Amisho Baraka Lewis (born January 10, 1979), better known by his stage name Sho Baraka, is an American

Christian hip-hop Christian hip hop (originally gospel rap, also known as Christian rap, gospel hip hop or holy hip hop) is a subgenre of contemporary Christian music and hip hop music. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United St ...

artist and writer who has recorded both independently and as a founding member of the

116 Clique The 116, formerly 116 Clique (pronounced one-one-six click), is an American Southern Christian hip hop collective originally from Dallas, Texas signed to the Atlanta-based Reach Records. The group performs a wide variety of contemporary hip hop ...

. He was originally signed to

Reach Records Reach Records is an American independent record label specializing in Christian hip hop. The label was founded in 2004 by Ben Washer and the hip-hop artist Lecrae. In addition to Lecrae, the Reach Records roster contains artists like Tedashii, ...

until leaving in March 2011. He then co-founded a record label and group known as "High Society" with fellow Christian rappers JR,

Swoope Lawrence Allen Swoope II, mononymously-known as Swoope, (born April 2, 1986) is an American hip hop Christian singer-songwriter and producer born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He was a member of the rap collective W.L.A.K. and High Society wit ...

, and

Suzy Rock Natalie Lauren Sims (born June 25, 1984), also known by her stage name Natalie Lauren and former stage name Suzy Rock, is a musician, songwriter, graphic designer and visual artist, writer, and music executive from Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a solo a ...

. His debut album '' Turn My Life Up'' was released in November 2007. His second album ''Lions and Liars'', was released March 2010. His third album '' Talented Xth'' was released in January 2013. His fourth album, ''The Narrative,'' was released in October 2016.

Biography

Sho Baraka was born Amisho Baraka Lewis in

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, Canada on January 10, 1979. Sho was introduced to hip hop at a young age. He was raised in Southern California during the height of

gangsta rap Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, emerged in the mid- to late 1980s as a controversial hip-hop subgenre whose lyrics assert the culture and values typical of American street gangs and street hustlers. Many gangsta rappe ...

which inspired Sho and some friends from his neighborhood in high school, formed a rap group that began touring with major recording artists. The rap group soon ended and many of Sho's close friends were killed or incarcerated. He decided to follow his father's advice and attend college, getting accepted into

Tuskegee University Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU), formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute, is a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama. It was founded on Independence Day in 1881 by the state legislature. The campus was d ...

. There he came into contact with

Lecrae Lecrae Devaughn Moore (born October 9, 1979), mononymously known as Lecrae, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the ind ...

and

Tedashii Tedashii Lavoy Anderson (born March 8, 1977), known simply as Tedashii, is an American Christian hip hop artist and member of the hip-hop troupe, 116 Clique. He also hosted the NGEN Radio show "Serium". Tedashii has released five solo albums, ...

and eventually the

and

were formed. While attending Tuskegee, Sho converted to Christianity.

Leaving Reach Records and new website

On April 13, 2011,

Rapzilla Rapzilla is a Christian hip hop online magazine. The website contains many sections such as latest news, album reviews, articles, interviews, music downloads, videos, release dates, and columns. Rapzilla is known for its up-to-date news. The we ...

posted a blog from Sho stating that he planned to leave Reach Records after four years and two albums with the label. Although he is leaving the Reach label, Sho said he would continue to be an artist with Reach booking and continue to do concert dates and events with the label through 2011. He would also be featured on Reach projects released through the year. Sho is now a part of the music & art group High Society with

, J.R., & Suzy Rock. Lewis announced that he would release a new album, ''Talented Xth'', on January 1, 2013. On June 14, 2016, he signed with Christian hip-hop label, Humble Beast.

Cameos

Sho can be spotted as

Trip Lee William Lee Barefield III (born December 17, 1987), better known by his stage name Trip Lee, is an American Christian rapper and singer. Signed to Reach Records, he has recorded both as a solo artist and as a founding member of the 116 Clique. ...

's fictional boss in the video for Lee's song ''The Invasion (hero)'' off the album ''Between Two Worlds''. Sho was in the music video for

's lead single, "Don't Waste Your Life" from his 2008 album, ''

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

'', as a former gang member of Lecrae's who escaped arrest years before. Lecrae portrayed a converted Christian, writing to Sho's character about how God had changed his life.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

* "Word" (featuring Charisse Beaumont) * "We Can Be More" (featuring J.R.) * "Maranatha" * "Their Eyes Were Watching" * "After the Funeral" * "Real Ones Winning" (featuring Avila)

Guest appearances

*"WLAK" (

featuring

Alex Faith Alex Faith (born December 27, 1989) is an American hip hop singer-songwriter born and raised between the Cabbagetown enclave of Atlanta, Georgia and Riverdale, just south of Atlanta, GA. He was formerly a member of the rap collective W.L.A. ...

Christon Gray Christon Michael Gray (born July 18, 1986), is an American R&B singer and rapper born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He calls his music "about being human". It is this approach that has allowed him a successful transition from Christian music to ...

) *"The Church" (

) *"In Ya Hood (Cypha Remix)" (

featuring

, Thi'sl & Json) *"It's Your World" (Lecrae featuring Redeemed Thought) *"His Love Won't Let You Down" (Dillon Chase featuring Keynon Akers) *"Back Up" (Cam featuring Tedashii) *"Come Close" (Trip Lee featuring

FLAME A flame (from Latin ''flamma'') is the visible, gaseous part of a fire. It is caused by a highly exothermic chemical reaction taking place in a thin zone. When flames are hot enough to have ionized gaseous components of sufficient density they ...

) *"Live Free" (Lecrae featuring Jai) *"Glorious" (DJ Morphiziz) *"Community" (Tedashii featuring Stephen the Levite) *"Eyes Open (Remix)" (DJ Official featuring Trip Lee) *"Chaos" (DJ Official) *"No No No" (R-Swift featuring Jahaziel & Monty G) *"Feel So Alone" (Benjah featuring Conviction & Ms. Lulu) *"Back To School" (S.O.) *"I Love Music" (Trip Lee) *"High" (Lecrae featuring

) *"Fools Gold" (

Andy Mineo Andrew Aaron Mineo (born April 17, 1988), is an American Christian hip hop artist, producer, music executive, and video director based in New York City. He is signed to Reach Records and his creative initiative Miner League. In addition to ...

featuring Sho Baraka and Swoope) *"This is the Life" (Tedashii featuring L2) *"Brilliant Realness" (theBREAX) *"Don't Mean Much" ( KB featuring Mitch Parks from

After Edmund After Edmund was an art rock band from LaGrange, Georgia. Band history The members of After Edmund formed as a band in 2001, originally under the name ''Taken''.

) *"Power Trip" (Lecrae featuring

PRo Pro is an abbreviation meaning "professional". Pro, PRO or variants thereof may also refer to: People * Miguel Pro (1891–1927), Mexican priest * Pro Hart (1928–2006), Australian painter * Mlungisi Mdluli (born 1980), South African retired f ...

and Andy Mineo) *"Cynical" (

Propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...

featuring

Aaron Marsh Aaron Marsh is an American musician and record producer from Lakeland, Florida. He first gained prominence as the lead singer, guitarist and pianist for the Florida-based indie rock band Copeland, who formed in 2000. Marsh has since gone on t ...

)

With the 116 Clique

* ''116 Clique: The Compilation Album'' (2005) * ''116 Clique: The Compilation Album: Special Edition: Chopped & Screwed'' By DJ Primo (2006) * ''13 Letters'' (2007) * ''

Amped Amped may refer to: *''Amped'' video games series: **''Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding'' **''Amped 2'' **''Amped 3'' *Amped (116 Clique EP), ''Amped'' (116 Clique EP) *Amped (Seven Witches album), ''Amped'' (Seven Witches album), 2005 *Amped (Those ...

'' (2007) * ''Man up'' (2011)

With High Society

* ''Circa MMXI: The Collective'' (2012)

With JAMM as Hello Revolution

* ''Protest Package 1'' EP (2012)

Mixtapes

* ''Barakaology'' (2009; free download) * ''We Can Be More Remixes'' mixtape (2010)

Filmography

Videography

*2006 – 116 Clique – "116 Clique Video"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baraka, Sho 1979 births Living people African-American rappers African-American Christians American evangelicals Canadian emigrants to the United States African-American poets West Coast hip hop musicians Cross Movement Records American performers of Christian hip hop music Reach Records artists 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American poets Tuskegee University alumni 21st-century African-American writers 20th-century African-American people

Biography

Leaving Reach Records and new website

Cameos

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Guest appearances

With the 116 Clique

With High Society

With JAMM as Hello Revolution

Mixtapes

Filmography

Videography

See also

References