Growing up on the South Side of Chicago is no easy feat for a young Black boy, but neither is growing up a preacher’s kid.

Meet music newcomer Sir The Baptist, a 28-year-old artist who’s inspiring youth to become their best selves through music and morality.

While promoting phrases like “take your ass to church” may prompt deacons and bishops within the religious community to reach for their holy water, Sir The Baptist maintains his messaging is most effective when attempting to effect change and promote positivity within a millennial space.

“I realized that I could blend the two [genres] if I was honest,” Sir explained. “I had to make sure I had a piece of spirituality that connected to people, but also a piece of realism that keeps us current in our ideologies.”

With artists like Kanye West, Chance The Rapper, and Lecrae actively incorporating and blending gospel and religion in a secular genre like hip-hop, Sir’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.

We met up with the Bronzeville native outside Second Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem, New York to discuss his movement as an “urban preacher,” as well as his responsibility to exhibit what an “urban preacher” actually looks like.

Sir The Baptist also discussed becoming an ordained minister, taboo happenings in the church – including groupies – and working with Chicago’s shining star, Chance The Rapper.

Sir The Baptist’s debut project Preacher’s Kid is due out later on this month. In the meantime, watch our exclusive interview up top.

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