Vincere
Growing up in New York City, sharing a small apartment with his parents and younger sister, the tale of Vinny Vincere's childhood is closely aligned with a majority of his fellow rap artists. What separates Vinny as a lyricist is than manner in which draws upon that common experience. Rather than glorifying or dwelling upon the struggles he's faced, his background serves as a contrast to the triumphs and joy he attributes to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Son of a Puerto Rican mother and Panamanian father, Vinny, like most Latino children, grew up in a spiritual background where church and bible were staples, like food and electricity. In turn, like most youth, his free spirited nature was in direct conflict with the restrictions that come with adherence to faith. Instead, he was enamored with hip hop culture and albums like The Blueprint and Stillmatic were gospel. At 16, exposure to rap battles piqued his curiosity and produced the singular thought that would serve as the seed for his art; I can do that. He's the first to acknowledge that he got off to a rocky start, but time afforded him his greatest assets; experience and introspection.
His relocation to Miami as a teen may have provided a change in scenery, but not an escape from temptation. After graduating high school, it wasn't long before Vinny navigated his way towards a life of crime, tossing his music and his moral compass into the wake. Unconcerned with his well-being or the consequences of his actions, falling deeper down the rabbit hole, Vinny spent the better part of the next decade in and out of the legal system.
At the age of 26, Vinny's path of self destruction was finally brought to an abrupt halt by a direct line of sight down the barrel of a gun. With no other explanation for how he survived that night, he knew he'd found salvation through the grace of God. Finally accepting a long standing invitation to bible study, he was completely transformed by a conversation with a complete stranger. There was no doubt in his mind that the Lord was using this brother to speak directly to him.
Along with a shot at redemption and the rebirth of his soul, faith has also afforded Vinny a new sense of self as an artist. Blessed with the ability to project his thoughts, feelings and beliefs through spoken word, music is the perfect conduit through which he can spread the good news. The opportunity to combine his two greatest passions, ministry and rap, serve as nothing less than validating Jesus Christ’s bona fides as a true miracle worker. For proper context, the scripture speaks not only to Vincere’s mission but to his calling. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth.” Acts 1:8
Son of a Puerto Rican mother and Panamanian father, Vinny, like most Latino children, grew up in a spiritual background where church and bible were staples, like food and electricity. In turn, like most youth, his free spirited nature was in direct conflict with the restrictions that come with adherence to faith. Instead, he was enamored with hip hop culture and albums like The Blueprint and Stillmatic were gospel. At 16, exposure to rap battles piqued his curiosity and produced the singular thought that would serve as the seed for his art; I can do that. He's the first to acknowledge that he got off to a rocky start, but time afforded him his greatest assets; experience and introspection.
His relocation to Miami as a teen may have provided a change in scenery, but not an escape from temptation. After graduating high school, it wasn't long before Vinny navigated his way towards a life of crime, tossing his music and his moral compass into the wake. Unconcerned with his well-being or the consequences of his actions, falling deeper down the rabbit hole, Vinny spent the better part of the next decade in and out of the legal system.
At the age of 26, Vinny's path of self destruction was finally brought to an abrupt halt by a direct line of sight down the barrel of a gun. With no other explanation for how he survived that night, he knew he'd found salvation through the grace of God. Finally accepting a long standing invitation to bible study, he was completely transformed by a conversation with a complete stranger. There was no doubt in his mind that the Lord was using this brother to speak directly to him.
Along with a shot at redemption and the rebirth of his soul, faith has also afforded Vinny a new sense of self as an artist. Blessed with the ability to project his thoughts, feelings and beliefs through spoken word, music is the perfect conduit through which he can spread the good news. The opportunity to combine his two greatest passions, ministry and rap, serve as nothing less than validating Jesus Christ’s bona fides as a true miracle worker. For proper context, the scripture speaks not only to Vincere’s mission but to his calling. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth.” Acts 1:8
