Christian Rapper Sends Positive Message to Youth

Chandler Scotland Bailey knows the impact music can have on lives.

Music has influenced his life. It's taken him to good places and bad places. 

"Music takes you places," Bailey says.

Bailey, a lover of music since his younger years, is a Christian rapper who owns an indie music label in Columbia. He's hoping his music takes young listeners to a special place in life: a relationship with God.

Bailey, who uses Scotland as his stage name, fuses hip-hop, pop, rock and R&B music using creative metaphors to bring positive messages to youth. 

In his newest song, "Futuristic Worshipper," he raps about going against the crowd and following Jesus. Another song, "Party Life feat. Ryan Cole," talks about the temptation of drinking, drugs and sex. 

While his music may have a typical Christian message, the sound is something new. 

"I just want to show the church where (Christian) music is shifting. It's not just an organ and a hymn anymore," Bailey said. "Now it's shifting to young guys with mohawks and skater shoes."

Bailey targets his music toward young people because he knows how music can impact their lives. 

"It's a major influence to their world, the whole way their brain is working," he said.

As a 15-year-old student at Dutch Fork High School, Bailey says he was "in love with" rapper DMX. But the music introduced him to gang violence - something he wouldn't have been exposed to as the son of two pastors.

"If you really think about what DMX is saying — robbing, shooting, where's my crack? — I don't think that's music anyone wants their kids to listen to."  

Bailey ended up being expelled from his high school and attending Chapin Alternative. His dreams of playing football at S.C. State ended. 

Music shifted his life in a negative direction, Bailey said. But he turned things around.

"I said 'I'm not going to try to be cool here.' I had a mental shift and I said I'm not going to stay here," he said.

He became active in his church youth group, went on to play football at North Greenville University and earned a degree in Media Ministry.

Bailey had always enjoyed rapping, and during his freshman year of college he put out his first album called "Reconcile." He started playing shows at churches and nonprofit events across the state.

Bailey says teens often feel like they're stuck because their behaviors have led them to a bad place. But he tries to let teens know that they have a choice. 

"I just let them know that they're faced with challenges but they can come out of it," he said. "Don't let this define you."

Whether it's through his music or his work with teens at his parent's church, off of Broad River Road, Bailey tries to use music to spread a positive message. 

He also knows it's important to connect with young people and draw their attention.

"I'm not going to mention John 3:16 four times in a song. I'll mention it once, but then I'll throw something in about a Ferrari because everybody knows what a Ferrari is," Bailey said. "We use whatever's going on in the world to show them who their Savior is."

Bailey continues to perform at churches and is working on growing his music label called Kingdom Muzik Entertainment. He's also taking audio classes at Midlands Technical College in Columbia. 

Later this year, he plans to perform at Universal Soul Circus, a circus that features hip-hop dancers, bicycle girls and motorcycle daredevils. 

Music is always taking him places, Bailey says.

"Wherever you want to go in life, surround yourself with not only the literature, but the music that will take you there."