SO IAM’s journey began in a faith-centered home, where profound spiritual experiences from a young age, including a prophetic calling in his teens, laid an undeniable foundation for his life. This deep spiritual grounding developed into a life where he hears directly from God through dreams, visions, and daily communication, directly shaping his unique artistic voice and purpose. Taking the name SO IAM, reflecting his identity as a “Son of I AM” and a divine commission, his music—energetic, joyful Christian rap aimed at every soul—is anchored in a mission to extend the Kingdom’s reach and broadcast God’s all-encompassing love.

Yet, like the prodigal son, SO IAM eventually drifted from his calling, slipping into a carefree and reckless lifestyle. He started recording raps in his dorm room during his freshman year at Arizona State University—at the height of its notorious party reputation—and quickly became fully immersed in the scene, using rap as an outlet. After a torn ACL shifted his focus, he turned to rap more seriously, eventually dropping out of college to pursue music full-time. SO IAM then became a fixture in Arizona’s underground hip-hop scene as both a rapper and producer, releasing independent projects, producing for Knoc-turn’al (Mathmadix), and opening for hip-hop legends Camp Lo. During this period, his music, including albums like Go F.I.S.H., Southern Fried, Egyptian Owl Style EP, Hunga n Starvacion, and Arizjuana, reflected his lifestyle, often celebrating party culture with humor and even satirizing contemporary R&B trends in rap. Just before his return to faith, his 2007 collaboration with Scary Kids Scaring Kids on their cover of “Notorious Thugs” for the Punk Goes Crunk album (which charted at #86 on the Billboard 200) earned significant recognition, with the track now boasting over 1.1 million streams.

In 2008, after years defined by the reckless lifestyle he’d embraced, God brought SO IAM back to his faith, reigniting the childhood calling he had strayed from. He embraced this renewed purpose with vigor, releasing his first CHH album, 357, followed by S.O.I.A.M.. During this time, he became known for his off-the-top freestyle ability and unique cadence in local cyphers, with his work gaining recognition, including his single being named “Track of the Week” by DJ Cut Creator. By 2010, SO IAM reluctantly stepped away from rapping, seeking stability through finishing his degree and corporate life. However, his creative drive didn’t cease; he continued producing, landing a placement on MTV’s Buckwild and tracks featuring artists like Glasses Malone, Murkemz, and Crip Mac. Despite his hiatus from rapping, he refined his production and engineering skills, unknowingly setting the stage for his full return.

Now, SO IAM steps back into the light as a “prodigal prophet,” bringing a focused and divinely-inspired artistic vision to his current work. His commitment to sharing his testimony of redemption and God’s unwavering grace has recently resonated through releases like “Last Friday” (over 15,000 streams), the themes of which were explored in an interview with Trackstarz. Subsequently, the song’s remix (adding ~4,500 streams), submitted through Trackstarz’s song submission service, was notably selected as one of Rapzilla’s “Submissions of the Week.” While such tracks powerfully convey his journey, his core artistic expression now truly unfolds in his self-produced EP, The Call. This project defines his signature sound: a blend of his distinct distorted sound with sample-driven, hard-hitting uptempo beats and strong melodies, influenced by the likes of Neptunes, Timbaland, and Bad Boy production.

Leading the charge from The Call is the highly anticipated single “Shine.” This uptempo, melodic track, inspired by Timbaland, is ingeniously driven by a sample from the Bollywood classic ‘Mohra’ (“Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast”). More than just a captivating beat, “Shine” carries a potent message about pressing through hardship and obstacles, encouraging listeners to embrace their God-given calling and let their own lights shine brightly. With its accompanying video and content planned as a vibrant tribute to ‘Mohra’ and its iconic dance scene, “Shine” is poised to make a significant impact. It is through this music, born from his journey and calling, that SO IAM fulfills his urgent mission to wake a spiritually sleeping generation, create art of enduring spiritual value, and tell the world it’s time to answer the Lord’s call.