Lynwood Norris, known as Echelon Knoxx, strives to be a relatable gospel rap artist by combining his beliefs with personal experiences. Previously a secular rapper who went by the name Sonny Knoxx, Norris originally wrote to reflect his life on the streets in Washington, D.C. He didn’t take rapping seriously until after a close friend got him involved in the church. Norris made a spiritual and artistic conversion and in early 2014 signed to the independent outlet Dreams N Reach. By the end of the year, he had released his debut, Book of Knoxx. A sequel, released in 2015, featured “Concrete Roses,” a narrative regarding a woman’s perseverance that was played on D.C. “urban gospel” station WPRS. Gold, a seven-track EP, followed in early 2016.