After more than three decades in Christian hip-hop, Braille remains one of the genre's most respected voices. As both an emcee and producer, he has helped shape the sound of faith-based hip-hop through his solo work, his contributions to Beautiful Eulogy and Lightheaded, and collaborations with artists including Lecrae, Jackie Hill Perry, Kings Kaleidoscope, !llmind, and 9th Wonder.
His latest single, "Overdue," teams him with veteran lyricist MotionPlus for a soulful, boom bap-inspired anthem about trusting God's timing when life doesn't unfold according to plan. Built around Braille's self-described "sloppy funk" production, the track pairs thoughtful, faith-filled lyrics with a laid-back old-school groove, reminding listeners that God's plans often arrive later than expected-but right on time. In this conversation with Christian Music, Braille reflects on his remarkable journey through Christian hip-hop, the inspiration behind "Overdue," lessons learned about trusting God's timing, and why creating Christ-centered music continues to matter after all these years.
Listen to his new song here.
Q: For readers who may be discovering you for the first time, who is Braille, and what has your journey through Christian hip-hop been like over the years?
I was born in Portland, Oregon, and have spent most of my life here. I've been making hip-hop for more than 30 years now, starting with my solo records in the late '90s and later releasing albums with Beautiful Eulogy, where we pushed lyrical depth and theological substance within the genre. My sound has always leaned toward boom bap-rooted in the golden era but never stuck there.
I've been around long enough to see the entire landscape shift. I toured back when we were printing MapQuest directions just to get to the venue. I started recording on a 4-track, moved to digital 8-tracks, then saved up for studio time before eventually building my own home studio. I've watched the format change from CDs and vinyl to iTunes and now streaming. I've also seen music go from being a hobby, to a career, to something I stepped away from, and now to more of a passion project.
Over the years, I've played coffee shops, bars, and concert halls. Along the way I've worn a lot of hats-rapping, running a label, booking tours, A&R, engineering, production-whatever the moment called for.
Q: "Overdue" brings together your production with MotionPlus' confident, old-school flow. How did this collaboration come about, and what inspired the message behind the song?
MotionPlus and I have had mutual friends for about 20 years, but we'd never actually worked together. When I became active in music again over the last few years, I noticed he was doing the same. After some great interactions online, I sent him a few beats that I thought would suit his style.
"Overdue" captures both sides of that story. It's literally our first collaboration after two decades of near misses, but it's also about MotionPlus himself-a classic old-school MC who's still growing as both a person and an artist, with opportunities unfolding in God's timing rather than his own.
Q: "Overdue" is all about trusting that things will work out, even when life doesn't unfold according to our timeline. How have each of you personally learned to trust God's timing when your own plans were delayed?
For me, this has meant learning to move forward in a direction without knowing the exact timing or specifics. A good example, outside of music, is how I ended up in pastoral ministry.
Back in 2012, I felt compelled to begin preparing for ministry, even though I had no idea how it would unfold. I simply said yes to the opportunities God placed before me-discipleship, preaching, and leading small groups. That eventually led to a pastoral internship in Washington, D.C., in 2014, followed by serving as a non-staff elder by 2016.
I assumed I would eventually plant a church in the neighborhood where I grew up. Instead, in 2018, a door opened for me to lead a church revitalization in a completely different area where I had only lived briefly during high school.
That's generally how it has worked for me: moving in a direction, trusting God, working hard, being faithful with what's in front of me, and ultimately ending up exactly where I was supposed to be in ways I never could have predicted.
Proverbs 16:9
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."
Q: The track delivers an encouraging message without taking itself too seriously. Why was it important to pair thoughtful lyrics with such a fun, old-school vibe?
That balance really started with the beat. I made the production first, and the vibe it established became the canvas for MotionPlus to paint on. He did a great job delivering a meaningful concept without ever feeling disconnected from that energy. The message and the fun of the track move together instead of competing with each other.
Once I got his vocals back, I focused on enhancing the arrangement and adding effects that matched his energy while keeping the record engaging from start to finish.
Q: Braille, you've spent decades helping shape Christian hip-hop, collaborating with artists like Lecrae, Jackie Hill Perry, and Kings Kaleidoscope. Looking back, what has kept your passion for creating honest, Christ-centered music alive through so many different seasons?
I was fortunate to have parents who never discouraged my hobbies or dreams, even when they seemed unrealistic. I didn't start with much money or professional resources. It was always about making the most of what I had, and every time I finished a project, I was excited to apply what I had learned to the next one.
As my access to resources grew, so did my vision for bringing ideas to life. That's still my favorite part of making music, regardless of the role I'm playing-taking whatever is available and translating a musical vision into something real. Part of that is simply my personality. I can focus intensely on one thing until I honestly feel I've done my best, and then I move on.
When faith became part of my life, expressing it through music came naturally. Music had always been how I processed and expressed myself, so once I came to know Jesus, it made sense that my faith would find its way into my songs.
Honestly, though, music means less to me today than it did when I was younger. I definitely overestimated its importance at times, and later I swung toward underestimating it. Now I can simply enjoy it as a gift from God without building my identity or livelihood around it.
I never got into this to become famous. I genuinely love creating, and after decades of developing the craft, it has become part of who I am without defining who I am.
Q: As listeners enjoy "Overdue," what's next for both of you? Can fans expect more collaborations, new music, or other exciting projects on the horizon?
"Overdue" is the first single from a four-song EP that I produced for MotionPlus called Still Dreamin', so there's plenty more coming from that project.
Last year, I produced and rapped on a collaborative album with YP, also known as Young Paul, called Sober Minded. That was actually the first full project I had produced entirely on my own, even though I've been producing music for many years.
I still plan to rap from time to time, but moving forward I want to be much more prolific as a producer. I already have projects in the works with five other artists, including a mix of EPs and full-length albums.
I love supporting other artists' voices and helping bring out the very best in them. My goal is simple: to keep creating as I'm able and to continue releasing music consistently over the next few years.
