Today we’d like to introduce you to Bertrand Mckinney
Hi Bertrand, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the age of 13 my parents moved to a small place called Tylertown, Mississippi because the pace was slower than New Orleans. I grew up in a loving household and God was at the center of our family. I also was a big hip hop fan so later in life combining my beliefs with my faith made sense. I’ve been rapping for over 20 years and doing Christian Hip Hop for about 5 years now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road was not smooth in the beginning. When I first started rapping I wasn’t using my gift correctly. Even though I knew who God was, my music wasn’t reflecting Him. One day I was driving and God checked me. I heard Him say, you can’t play the music you are doing for your mother. You have a daughter but yet you are disrespecting women in your music. I was leading people in the wrong direction with a gift God gave me. From that point I decided to change my lifestyle and music to reflect how I was raised and what I believed. I only make music to uplift God and spread His message.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Christian Hip Hop Artist. So far I have released 2 full length projects and several singles. The 1st album is titled Altar Ego and the latest album is titled Mental Impact. The gift that God has blessed me with has allowed me to travel across the country doing what I love. I’m most proud of the interactions I get to have with people that have heard my music. Having people tell you that what you are doing has changed how they think it encouraged them is priceless. I think what sets me apart from others is that I speak from my heart and a lot of my music comes from personal testimonies.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to trust God completely. I remember an incident I had when I was younger. I was going through a divorce and was in my apartment at that time having suicidal thoughts. I went to get a pill bottle because I didn’t want to live anymore. Right before I was going to take the pills, a Aunt of mine reached out to me. My aunt’s words were I didn’t know what you are doing but God told me to tell you that He loves you and didn’t do it. From that point moving forward I have learned to completely trust God.
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