Von Won to Ignite "Faith Night" at Rice University

A wise man once said, "If you're not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. I came into the "Christian" music genre in April of 2007 after being tazed multiple times by police and surrendering my life to the Lord. I began hosting Christian events and growing in my faith. As a former secular artist, I remember working with other artists and collaborating. If you had the money for a feature, the artist would oblige to working with you. During that time I was blessed to do songs with Bushwick Bill, Lil Keke and Big Pokey. These guys were legends in our city and have respectfully earned their place in hip hip history. When I got saved and began learning who the leaders were in Christian rap, I reached out to artists trying to collaborate on music. I was often met with the response, "we need to build first." Which was actually a catch 22, because how I build with other artists in by making music, but how can we build if you don't want to make a song. As years went by I realized these guys didn't care about building. The only thing that was being built was walls between artists and a monopoly on Christian rap that is still guiding the genre of Christian rap today. To go along with this hierarchy and separation was the online platforms that showed an unhealthy amount of favor to the top artists and label in the genre. Not only did the websites adopt this elitist attitude, but even the radio stations, and platforms that celebrated Christian rap. Till this day, for an artist like myself, who's been doing Christian music consistently for 17 years, I have to jump through hoops, spend money and sometimes even beg for one of these websites to simply post my music video or let the world know I have a new song dropping. I've even offered money when they've advertised paid advertising and them just refuse to accept my money. With all maturity in my heart I feel I've done a phenomenal job of not name dropping, but anyone who has followed the genre for any amount of time knows exactly who I'm speaking about and can respectively co-sign every thing I have stated. But I'm not hear to be a complainer, I want to make a change. I have a voice, I have a platform, and I'm not hear to be a clout chasing website who won't acknowledge the little guy, the new guy or the up and comer that has talent. The straw that finally broke the camel's back for me was my son Lil Ziggy, 13 years old at the time, releasing his official debut single and video "Don't Get It Twisted," the press release being sent to several of these Christian platforms, and not one of them posting the story or supporting a young man on fire for God. Let's forget it's my son for second. If God gave you a platform and influence, not something you gained on your own, why wouldn't you use it to further this next generation and encourage such a vibrant artist with big dreams to change a generation. Either they are focused on the wrong things or intentionally HATING! I would hate to believe it's the latter. Maybe they're are just too busy. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. So ultimately what am I saying? I am looking to invest time and money to make the Grown And Saved platform something that will empower the growth of new artists, not stifle it. We won't play favorites and we won't only post for clicks. We are looking to build a team of writers, story tellers, photographers, videographers, models, DJs and artists that are ready to create something mind blowing and unbiased. Let's lower the amount of clout chasing in this space and increase the amount of kingdom building. If you want to be involved in any capacity, please email dreambig@grownandsaved.com Sincerely, Vaughaligan "Von Won" Walwyn