Tasha Paige: Holy Hip Hop

Minyonne Natasha Paige, or Tasha as she’s known, views her life and her art as traveling from darkness to light. Born in 1973, in Bowling Green and raised on the streets between Bowling Green and Horse Cave, she describes her youth saying “Between the two small cities I beat up my first victim, smoked my first blunt and drank my first alcoholic beverage. I began a downward spiral for this world as I continued to learn the ropes of the world in the drug game.” Her journey lead her more deeply into a life a crime until her path was altered by her commitment to religion.

During that time, Tasha also was exposed to music. “I watched my family on a country block beat-boxing and free styling in my neighborhood, which sparked my love for this form of musical expression.” She began to write and freestyle. Using the persona “Lafemme Tragedy” she formed a duo called Double Dose and began pursing a career in the underground hip hop scene.

Double Dose consisted of Tasha Paige and Alvin Love. “We had free styled a lot together while I hung in the streets and sold dope and did drugs.” said Tasha, “One day we just decided to pursue the music thing more seriously. While I was young my best friend’s brother rapped and did beats so I always wanted to do it. At the age of about 10 I wrote my first corny rap and I have been writing ever since.

In 1998 the group Double Dose performed at a BET Talent Contest. Although we lost I had a taste of what I had been doing all along. I constantly rapped at the local clubs when they would open the mic or in the parking lots or at house parties.” Tasha thought, “This would be my year, I was headed for greatness… and self destruction.” At 22 she was dedicated to launching her music career, and even more dedicated to partying.

But as she questioned her lifestyle, she underwent a change, feeling drawn to a life of ministry. “God changed my life and He changed my tune.” she says. “No longer would I rap to the beat of the world but I’d speak to the word of truth to the heart beat of God.” The resulting project was her 2005 self-released, debut “At Last”.

“The things that I had planned for my life quite possibly would have landed me in jail or the grave but God stepped in.I am a Bible Instructor at Cottage Chapel SDA Church and I work in the communities to win back our children.”

The goal of her music, according to Tasha is to “create an atmosphere off the pages of God’s word that will embrace the young people and give them a positive view of God’s reality and make them free from those things that somehow incarcerate them emotionally, mentally and spiritually… This genre is not about money but about allowing God to be glorified in the music. If one soul is saved by the music God has given me then I have done what He has asked of me.”

“When I first got saved I did not rap openly because I felt as though it was not what I was supposed to do now,but I never stopped writing. In 2005 I met Pastor Andre Green and these young guys was free styling about drugs, money, sex, etc and I could not hold back and began free styling about God. Needless to say God showed up and Pastor Green said ‘you need to be heard’… and here I am. My only request from God was that the music change the lives of His people and I sold 500 plus copies myself doing shows at local churches in Louisville, KY.”

Her favorite line is from her song It’s Time To Wake Up, “Life comes down to this one decision either you are with Christ or you are against Him, walk the way He leads or walk with Him no more”. The entire song can be heard in the Amplifier’s online jukebox.

Tasha’s music fits within a genre referred to as Holy Hip Hop, Christian Rap or Gospel Rap. “Gospel Rap is not some watered down version to rap but rather the true art of how it was designed to be done by giving God the glory.” according to Tasha. “Rap is the art form that speaks to most of our teens up and coming. The world around us is influenced by the Hip Hop Culture.”

As her style evolves, her lyrics continue to deal with the topics that “young people and even adults are struggling with to maintain their relationships with God.” according to Tasha.

Her myspace page at www.myspace.com/handpickedbygod contains a slideshow entitled Our Only Hope: Lord Save Our children. It contains images of young people and their influences, including gang grafitti, demonic and violent tattoo art, drug use and criminal activity. It ends with pictures of Tasha preaching and a call for spiritual rebirth.

In the years since her commitment to the ministry Tasha has become a motivational speaker and bible instructor. Tasha says this process includes “Going door to door in communities from Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida leading souls to Christ.” as well as doing spotlights for the Kentucky/Middle Tennessee Youth Federations, speaking at events and delivering sermons. She lives by the motto her pastor told her years ago “If the devil hits you, hit that rascal back with the fist of Jesus”

For booking information contact email Tasha Paige at tpatlast@yahoo.com. Look for two releases from Tasha Paige in 2008: No Child Left Behind, due out this summer and Husslin For Souls slated for a fall release.

Kim Mason is the Content Manager of the Amplifier which was founded by her in 1995. She serves as Executive Director for the BG International Festival and designs websites. www.kimmason.ky.net