Hope comes at a premium in Chicagoland, and when Nehemiah Heckler started rappi9ng at age 16, he did so trying to bring it to his friends and family. He walked away from rapping for several years, but ultimately, God called him back to bring conscious, positive, Jesus-loving lyrics not just to his friends and loved ones, but to anyone who will listen. 

Now with a new mixtape and his debut full-length record coming, Nehemiah is ready to take the next step in his evolution as an artist, a rapper and servant. We talked with him about all this and more. 

What’s your mission as you best understand it?

My mission is to bring hope to a searching generation through my music. I feel a lot of people are looking for answers and they're having trouble finding them. I want to give people music that helps them through tough times and inspire them to keep going, even when it's hard.

You started making music when you were 16. Talk about that, and why you’d stepped away (and came back)!

Yeah, I started at 16, but it was more of a hobby for me. It was also a way to reach my friends. My friends were going through a lot of tough things and I wanted to encourage them more than anything. I stopped because I didn't really believe that my music at the time was making an impact. Over time, my friends and family kept encouraging and telling me I had a gift and I should use it. Then last year I felt God saying it was time to use the gift and I came back. I'm very happy I did.

You have the Remember mixtape out now, but you’ve got additional new tunes coming in October. What’s the difference between those two projects? What can we expect from each?

The difference between Remember and the "teaser" that I have coming out is that Remember was me asking you the question, “What do you want to be remembered for?” The teaser is more a verse talking about the next album. I'm very excited for this next step because in I'm currently working on my first full-length album. You can expect more energy, passion, and emotion in these next projects. 

What’s the spiritual climate like in Chicago? How are you received there?

The spiritual climate in Chicago is a constant struggle. There's a lot hurt and crime that goes on. That's why I make music. I feel that I can reach the people in a positive way and do my part to help change the spiritual climate. I'm received pretty well. I want to stay as humble as I can because one day you can be up, and then the next day you can be down. The fans have been incredible and the places I've done shows have treated me well. I'm so glad I can go on this journey with them.

What’s next for you, and how do you need prayer?

I'm continuing to write and record music. I have three new singles coming out in the next three months. I'm currently working on my first full-length album, and I want to continue to inspire people with my music. I need prayer to stay focused on the goal. I'm fighting for more than just music. I'm fighting for the people who don't have voices.