Interviews

Published on November 23rd, 2020 | by MuzikScribe

0

Angela Agape: The Artist Formerly Known As Jacki-O

In 2014, you reported that you would be retiring from rap. You stated you had become closer with God, and later became an ordained minister. Looking back, what prompted this decision?

Back when I was doing music, I was booked for a show that was all ages, meaning young teenagers could attend. I remembered looking down into the audience at three noticeably young girls singing one of my explicit songs word for word. They were dancing and twerking, and I remember feeling really bad about it. So, my transition didn’t happen 6 years ago. God was working on me while I was still doing music. Another time I was in the mall shopping when an older woman came up to me telling me that she noticed some of the other shoppers getting excited that I was there. She asked was I a rapper, and asked what kind of music I did. I thought about it for a minute, then found myself embarrassed to even say. This happened more than once, so I realized that a sense of morality was taking over me and if I was ashamed of what I was doing, I didn’t need to be doing it.

Over the course of the past six plus years, what all exactly had / have you been up to (both personally and professionally speaking)?  

When my worldview changed, so did my dating life. I began to look at relationships differently. Before it was money, but I began to look at (a) man’s spirit. Is he kind, is he understanding and patient, and can he tell me about God? My mind was made up. I wanted God and if I was going to date anyone, they would have to know God. I started going to church every chance I got; sometimes three and four times a week! I started my celibacy journey in 2013, because I wanted to hear from God clearly without the noise of different relationships from dating. Becoming celibate was the best time of my life because I learned how to be alone, I got to know my real self; my likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. I found out that sexual pleasure is for my husband. I was celibate 5 years before getting married in 2018.

That said, are you happy with the present state of Hip Hop? And, even more specifically, women in rap? 

I cannot say that I’m happy for the state of Hip Hop. What has happened to me is I’m morally conscious now. My worldview has changed. I see hedonism when I see Hip Hop now. I could not have possibly opened my own eyes; God did.  Many women have come after me…I’m not really familiar with their work, but we are living in a very social world where any and everything is used as a platform to promote new artists. So, I see them. I feel somewhat happy they are living their life’s dream, but sad at the same time because they’re living their life’s dream but at what cost? The state of Hip Hop has become a multi-billion dollar industry, owned mostly by Jews. Young black rappers get into the industry not necessarily because of talent, but by being wild and destructive and this is only in the Hip Hop genre. The females sell sex, and the men sell murder and drugs, in their music. Young rappers are literally putting their lives on the line to make money. So even if their lyrics aren’t real, they start to believe their own hype. They have to live up to this image they created by hanging around real killers and real drugs. They literally set themselves up as targets for the feds, robbers and beef with other rappers, and in the end the record companies wind up owning the masters because they are dying way too early.  Tupac and Biggie murders were never solved, and no one was arrested. This showed the world that a rapper’s life has no value, and the case will most likely end up in a cold case file. That lifestyle is a setup. More Hip Hop artists are murdered and imprisoned than any other music genre. Hip Hop music now mainly promotes three things; sex, drugs and murder, and Hip Hop’s influence shapes our communities, families and our youth. How can a morally conscious person who is awake be happy for that?

Take me back…tell me your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And how did it all begin for you? 

I became interested in music at 12 years old when I started writing poetry. I remember going up to this building where Luke and the 2 Live Crew used to hang out at. I was probably 14 or 15 at the time, and it was during the day so most of the youg kids hung out there. I talked one of the other rappers into following me home to ask my mom if I could rap with them. You already know what the answer was… *She giggles* NO!

Now you’re a native of Miami, Florida, correct? So, growing up in “The Magic City,” who all did / do you consider to be your strongest influences?

I wouldn’t say who, I would say what. I’d say the strongest influence in Miami is poverty. Miami is beautiful in magazines, but in the inner city it’s a lot different now. Miami has become predominantly bilingual, so most jobs are limited. While the drug boys were throwing up money in the strip clubs, businessmen from other countries came in and gentrified the inner-city communities. No one thought to buy back the homes and blocks they grew up in. The average 3 (bedrooms) / 2 (baths) in Miami is $400K in the ‘hood. Now tell me how can a non-bilingual person making minimum wage afford to stay in the city they grew up in?  This is one of the reasons most people in Miami move to Atlanta or out of state.

Where’s does your moniker originally derive from?

Funny you ask that. Jacki-O is the name I got from John F. Kennedy’s wife Jacqueline Onassis. They called her Jackie O. for short. She was very classy in her own right, and I thought borrowing the name would serve me well. However at the time, I didn’t know that it was rumored that Jaqueline Onassis’ family was cursed. Most of them died in freak accidents. When I left the music industry, I did not want to be connected to that name anymore because I felt it had a lot of negative influence attached to it. I was talking to God one day and he asked me, “What is your name?” I answered, “Jacki-O,” and He said, “That is what the world calls you. What is your name?” I said, “Angela.” When I looked up the meaning of my name it said that Angela means God’s messenger. I understood why he wanted me to know who I am now.

In having said that, how would you define and / or describe the style of music that you created and performed?

My music was sex driven, raunchy and ‘hood. My music had no substance, and no moral direction. The fans loved it though! I actually apologized to them when I retired from music. I explained to them that as an influencer I let them down back then. I hate I wasn’t more conscious of what I was putting out there. Won’t ever happen again. Believe that!

Success, define yours?  

I define success as knowing your purpose for this life. The reason why we are still here is for us to serve that purpose. I definitely know my purpose was not that old life I used to live. I have more now than I ever had in music. Hip Hop taught me how to blow money… *More giggles* Now I’m married, I have investments, assets and I have a clear conscience. I don’t have leeches hanging around trying to snake me; I have discernment now. I have direction.

What do you want people to get from your musical catalog?

Even though I still receive royalties from my old music, I hope people don’t take those lyrics literally. When people contact me telling me they still listen to my old music, I always say, “please don’t!” *Giggles again* I hope they can look at where I was to where I am now, and see that change is good. I hope they see that a new life is doable, and that growth is necessary for life.

Is there a hidden meaning / message in any of your music?

I think there are hidden messages in most rap music, just not messages from the artists. I just think at the time an artist goes into the booth, he / she is being influenced by different things. Sometimes he / she is influenced by their upbringing, their environment or even dark forces. Explain to me why a new wave of drug dealers evolve when a drug dealing rapper hits the scene? Young dudes who never sold a bag of weed, let alone “bricks,” will try their hand at drug dealing after hearing an album about selling drugs from one of those guys. Notice how right after the rapper who raps about bricks and murder drops an album, the murder rate in the city that artist is from skyrockets. Tell me who sent that murder spirit out? The artist? No, dark and demonic forces did. Those forces only used the artist to do it. I came out in 2003 sporting a tattooed sleeve arm and talking about boosting. So many tattooed sleeved arm girls used to run up on me telling me I taught them how to boost and everything they needed to know coming up.  We are not coming up with those lyrics; dark forces are influencing artists. Artists influence the fans by using the medium of radio, TV and social media to promote it all. People ask me all the time do I know of people in the industry who are selling their soul. Selling your soul is not meeting up with a red man with a pitchfork holding a contract. Selling your soul is doing wrong; knowing that you are doing wrong, but still do it for money or gain. That’s selling your soul to the devil.

Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations? 

Yes, I want to have a place where I can speak to young women. In that place I want to have apartments for them if they are homeless and need shelter. I want computers there so they can seek jobs and other resources. I would like to prepare them for life by implementing Godly principles and life skills into a program. There, they would work on their credit, learn proper etiquette and home building skills. I think we need that.

What has been your greatest career achievement(s), at least thus far anyway?

My biggest career achievement was being able to walk away and not look back. When I made my mind up to leave Hip Hop a bunch of shows started coming in. During the last few years of my career in music, I hadn’t had no more that 5-6 shows a month if that…but as soon as I made my mind up to give my life to God, all of these shows started coming in from nowhere. I loved performing. I loved the fans showing me support. Did I need the money? ABSOLUTELY! But I need what God has for me more. My own people were calling me crazy for leaving that money on the table, but all money ain’t good. When those shows started coming in, I turned every single one of those shows down and I haven’t looked back, and I don’t regret it.

Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…

Most of the people who contact me are contacting me for prayer now.  They used to call me “Madam of Miami,” now they call me a Woman of God. That feels good to know; they trust me enough to allow me into their most vulnerable areas of their life. I feel good knowing I’m not teaching someone how to twerk anymore, but how to trust God. *Giggles once more*

Do you ever foresee a return to music?

Yes, I would love to do (a) praise and worship album.

Lastly, and as for the immediate future, what’s next for you?

“Many are the plans of man, but the Lord’s purpose prevails” [Proverbs 19:21].With that being said, I’ll just say God is using me so I’m going to continue to let him.

Any closing thoughts for our readers?

Thanks for the interview, and Jesus loves us very much. Try him.

Connect w/Angela Agape Online:

Instagram

Facebook 

Twitter 


Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,


About the Author


Comments are closed.

Back to Top ↑