Antonious

Prior to embracing salvation, the Christian rapper Antonious had pursued a path marked by repeated criminal offenses. During his adolescence in Freeport, IL, authorities arrested him on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful use of weapons, leading to a term of incarceration. Following his release, he relocated to Atlanta and entered the cocaine distribution network; after fellow gang members attempted to take his life, he returned to Illinois and faced arrest once more, this time on robbery charges. While serving his second prison sentence, Antonious developed a friendship with an illiterate inmate who required help drafting letters to his wife. In the course of transcribing those messages, Antonious started conveying his own belief in God. After regaining his freedom, he earned his GED and joined the local rap collective 815 Click. Recognizing the need to align his faith with his musical work, Antonious launched a solo career and issued Principalities and Good vs. Evil through Grapetree Records.