7up w/ Ason
The Gospel Guru caught up with Gospel rapper Ason for a 7up session. Ason (a.k.a. Bigsonny) is a rapper and youth speaker with pronounced song writing talent, skillful delivery, and a gift for including uplifting messages through lyrically profound holy hip-hop. Ason has shared the stage with artists such as Ciara, Mary Mary, Fred Hammond,Israel Houghton, Nicole C. Mullen, Cross Movement, andDa’ T.R.U.T.H. just to name a few.
The Washington, DC native’s first three albums sold over 42,000 units and digital downloads, gaining profound success in the fast growing holy hip-hop underground world. Tuesday, November 8th Ason released his frst major label debut album “The Future is Now.” Below you can listen to the lead single from the album “Lay Them Down.” Sit back, relax, and get a bit of 7up with Ason.
1. Describe Ason in three words. Focused, committed, visionary.
2. Why do you feel you’re necessary for Christian hip hop?My purpose is to find a way to bridge gospel hip hop into mainstream. A lot of gospel rappers think that it’ll happen just from talent, and that talent/gift will cause the world to listen. That very well may be, but I think its gonna happen from some other strategies as well. We have to find subject matters and lyrics to present the gospel in a way that more people can receive it. If I can do that and have some more exposure I can open the door for more rappers to come behind and follow that model.
3. What can we expect from your album, and where do your inspiration come from? The project is very professional, it took me three years to put it together because I paid top dollar for marketing production, engineering, and guest appearances. So you can expect that good quality. A lot of the songs are catchy good melodies, it’s a lot of singing on the hooks; very melodic.
4. What are some challenges you’ve faced being a new artist? Just getting exposure, and going through the necessary process that every new artist has to go through.
5. Who are some artists that you look up to, and why? I was raised on Kirk Franklin, he took a lot of heat for blazing the trail; he’s my hero. I think his successor is Mali Music, he’s doing the same thing! He’s definitely somebody else I look up to and i’m watching. I want to do what he’s doing with my music.
6. Who are some artists that you would like to collaborate with in the future? Mali Music, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Deitrick Haddon, Kirk Franklin, and maybe some secular artists as well.
7. How do you define success? The real answer is doing whatever God’s plan for you is and him saying well done, that’s real success.
