Stephen tha Apostle (formerly known as Lil’ Steviee) ARTIST BIO
GOD TRANSFORMS MESSES INTO MASTERPIECES
Stephen tha Apostle - Artist Bio
“God’s gift of music has always provided comfort and peace to me. Now, I offer that healing message to others via my music and muses.” – Stephen tha Apostle
Singer-songwriter Stephen blends modern hip-hop, rap, and a touch of R&B to share stories which deliver meaningful messages via his music. Stephen tha Apostle knows all too well about the trials and tribulations of life. Today, Stephen has learned to turn negatives into positives after realizing Christ’s Love and Grace for him. Through his creative talents, Stephen is on a mission to show others how God can transform their messes into masterpieces.
Stephen’s music is a rare meld of genres, often encompassing a teachable twist from the Gospel. “It’s no secret that my music is a weapon against evil,” he offers. He sees his art as a way to speak to the fans of rap or hip-hop in such a way that they will get into the music, discovering its meaning on their own - “When they’re ready for it,” Stephen states.
Stephen explains the roots of his artistic evolution, “Dealing with such incredible pain in childhood; I began my journey to find a deeper fulfillment in my life.” He began composing songs at the tender age of ten, allowing his imagination run free. Stephen used boxes and wood pieces as instruments, recording his compositions onto cassettes. Around the age of thirteen, he discovered poetry. By the time he was sixteen, Stephen was transforming his poetic lyrics and melodies into music.
Harnessing his vocal talents and songwriting abilities, Stephen successfully blends modern hip-hop with strong Gospel messages. Inherent in his music is the fact that Stephen believes music crosses nations, ethnicities, and is the only universal language. “Music can bring together God’s message of salvation, love, and conquer the problems rampant in today’s world. As a teenager, Stephen made many bad choices, finding himself at rock bottom with no other way to go, he reached out for the Lord's hand. “I realized that the door is always open to finding the path back home to God,” he explains.
Early on, Stephen tha Apostle artistic evolution relied on support from his family, “They helped me on my journey both emotionally and financially,” he affirms. Also, his father instilled morals and ethics using songs as teaching tools. Stephen recalls, “My dad played tunes by the O’Jays, Sam Cook, and Betty Wright repeatedly. He felt I needed to hear the meaning of them.” Stephen's artistic eclecticism emanates from influential artists that span genres as well as decades. He comments, “I was into everything, Willie Nelson and Diana Ross, and even The Temptations and Garth Brooks. Later, I got into Diamond Rio, Lisa Lopes (Left Eye), and Andy Mineo.”
Over the years, Stephen has completed five full-length CDs. The Journal, his debut offering, was released in 2005. It contained a theme of humble beginnings, religious guidance, and Divine intervention. In 2011, Stephen completed His Love Conquers All, a series of songs which feature love versus sin - overcome by God’s Love. After a break, in 2013, Stephen began his latest project, a trilogy of albums entitled Broken (The Series.) This first entry of the three-part-project focused on the resiliency of love. Stephen explains his creative goal with Broken (The Series,) "It is through our brokenness that we find true love if we let it come in, faith restores fractured lives."
In 2015, Broken Part Two (Therapy) exemplified how one can learn from their mistakes, ascertaining knowledge on how to develop self-acceptance. Finally, in 2016, Broken Part Three (The Final Chapter) was released. The goal of this final addition to the trilogy was to focus on the phoenix rising from the ashes and the birth of a new beginning. Taken together, broken (The Series,) is a three-step spiritual awakening, as faith reassembles life’s broken pieces. Arthur Bradley Jr., Kyle Graham, Nick Ignoffo, and Mark Ignoffo helped produce the music tracks on the three albums. The talents of Danielle Harris, Pepé, and Messenger resound throughout the set.
2018, Stephen tha Apostle also released the album Purified, which talks about how God walked him through the trials of his past. Stephen’s release also, sets the stage for someone who is new in the faith that can relate to beginning a new life as a Christian. A new “rebirth within his heart and receiving a whole new perspective on life and God, penned itself through this project”, explains Stephen.
Stephen tha Apostle former accolades include participating in the Exalting Him National Talent Search, which broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Also, Stephen has worked extensively with Youth Explosion for Christ an organization based in Deltona, Florida. Stephen tha Apostle has a rare gift among hip-hop and rap-based artists. He can take passages from the Bible and transpose them into messages that reach out to everyone who takes the time to listen. Through his inspirations, he has helped many people turn their life from the negative to the positive, and from bad choices into good. “I want the listener to reach out from the darkness to grasp the very hand of God’s love and healing light,” he states. After all, Stephen tha Apostle has first-hand experience how God can transform messes into masterpieces.
GOD TRANSFORMS MESSES INTO MASTERPIECES
Stephen tha Apostle - Artist Bio
“God’s gift of music has always provided comfort and peace to me. Now, I offer that healing message to others via my music and muses.” – Stephen tha Apostle
Singer-songwriter Stephen blends modern hip-hop, rap, and a touch of R&B to share stories which deliver meaningful messages via his music. Stephen tha Apostle knows all too well about the trials and tribulations of life. Today, Stephen has learned to turn negatives into positives after realizing Christ’s Love and Grace for him. Through his creative talents, Stephen is on a mission to show others how God can transform their messes into masterpieces.
Stephen’s music is a rare meld of genres, often encompassing a teachable twist from the Gospel. “It’s no secret that my music is a weapon against evil,” he offers. He sees his art as a way to speak to the fans of rap or hip-hop in such a way that they will get into the music, discovering its meaning on their own - “When they’re ready for it,” Stephen states.
Stephen explains the roots of his artistic evolution, “Dealing with such incredible pain in childhood; I began my journey to find a deeper fulfillment in my life.” He began composing songs at the tender age of ten, allowing his imagination run free. Stephen used boxes and wood pieces as instruments, recording his compositions onto cassettes. Around the age of thirteen, he discovered poetry. By the time he was sixteen, Stephen was transforming his poetic lyrics and melodies into music.
Harnessing his vocal talents and songwriting abilities, Stephen successfully blends modern hip-hop with strong Gospel messages. Inherent in his music is the fact that Stephen believes music crosses nations, ethnicities, and is the only universal language. “Music can bring together God’s message of salvation, love, and conquer the problems rampant in today’s world. As a teenager, Stephen made many bad choices, finding himself at rock bottom with no other way to go, he reached out for the Lord's hand. “I realized that the door is always open to finding the path back home to God,” he explains.
Early on, Stephen tha Apostle artistic evolution relied on support from his family, “They helped me on my journey both emotionally and financially,” he affirms. Also, his father instilled morals and ethics using songs as teaching tools. Stephen recalls, “My dad played tunes by the O’Jays, Sam Cook, and Betty Wright repeatedly. He felt I needed to hear the meaning of them.” Stephen's artistic eclecticism emanates from influential artists that span genres as well as decades. He comments, “I was into everything, Willie Nelson and Diana Ross, and even The Temptations and Garth Brooks. Later, I got into Diamond Rio, Lisa Lopes (Left Eye), and Andy Mineo.”
Over the years, Stephen has completed five full-length CDs. The Journal, his debut offering, was released in 2005. It contained a theme of humble beginnings, religious guidance, and Divine intervention. In 2011, Stephen completed His Love Conquers All, a series of songs which feature love versus sin - overcome by God’s Love. After a break, in 2013, Stephen began his latest project, a trilogy of albums entitled Broken (The Series.) This first entry of the three-part-project focused on the resiliency of love. Stephen explains his creative goal with Broken (The Series,) "It is through our brokenness that we find true love if we let it come in, faith restores fractured lives."
In 2015, Broken Part Two (Therapy) exemplified how one can learn from their mistakes, ascertaining knowledge on how to develop self-acceptance. Finally, in 2016, Broken Part Three (The Final Chapter) was released. The goal of this final addition to the trilogy was to focus on the phoenix rising from the ashes and the birth of a new beginning. Taken together, broken (The Series,) is a three-step spiritual awakening, as faith reassembles life’s broken pieces. Arthur Bradley Jr., Kyle Graham, Nick Ignoffo, and Mark Ignoffo helped produce the music tracks on the three albums. The talents of Danielle Harris, Pepé, and Messenger resound throughout the set.
2018, Stephen tha Apostle also released the album Purified, which talks about how God walked him through the trials of his past. Stephen’s release also, sets the stage for someone who is new in the faith that can relate to beginning a new life as a Christian. A new “rebirth within his heart and receiving a whole new perspective on life and God, penned itself through this project”, explains Stephen.
Stephen tha Apostle former accolades include participating in the Exalting Him National Talent Search, which broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Also, Stephen has worked extensively with Youth Explosion for Christ an organization based in Deltona, Florida. Stephen tha Apostle has a rare gift among hip-hop and rap-based artists. He can take passages from the Bible and transpose them into messages that reach out to everyone who takes the time to listen. Through his inspirations, he has helped many people turn their life from the negative to the positive, and from bad choices into good. “I want the listener to reach out from the darkness to grasp the very hand of God’s love and healing light,” he states. After all, Stephen tha Apostle has first-hand experience how God can transform messes into masterpieces.
