Finding Your Voice with Jackie Hill Perry
In this episode of WhatItIzWhatItBeezLike?!, host King Cyz sat down with poet, author, rapper, and speaker Jackie Hill Perry for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about faith, artistry, motherhood, and authenticity. From the jump, Jackie’s transparency set the tone, offering listeners a glimpse into how her unique journey has shaped her identity as both a communicator and a creative force.
Finding Her Voice Through Poetry
Jackie shared that her artistic journey began in poetry circles like Lyrical’s Lounge in Los Angeles. She admitted that, in the early days, she often tried to mimic other artists she admired. That experience, however, left her feeling powerless and unnatural. It was a pivotal lesson that taught her the importance of authenticity. “It’s easier to be Jackie than to be anybody else,” she explained. That revelation became a guiding principle across all her creative outlets—whether writing books, hosting podcasts, or making music.
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Her upbringing was a study in contrasts. At her mother’s house, life was filled with R&B, liquor, and everyday struggles, while weekends with her aunt immersed her in gospel music and church life. This dual environment shaped her perspective on faith and culture. Jackie explained that it allowed her to approach people without judgment while also giving her a clear understanding of the transformative power of Christ. That balance continues to influence how she parents, refusing to assume her children’s salvation but instead teaching them the importance of personal faith and repentance.
Obedience Over Ambition
One of the most striking parts of the conversation came when Jackie spoke about stepping away from music for a season. She emphasized that her creativity and gifts belong to God, and she never wanted to withhold them from Him. That time away, though difficult, gave her the space to study Scripture deeply, preach, and grow in maturity. Now, as she returns to music, she feels more seasoned, wiser, and better equipped to share truth through her art.
Her recent signing with Reach Records was another example of God’s timing. What began as a simple connection at church with label executive Ace Harris turned into a divine nudge back toward music. Jackie felt led not just to create songs but to influence culture missionally through her artistry.
Balancing Roles and Responsibilities
Jackie also spoke candidly about the tension of balancing her roles as wife, mother of four, writer, and musician. She admitted that she could probably be a “better” artist if her focus wasn’t divided—but that isn’t her calling. God has given her responsibilities beyond music, and she embraces the humility of stewarding family and ministry first. Even the “scraps,” she said, can still be powerful when offered to God.
The Message of Blameless
At the heart of their talk was Jackie’s new album, Blameless. The project wrestles with the reality that, while believers strive for holiness, they often fall short. Still, the gospel assures that Christ presents His people blameless before God. Jackie described the album as both personal and theological, echoing the tension between human weakness and divine grace. Tracks like Antisocial and Shemi reflect her honesty about loneliness, contrition, and community while still offering beats and cadences that connect.
Staying Grounded in Faith
When asked about what grounds her as her platform grows, Jackie pointed to prayer as her essential discipline. While craft and study are important, she emphasized that prayer is what allows her creativity to flow in a way that honors God. She even prays for metaphors and cadences, fully believing the Holy Spirit inspires her artistry.
Her authenticity also comes from rejecting people-pleasing. Jackie acknowledged that it’s tempting to soften her honesty or worry about perception, but she views that as idolatry. Instead, she seeks to remain true to her convictions and let her work flow from intimacy with God.
A Word to the Next Generation
To young women wrestling with identity, Jackie offered this counsel: pursue God’s identity first, and your own will become clear. She encouraged listeners to guard their hearts, especially in the age of social media, and root their worth in Christ rather than online approval.
By the end of the episode, both Jackie and King Cyz reminded listeners of the importance of prayer—not just in music, but in all of life. Jackie’s voice was both convicting and freeing: a call to walk faithfully in your true calling, to resist comparison, and to give God glory in every gift.
This conversation wasn’t just an interview; it was a challenge to reflect on how obedience, authenticity, and prayer shape not only creativity but the very core of Christian living.
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Intro & Jackie’s welcome
1:30 – Finding her voice through poetry
3:20 – Growing up between two worlds
6:15 – Stepping away from music & obedience to God
8:10 – Balancing roles as wife, mother, and artist
9:45 – Signing with Reach Records & God’s timing
12:30 – Themes behind Blameless
15:00 – Identity, calling, and staying authentic
17:00 – The role of prayer in creativity
21:40 – Words of encouragement to young women
23:50 – Closing thoughts & call to prayer
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