Authentication is a characteristic that artists reach to achieve.  Steven Perez is a Christian hip-hop artist based in Naples, Florida who has been able to surpass that characteristic by being real to his audience and having a deep connection with his community through his music.  One trait which makes Steven different and unique in Christian hip-hop culture is that he is unapologetic with his truth, and he shares a vulnerable side of him that brings people closer to finding Jesus.  There is no fabrication found in Steven’s music because he brings out raw emotion within his lyrics that hold a deeper meaning than what is perceived. 

“It’s important for us to get in these communities and reach the youth with something that’s directing them away from death and speak life into them to point them to the cross. People want to feel loved; they want to feel accepted, and your accepted in the kingdom of God.  There’s nothing but love in Christ and there is nothing that is going to feel that void besides Jesus,” Steven said. Steven is impacting his community and using the gospel to change lives through sharing his own testimony by connecting with those who are lost and searching for healing. The story of Steven’s journey from darkness to light and his pursuit of recovery ministry is told in Born Again Bold.

Talise D. Moorer discusses the need for the Christian community to connect others to Jesus who are not familiar with the word of God in an article titled: Christian community preps for outreach of love and celebratory services.  Music is played at these outreach gatherings to engage the audience and give them a new perspective on worship and Christ-following.  The importance of attracting audiences with different methods of music that worships Christ is vital when witnessing to people who don’t know Jesus.  They have a better chance of connecting with different genres of Christian music and potentially becoming saved through music they can relate to.

In an article titled: Hip-hop outreach, explains holy hip-hop and how this music is used to express the message of God.  This article also goes over how the church can be doubtful of the genre of hip-hop from how it has been represented with violence.  It makes sense because hip-hop music does contain violent content, but holy hip-hop music is transforming hip-hop culture and spreading to the church congregation and community.  Steven Perez is adding that holy hip-hop flavor within the church and its congregation, changing the reputation of hip-hop and its culture.