Nahledge

If you asked most recording artists what they wanted to be as a kid, most would say they always aspired to be an entertainer or musician. However, if you ask Nahledge, he would tell you that music is never something he envisioned for himself early on. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Nahledge was brought up in a Christian family with his mother, father, and two sisters. However, despite attending church on a regular basis and serving as an usher at age 10, Nahledge never embraced relationship with Jesus Christ for himself. “Church was just something I had to do because my parents made me do it, but I never really knew who Jesus Christ was for myself,” Nahledge recalls. During his high school years, Nahledge began to pursue the lifestyle that he saw depicted in music videos and other media outlets. “I thought that was the type of life that would make me happy and fulfilled, so I pursued it,” Nahledge stated. Nahledge and his friends frequented college parties, bars and other social gatherings where “fun” could be had. A short time later Nahledge enrolled into college at Clarion University. However, his goal was not studying to get a degree but to indulge into the nightlife and college party atmosphere. It was during this time Nahledge was beginning to see that the life he was pursuing was not at all fulfilling like he always thought it would be. “The parties, the clubs, the bars, all got old and I began to ask myself, ‘Is this it??? This can’t be all life has to offer.’ I began to get tired of it all and wanted something better for my life,” Nahledge described. During a visit home while on spring break, Nahledge attended a church service with his father where he gave his life to Christ. “Growing up in church I’ve sat through thousands of altar calls and presentations of the gospel. However, this time was different; I truly felt the presence of God speaking to my heart and I made a decision to follow Christ from that day on.” After finishing out the semester at Clarion with poor grades, Nahledge was unable to return to the school. “I was struggling in my walk as a new Christian, I was starting to be influenced by my old lifestyle and began to question if I was even saved. I didn’t know what to do with my life. I was thinking sell drugs or go into the military. I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do and He said ‘RAP,” Nahledge recalls. Though rap was never something Nahledge aspired to do, he wanted to do anything he could to please God and be in right relationship with Him. Nahledge began to make his mark in the music industry by appearing on mixtapes and releasing his first project titled Blood Money (EP) in 2005. In addition to Blood Money, Nahledge produced, wrote, and recorded "Oh No" a sexual abstinence theme song for Christian-based Silver Ring Thing, an internationally recognized sexual abstinence organization, targeting youth. 'Oh No has been played on air on MTV's Choose or Lose campaign, ABC's 60 Minutes, and numerous times on the BBC (British Broadcasting Company). In 2009 Nahledge recorded and released his first full-length album Higher Learning with production by Unseen, Deo Valente, Blood Brothaz, and himself. Higher Learning received a great response from listeners for it’s solid content, production, and excellent lyricism. His latest release Show & Tell: The Mixtape (2012), combines hard core beats, lyrics and the Christ-centric content Nahledge has become known for. Nahledge is currently in the process of recording his sophomore album “Champion” slated for an early 2013 release.