Many Christian rap artists are known more for the breadth of their content than the quality of their rhyme skills, but Latino West Coast MC T-Bone has been praised for both. As one of the early rappers within the subgenre, many of his peers could not match his rapid-tongue delivery and witty rhymes. Believing that "hip-hop is the language of the streets" and that "God is the language of love," he has been determined to win over people off the street and into the church through his rap music. His Nicaraguan father and Salvadoran mother, who were both pastors, raised him in the Mission District of San Francisco, CA. For many, that would mean a strong Christian upbringing, but as a youngster, T-Bone identified more with the street life and the tales of N.W.A and 2Pac. His moment of clarity from the dangerous life he was leading came after his best friend was killed in a drive-by.

Putting to use his rhyming skills as a part of his transformation was an easy decision. Starting in 1993 with...