We all know the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. Well after speaking with Pettidee I can also add that” what you see is not always what you get”. Pettidee is a holy hip hop artist that one would probably pass on the street with a negative conclusion in his mind, but get to know this young man, you can tell that the fire in his heart for God is real…here’s a taste.

How are you doing my brotha? It’s good to be speaking with you.

It’s good to be speaking with you as well. We’ve been doing some great things, God is truly moving.

What inspired the song “Choppin’ Blades”?

Well the bible says in Matthew “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven”, and a lot of rappers are just talking about their rims, blings and all that, and here in the south we call it choppin’ blades, but I always say that our lights are suppose to shine harder than some rims. When you listen to the lyrics of this song, you know that we’re coming through representing Christ. Our lifestyle chops harder than some blades.

You just returned from Africa, what part did you visit, and are the perceptions that we get here from the media what you experienced while you were there?

When they show a city, they only show the bad parts on the news, so when you think, ok, I’m going to that city; you are thinking that as soon as you get there, someone is going to snatch you out of your car. When I went there it was wonderful. Our first stop was Johannesburg, a very modern city and they were digging holy hip hop. We stayed there two days and then flew to Zambia. We did a finale concert in downtown Livingston, the first hip hop concert they ever had in the city Christian or otherwise, people just loved on us, it was wonderful! I think everybody should go visit before they leave this earth, God really moved over there.

You returned to the United States with better appreciation for Africa, am I correct?

Oh yeah, I came back with not only a thankful mindset, but one that says, Lord, I’m going to be on fire for you no matter what my circumstances are. A lot of people praise the Lord based on their bank accounts, not based on the air they breathe and the breath in their bodies, so I’m just thankful and is more on fire to represent for Christ.

How long have you been rapping?

Oooh boy! I might give away my age, but I’ve been doing it for over ten years. I got saved in 1993 and started rapping right after that. In 1994 I was on my first national compilation with Grape Tree Records on the “Heaven’s Hip Hop” compilation CD, and my first official album came out in 1999 called, “Still Alive” and this new album “Resurrections” is actually my fifth record.

What final words of encouragement can you give to the youths of today, some of whom have no guidance living on their own, and doing their own thing, not the ones in the church but the one in the world who may welcome the opportunity to hear about Christ?

The bible says that there’s death and life in the power of the tongue, and whatever you open up yourself to…you know, my pops used to say, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. Whatever you are around, that’s what you will attract to yourself. I just want them to know that Jesus love them and He died on the cross for their sins, he’ll never leave you nor forsake you. There are some people out here who have been abused, molested, your parents might be on drugs and you see no way out. I’m here to tell you that Jesus saved me. I was suicidal and tried to commit suicide twice. I was one of those kids who felt as if there was no hope for me. If you feel that there’s no hope for you, just put yourself into the hands of the Lord. You’re reading about somebody who had no hope, who put a gun in his mouth and tried to overdose on pills, but I’m telling you that if you put your life in the hands of Christ, He will turn it around. You are still going to face trials and tribulations, but I’d rather go through my trails and tribulations with god than to go through them without God. Let Him be the daddy that you never had and you’ll see your life tremendously change.

Note: Log on the En Sound Radio! for the 30 minute unedited interview with Pettidee this Thursday morning at 10:00AM, ET