 – “God’s no is still an answer”: Understanding divine timing
29:00 – How obedience opens doors man can’t close
31:00 – Becoming a culture shifter: Authenticity in music and ministry
33:00 – Advice for those waiting on their breakthrough
34:30 – Final thoughts: The fruit of faith and staying rooted in Christ
Related Radio Show: 116 Life
