A RAPPER who says God 'saved him' from a life of gang violence is on a mission to reach the hearts of young rap fans with a positive message.
Mista C’mon has already won thousands of followers for his track Listen which has proved popular on YouTube and Voice Online.
The song details how his faith helped him turn his life around which was fast spiralling out of control.
“My overall message is one of love and not hate,” Mista C’mon told The Voice.
“I want to speak to the listeners through a message that encourages change. I believe we’ve been deceived. A lot of people turn to gangsterism because they see that as strength, but strength is not in hate like many think it is. Love is the most powerful thing out here.”
By his 18th birthday, the former gang member watched three close friends die during brutal gang turf wars.
Now a Christian, the 21-year-old said he is glad his life has changed and is determined to encourage other young people to walk away from street life and violence.
He said he wants young people to never even consider becoming a gang member.
“If you want good for yourself, it shouldn’t even be an option,” he said.
The rapper now works with young people at a local ministry in Brixton, south London.
In his candid song, Mista C’mon raps: "You think I've lived my whole life the Christian way? Well you’re dead wrong! Me and my dons stuck up the off licence on Christmas Day. I used to leave my house knowing that I could die……I’m a church boy now, but I know the streets so well.”
He said: "I’m showing young people through my music I can relate to them, whereas another Christian brother may not be able to.”
And he added that as long as he could help inspire positive change in others, he had no shame in sharing details about his former life.
“I don’t feel ashamed about what I use to do because there’s redemption involved…I don’t mind letting them know what I’ve overcome to let them know that they can overcome it too,” he said.
“A lot of people say they want change but do they actually want change or are they promoting change to put ‘change’ in their pocket…For me, I want change for youths.”
Mista C’mon’s mix tape Alpha will be available for download on August 14.
Fans can find out more by following him on Twitter @MistaC_mon