c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Christian rapper Kevin Beebe wouldn’t mind some media attention for his new CD, “Spiritual Warfare.” But forgive him if he’s wary.
He wasn’t a Christian two years ago when he distributed his first CD, “Straight From the Grave,” by putting it on the windshields of cars in the parking lot at an Ashtabula, Ohio, high school.
It didn’t work out too well. Law enforcement interpreted Beebe’s graphically violent lyrics as a terrorist threat. He wound up in jail, charged with two felonies and facing a possible seven-year prison term.
The story made national headlines. Beebe, now 21, had a troubled upbringing. His criminal record included a charge of possession of marijuana in Pennsylvania and a DUI in Ohio. He had skipped on both of those warrants and had been in jail twice before the CD incident.
During his eight days behind bars in Ashtabula County, Beebe had a religious conversion and gave his life to Jesus. After a five-day trial, a jury took less than three hours to acquit Beebe of all the charges
Since then, he says, he’s been clean and sober. In the fall he will attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where he will train for the ministry. He also will try to save souls through his new rap band, Life Saving Decision. He spoke recently about his transformation.
Q: What were you thinking when you put those CDs on the windshields?
A: Honestly, I wanted to see if anybody felt like me. Instead of acting out my frustrations with the world, I put them on a CD. It was using art as a release kind of thing. I thought some of the kids might like it.
Q: How long was it before you heard you were a wanted man?
A: Two or three days after I passed out my CDs, the Jefferson police and people from the sheriff’s department came to my grandma’s house, where I was staying, looking for me. I was at the Flying J restaurant having lunch. She called me on my cell phone and told me what was going on. I called the police and told them I would turn myself in later that day. I figured we would work it out.
Q: What did you think when you learned the authorities thought you were a dangerous man and wanted you in jail?
A: When I realized they were charging me with felonies, I just smiled. I couldn’t believe it. I thought, Are you serious? I was shocked.
Q: Did you feel set up?
A: They were leading me on during the interview and then used that tape in court. I don’t hold any grudges. The truth came out.
Q: Was it difficult not to hate them, seeing as how they tried to put you away for seven years?
A: It was hard not to tell people how I felt. I was angry. But I was going through a change in my life and just let God handle everything.
Q: Are you serious about a career as a rapper?
A: Yes and no. I’m attending Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the fall. It’s a Christian college. I’m taking pastoral ministries there. Rap is part of my ministry. I use it to preach the gospel. For me, it’s just a tool. A way to reach kids.
Q: Do some people in Jefferson still think you’re a troublemaker?
A: I’m sure there are a few who do. But most people can see that God did change me. I’m a different person than I was.
Q: What message do you want to get across to kids who think that thug life is glamorous
A: That’s the image kids are getting through music and TV, that sex and drugs are glamorous. That’s what the world wants them to think. I realized that all those things left me feeling empty and alone. In the end, I had nothing. It was only with God I could find who I really was. I just want kids to know they only have to be themselves. They don’t need fake images. God loves them as they are.
(Michael Heaton writes for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland.)
ÃÂ?MDULÃÂ?ÃÂ?MDULÃÂ?Editors: To obtain photos of Kevin Beebe go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug
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