Cellus Hamilton: Christian Rapper and Author

Cellus Hamilton is an author and Christian rapper who was born and raised in the great city of Atlanta, GA who now resides in New York City where most of his music was made. Some of his top hits include Choices, Same War, Good Friday, Strength of My Heart, and so many more. Cellus spoke on episode 24 of our Catch The Moment podcast discussing his musical journey, Christian background, and future plans. 

At the early age of 8 years old, Cellus started making music. He was born into a musical family and spent a lot of his young years inspired by both his mother and father. His mom was a rapper who toured and would practice performances in their living room, and his dad sang in the music choir. It was no surprise he developed a passion for the craft of music just like them. 

With the love of rap came the culture of hip-hop and what’s often associated with that culture, and Cellus felt that struggle. “Rap was always my pass, I was always able to walk into certain spaces because I could rap. I grew up in a Christian home, but I always tried to be street. I had a dad at the crib…he was present, he was telling me…how to be a man and was raising me right, but I was attracted to…foolishness around,” Cellus explained to me. 

After graduating high school, Cellus attended Howard University where he was ultimately declined the ability to finish his senior year due to tuition bills out of his control. The devastation on his part was an understatement, but he kept himself busy with a variety of jobs. “I was doing a lot of things but I didn’t feel like I was walking in my purpose, and I always knew music was what I was called to do.” With a little help from his father, it soon became clear what his next step would be…

“You’ll have the rest of your life to work…but right now you don’t have a wife and a family, this is the chance where you can take a risk and if you don’t eat for a few days it’s only you not eating…you got a chance and an opportunity to trust God because in other seasons where you have responsibilities, you won’t have this freedom to just take risks” - Cellus Hamilton, quoting his father. 

At age 22, Cellus moved to New York to pursue his music career. He started rapping on trains for some extra cash and handing out business cards. Eventually, he established himself in the rap scene and began getting noticed. Cellus was able to separate the negative culture that hip-hop sometimes brings on rappers and really apply his own approach to the art with his religious beliefs. 

After working with some prominent artists and producing some amazing work, Cellus is now at a point in his life where he’s “actually not focused on trying to prove that I think I’m the best” and is at a new season in his life where is he pursuing ministry at a church. His life is currently centered around prioritizing his family and worshipping the lord, and he plans to figure out how music can be incorporated into this new journey. 

Click here to check out our podcast episode with Cellus Hamilton.