Mase: One thing Mase learned from Diddy is how to switch up a name. Before blowing up in the rap world, he went by the moniker Murda Mase. Since leaving the rap game, Mase leads a Christian congregation that refers to him as Pastor Mason Betha. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Cheryl ‘Salt’ James Wray: After hitting the music scene in the late ‘80s, Salt-N-Pepa garnered success spitting sexy lyrics in songs like “Push It” and “Whatta Man”. The group later disbanded when Cheryl “Salt” Wray left to become a born-again Christian. The ladies later reunited but Wray no longer raps her racy lyrics. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Doug E. Fresh: The self dubbed “world’s greatest entertainer” has captivated audiences with his beat boxing skills since hits like “La Di Da Di”. Today, Doug E. Fresh is more behind the scenes than in front of the mic and is a member of the Church of Scientology. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for DIRECTV)
Bushwick Bill: Former hardcore rapper Bushwick Bill was once one third of the southern hip-hop group Geto Boys. Following a failed drunken suicide attempt, Bushwick Bill became a born again Christian and went on to release his first Christian rap album Testimony of Redemption in 2007. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
Shyne: When Shyne dropped his self-titled debut album in 2000, his deep
baritone was reminiscent of the late Notorious B.I.G. After a run in with the law following a club shooting in 1999, Shyne was deported to his native Belize after serving 9 years in prison. Shortly after, the former rapper converted to Judaism and now goes by the name Moshe Levi Ben-David. (File Photo)
Joseph Simmons a.k.a. Rev Run: Run will forever be in the upper echelons of rap royalty as a member of the super group Run-D.M.C. Following a bout with depression, Run had a religious awakening and later became ordained as a Pentecostal minister. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)
Malice: One half of the brotherly duo The Clipse. The group’s music tapered off a bit over the years but Malice returned to the scene mellower than ever before. The rapper rediscovered his faith in Jesus and chronicles his new way of thinking via viral video releases from his new book Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind and Naked. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Loon: When former Bad Boy Records artist Loon disappeared off the charts in 2007 and reappeared on Al-Jazeera TV in 2009 wearing a kufi, many
wondered if he was just embracing his zany rap moniker. Now a devout Muslim, the Harlem native goes by the name Amir Junaid Muhadith. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images)
Jin: The 106 & Park Freestyle Friday hall of fame champ Jin signed to Ruff Ryders following his rap battle success on the BET show. Lyrically skilled, the Asian emcee never quite garnered the commercial success he had hoped for. Jin later became a Christian rapper following a move to Hong Kong. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images For YouthAIDS)
Mr. Del: Mr. Del is a former member of the Oscar winning rap group Three 6 Mafia. Once known for his raunchy lyrics, he is now a gospel artist that “promotes righteousness rather than sin,” according to his Myspace page.(File Photo)
More than a few rappers have fallen under the radar only to re-emerge with a religious state of mind. Their seemingly spur of the moment turns in faith often leave fans wondering if there is something mysterious going on in the hip-hop game. Take a look at 10 rappers, including Shyne, Mase, Doug E. Fresh and Rev. Run, that experienced spiritual awakenings.
