Born Mark Julian Felder on July 21, 1983 in Los Angeles, California – Bizzle is a prominent Christian Hip-Hop artist now operating in Houston, Texas and the founder and leader of God Over Money Records.

Growing up under Section 8 welfare in the infamously rough LA neighborhood of Compton, Bizzle turned to rap from a young age, being inspired by the likes of Tupac. By the mid-2000s, he became big enough to open up for acts like Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana, and Boosie Badazz, under his former rapper name Lavyss, all the while releasing mixtape after mixtape and becoming a pimp on the side.

But in around 2008, after meeting his prostitute’s brother— a church drummer—he slowly but surely converted to Christianity and not long after, God Over Money Records was created, and he rebranded as a gospel rapper. Since 2011, Bizzle has released 5 solo albums, 1 collaboration album, and 6 mixtapes under his label.

Bizzle also has been a subject of controversy when he released his remix of Macklemore’s pro-gay rights hit song “Same Love”, in 2014, critiquing the media’s promotion of homosexuality, as well as adding a biblical view to the conversation.

NOTE: Bizzle did an interview with Christian site MYSTEP where he goes in more depth about his life story conversion. You can click here to view the 11-minute video for yourself.