Repping J-City (Jos) on the Praiseworld Bars comes S.E.R.M.O.N with a unique flow containing 16 bars about Jesus. This version reminds us of the diversity that the Praiseworld bars projects. Let’s know what you think of this?
Praiseworld Bars is a hip hop initiative hosted by Praiseworld Radio. The theme for this season is “JESUS”. Each participating rapper is expected to jump on the same beat, with lyrics about the theme (JESUS) in 16bars ONLY.
LET’S MEET S.E.R.M.O.N
S.E.R.M.O.N is an acronym for: Spiritually Energized Rap Music Outreaching Nations. A music lover with a passion for reppin’ Christ to the fullest, S.E.R.M.O.N (real name, Ayo Lawal) is a recording artiste who has been around for quite a while. He started recording as far back as 1996 in Kaduna, shortly after his life-changing spiritual rebirth experience.
“Light in the Midst of the Darkness”, was his first demo recording and production. It was a two-verse jam about the supremacy of Christ’s light over Satan’s darkness rendered in a style similar to Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony’s Midwestern quick flow. Shortly after this He had to leave for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1997, to begin an undergraduate course in Civil Engineering where he became one half of the gospel rap duo, Blood Brothaz. He quickly gained popularity for his contemporary style , catchy flow and spiritual lyrics. Very shortly after the group was formed, the Blood Brothaz parted ways and Ayo became a solo act.
In 1999, he was featured in the debut album of the group called Exaltators, on the track, “Christ Addiction”. This earned him a reputation as one of the best Nigerian gospel rappers on the scene at that time. He went on to make his first mini mixtape in 2000, “the Eternity Sermons”, which he recorded and produced by himself. It was a 4-tracker with songs like “Training and the Pain”, a song about discipline and perseverance, “Choices”, a song about choosing between life and death, “A New Thang”, a song about how God can turn lives around and “the Last Days” a song about the intrigues of earth’s final days.
Ayo then went on a hiatus. During this time, he started his career in banking and also became a software programmer and entrepreneur. He also wrote several songs which he never recorded or performed and he encouraged and mentored other up-coming gospel rap artistes. In 2011, Ayo decided the long wait was over. He hooked up with Mr Seth and came out with “Majestic”, a rap praise/worship song, with extracts from the famous gospel song “How Majestic is Your Name” by Michael J. Smith.
In 2012, S.E.R.M.O.N was one of the top ten finalists in the DearArtiste.Com Emcee Rap Battle Competition with his song “Who Wan Test Baba God” which enjoyed widespread airplay and digital downloads.
Ayo adopted the name S.E.R.M.O.N, an acronym for Spiritually Energized Rap Music Outreaching Nations – a name that very aptly summarizes his focus and plan for his music: taking the gospel to all the nations of the world through rap music.
