In this reimagined episode of The Projection, we revisit a conversation originally hosted by @medialpoint, a bold curator and voice within the alternative Christian hip-hop space. With his blessing, we’ve brought it into the fold to highlight a dialogue that felt too vital to try to repeat.

This time, it’s IT DEPT—the duo of Isaiah Velez & Timmy Arisa—at the table. What unfolds is more than just a breakdown of the 2024 EP. It’s a living postmortem on creative conviction, process fatigue, and the sacred collision of faith and art.

Together, we talk inspiration, artistic discipline, the burden of expectation, and offer some candid reflections on the state of Christian hip-hop, or maybe being a "Christian" as a whole—especially for those of us on the margins. If you’ve ever made something that felt too raw, too genre-less, or too honest for the machine, this one’s for you.

In the debut episode of The Projection, Isaiah Velez sits down with friends and co-creatives Jon Bernal (BERN!) and Broderick Perkins (Brodi Phoenix) to unravel the raw, reverent, and rebellious heart behind their self-titled EP, unprofessional christians. What started as a one-off song turned into a cathartic outpouring—challenging labels, confronting church hurt, and wrestling publicly with faith.

This episode is equal parts testimony and tension. They talk about making art that doesn’t fit in Christian or secular boxes, the danger of performance in both pulpits and platforms, and why holiness doesn’t have to wear a collar. This isn’t a safe conversation, but it is an honest one.