Sho Baraka, a rapper and creative, came out of a Christian music scene that felt safe at best and restrictive at worst.

Sho felt an ever-present evangelical gaze looking over his shoulder, critiquing him and his work. Eventually, Sho decided it wasn’t worth the cost—of his creativity, of his hopes, of himself. But the more Sho poured himself into his work, the more he disrupted his career. His music became too controversial for Christian retail outlets and youth groups playlists.

In an attempt to evade the evangelical edit, Sho took on the responsibilities of a traditional record label himself. While personal branding and creative salesmanship may be problematic at times, for Sho, it was the natural, and only, next step.

Anyone can be a revolutionary, but you still gotta pay your bills.

Visit Sho Baraka’s website at www.barakaology.com. Follow him on Twitter: @AmIshoBaraka.

The Disrupters is produced by CT Creative Studio in partnership with InterVarsity Press. 

The Disrupters is hosted by Esau McCaulley. Visit his website at esaumccaulley.com. Follow him on Twitter: @esaumccaulley.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands