The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

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====== Stephen Wiley ======

Rap\\
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA

Stephen Wiley (born 1956) is recognized as the first artist to have recorded a full-length Christian rap album with his 1985 release on the Brentwood Records label, //Bible Break//. At the time of this recording, Wiley was a member of the crusade team at Kenneth Hagin’s Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Wiley was born in 1956 and grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A University of Oklahoma graduate, Wiley began a career as a jazz drummer in 1979 and wrote a song called "Basketball." This tune would later go on to be recorded by mainstream rapper Kurtis Blow and become a No. 71 hit (in 1985). By 1982, Wiley was performing rap music with Christian lyrics at a time when Run DMC's breakthrough to the mainstream was still a year away. In 1984, Wiley took a job as chaplain at a juvenile detention center.

In 1985, Wiley released //Bible Break// and saw its title track reach the No. 14 spot in 1986 on Christian radio. A 1988 article in //Spin// magazine nicknamed the young chaplain the "Grand Master of Rap".

Wiley would later serve as assistant pastor/youth minister at the predominantly-black Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, California, under televangelist Frederick K.C. Price. He then released two more albums for the [[Star Song Records]] label which were better received, garnering a No. 13 hit with "Peace" (a duet with Renee Garcia) from the 1990 album //Rhythm and Poetry//, and No. 14 "Attitude" from 1991's //Rhapsody//. The latter album sought to bring in fans of more traditional gospel by including harmonies from gospel group Witness on the song "Real." 

Wiley is the Founder and Pastor of Praise Center Family Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is also the Assistant Vice President, Director of Christian Ministries, Assistant Professor of Religion, at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma where he teaches full-time.

===== Discography =====

| 1985 | Bible Break | Brentwood Contemporary |
| 1986 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2019/08/02/stephen-wiley-rappin-for-jesus/|Rappin' for Jesus]] | Brentwood Contemporary |
| 1988 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2019/08/03/stephen-wiley-rap-it-up/|Rap It Up]] | Brentwood Music |
| 1989 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2019/07/21/stephen-wiley-get-real/|Get Real]] | Brentwood Music |
| 1990 | Rhythm & Poetry | [[Star Song Records]] |
| 1992 | Rhapsody | [[Star Song Records]] |

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==== Bible Break ====

1985 Brentwood Contemporary ‎(45-R 5042)

Stephen Wiley - Rap vocals\\
Mike Barnes - Music

Produced by Stephen Wiley and Mike Barnes

== 7-inch version ==

  - Bible Break (5:50)
  - Bible Break (radio version) (3:56)

== Cassette version ==

  - Bible Break
  - Bible Break (accompaniment track)

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==== Rappin' For Jesus ====

1986 Brentwood Contemporary (C-5053)

Stephen Wiley - Rap vocals\\
Mike Barnes - Keyboards, drum programming on "Rappin' for Jesus"\\
Gary Lunn - Bass, drum programming on "Let's Praise (Psalm 150)"\\
Tim Akers - Additional synthesizer overdubs\\
Damiyon Everly - Human beat box on "Rappin' for Jesus"

Produced by Stephen Wiley and Mike Barnes

  - Rappin' for Jesus
  - Let's Praise (Psalm 150)
  - Rappin' for Jesus (accompaniment track)
  - Let's Praise (Psalm 150) (accompaniment track)

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==== Rap It Up ====

1988 Brentwood Contemporary (C-5058N)

Stephen Wiley - Rap vocals\\
Mike Barnes - All music, except:\\
Brett Teegarden - Music on "Where Will I Go" and "Why I Rap"\\
Kim Lucas - Background vocals on "Where Will I Go?"\\
Glenda Barclay - Background vocals on "Where Will I Go?"

Produced by Stephen Wiley and Mike Barnes

  - Intro Rap
  - Heroes
  - Big Man
  - Best Friend
  - The Rock
  - Where Will I Go?
  - Stand (Ephesians 6:10-20)
  - Why I Rap
  - Fourth Man (Daniel 3)

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==== Get Real ====

1989 Brentwood Music (C-5072)

Stephen Wiley - Rap vocals

Produced by Brett Teegarden and Stephen Wiley

  - Get Real
  - Born Again
  - Gimme Da’ Word
  - Save the City
  - Just Say No
  - F-A-I-T-H
  - He Came Back
  - Daily Devotion

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==== Rhythm & Poetry ====

1990 [[Star Song Records]] (SSD 8157)

Stephen Wiley - Vocals\\
Joe Hogue - Drum and keyboard programming, background vocals, background rapping on "Fight to Finish"\\
Todd Collins - Additional drum programming, background rapping\\
Chris Rodriguez - Guitar\\
Mark Douthit - Sax

Renee Garcia - Duet on "Peace"\\
Rex Carroll - Guitars on "Love God, Hate Sin"\\
Tommy Simms - Bass on "Love God, Hate Sin" and "Peace"\\
Vickie Hampton - Background vocals\\
Kim Fleming - Background vocals\\
Chris Hogue - Background vocals, background rapping on "Fight to Finish"\\
Greg X Volz - Background vocals\\
Dan Keen - Background vocals

Produced by Bret Teegarden

  - Attitude
  - Colorblind
  - Fight to the Finish feat. 3-D (Todd Collins, Chris & Joe Hogue)
  - Love God Hate Sin
  - On the Devil's Case
  - Peace
  - Soulfood
  - Teenage Mutant Youth Group Member
  - You're My All

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==== Rhapsody ====

1992 [[Star Song Records]] (SSD 8194)

Stephen Wiley - Rap vocals\\
Eric Brice - Guitars\\
DeAndre Davis - Bass\\
Michael Brooks - Keyboards, drum programming\\
Dana Davis - Keyboards, drum programming\\
Charles "Ollie" Harris - Keyboards, drum programming\\
David McMurray - Saxophone\\
Lisa Page - Background vocals\\
Dianne Campbell - Background vocals\\
Parkes Stewart - Background vocals

Produced by Michael Brooks

  - Morning Time
  - Jesus is Lord
  - My Prayer
  - This Praise is Real
  - Found My Way
  - Just a Touch
  - Prisoner of the American Dream
  - Purpose
  - Get Busy
  - Glory to God

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