Written by: Ashley Hewitt
Article source: JOY! Magazine
When speaking with ATLAS the Rapper, it quickly becomes clear that he is far more than just your average rapper and his music is much more than just entertainment. ATLAS sees his music as his ministry. He uses his God-given gifts to reach young people throughout South Africa and inspire thought provoking conversations, boldly tackling hot topics like drugs, alcohol and crime in his lyrics. He says his goal is to change the narrative and get people talking about the things that really matter.
ATLAS, whose full name is Mpho Sebokgoe, has been gifted with the ability to write, produce and perform music and lyrics, and he is also a motivational speaker. While he does put a lot of thought into musical ideas, ATLAS attributes his lyrical skills to a work of divine grace. His message is one of love and hope that he believes will have a positive impact on many, saying that his goal is, “To see the love of God reign through humanity with the evidence of mankind walking in one accord and loving one another.”
When asked about the message behind his music, ATLAS explained that he believes he is called by God to be a voice for this generation, “My music is inspired by the daily realities of modern life and the various social ills we are faced with globally. My most important message is salvation through Christ.”
When asked which Scripture is his favourite, ATLAS smiled and said, “As cliché as it might sound, my favourite verse of all time is still John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Music has always intrigued ATLAS. He began to laugh as he recalled being a big fan of Michael Jackson from the tender age of fourteen years. He would emulate Michael Jackson, even putting together costumes. “I often performed as Michael Jackson at school talent shows and did every one of his dance moves possible in my routines. I then started following different genres of music and their respective icons until I was introduced to hip hop music by discovering Run DMC, MC Hammer and later on an American rap group called NWA.”
ATLAS then developed a deep love for Gospel music. As a teen, he had many dreams of himself one day sharing the Gospel with a congregation. ATLAS began to mature in God’s Word and he says of those days, “Jesus Christ found me through music.” ATLAS took a liking to Christian worship by Hillsong, Delirious, and others, learning to combine his love for God’s Word, worship and hip hop music.
Since then, ATLAS the rapper developed a flourishing musical ministry. In his latest album, “The Frontier” ATLAS takes on some important topics. “This work of art is very provoking to the thought process of society as it is highly robust in challenging the status-quo.” ATLAS has a heart for humanity. “Like Christ, I only wish life abundantly for others.” He describes his music as a “mouthpiece that provides insight on why humanity should seek providence from God. My target is humanity from a global perspective.”
Not only is ATLAS reaching out to the youth in South Africa in a positive way through his music, he is also the campaign ambassador for Anti-Bullying SA, working together with the Department of Basic Education, and he is the founder of a registered non-profit organisation called Brother’z Keeper Foundation. ATLAS explained, “My foundation is my ministry and I approach it as one who has come to serve the children of God. Brother’z Keeper Foundation is a tool for me, to not only inspire the youth but also to inject love, self-awareness and growth in their thinking and approach towards life. I aspire to turn the youth into stars in their own right, in which the call of God over their lives has predestined and ordained them already.”
The merger between ATLAS and the Department of Basic Education came about as a work of grace, he explained, around the time South Africa was facing increased levels of violence and substance abuse in schools. “At that time, I was single-handedly doing groundwork through my foundation, and that is how the spokesperson of the Department of Basic Education, Mr Elijah Mhlanga, discovered me.”
With so much growth taking place in his music, life and ministry, through his love for God and people, ATLAS has become a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for many South Africans, visiting schools and other venues throughout the nation. When asked what advice he would give to others who are wanting to use their talents to make an impact in the nation for Christ, he said, “All I can say to the aspiring artists and music producers out there is that they should never allow any dream killers to kill their self-esteem or run their dreams down, or tell them it cannot be done. However, it will take great discipline, focus, dedication, determination, commitment, and a lot of hard work and faith. Stay focused and keep your eyes on God, young world!”
If you are just as excited as we are to see what lies ahead for ATLAS the Rapper through his musical ministry and his foundation, you can follow him on his social media platforms. “I would greatly appreciate that all the lovely souls reading this publication kindly follow and interact with me on all my social media handles: @allthingzatlas”
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Date published: 04/03/2021
Feature image: Supplied
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