Spotlight: Rap role model's beat helps kids on the streets

Get good grades, stay out the cage, and don't catch the AIDS.

Ain't my business but it's a death sentence.

All glitter ain't gold, what about your soul?

Photo by Martin Vloet, U-M Photo Services

These are the lyrics of gospel rapper Gapp-Dwella, also known as Roderick James, a medical assistant at the East Ann Arbor Health Center.

James understands the difficulties he raps about first hand. He grew up without a father, and, though he was raised by his devoutly Christian grandmother, James didn't incorporate religion into his own life until seven years ago when he became an ordained minister. He now uses his experiences, faith and rapping to reach out to young people.

"I can understand where some of the guys are without fathers in their lives," he says. "I am trying to prevent them from being influenced by misguided or bad lyrics."

James describes his lyrics as inspirational and testimonial. "They talk about what not to do, how to change and where you could be compared to where you came from," he says. Ultimately he hopes to bring his positive message to youth homes and detention centers.

Gapp-Dwella means bridging the gap between God and man, James says, and his rapping does just that.

"It was the one thing I didn't want to lose when I converted," he says. "I fell in love with various Christian rap artists instead."

Today he cites Christian artists Gospel Gangstaz, Nuwine and Lil' Raskull as major influences on his work, in addition to rap legends like Run DMC and LL Cool J.

James recently released a self-titled CD, which he wrote, produced and performed.

"I do all my own music," he says. "Most of the magic takes place at my home, and then I may go to a regular studio and master it."

It is at home with his wife and three children, ages 5, 8 and 9, that James finds much of his motivation to succeed.

"I want to be able to put them through college and support them. Their future is what really inspires me," he says.

James made his way on to the public scene in the last year, performing in the gospel play "God's Way is the Best Way" in Detroit. He plans to perform in January at the University Hospital and is working on a new full-length CD.

For more information on Gapp-Dwella visit http://gappdwella.tripod.com.