By Alaina Coats

Updated April 14, 2025

Faith and tradition have always been a subject of passionate debate. For centuries, the big argument has remained the same: who’s doing it right?

Christian Hip Hop (CHH) has made room for itself in that conversation. The emerging Christian rap genre has taken the culture of traditional rap music and used it to share the hope of the Gospel and to get people “amped” about their faith.

CHH artist, gio. has found his passion in doing just that. He uses his pen, creativity and intellect to praise God and rhythmic lyricism to glorify Him. Earlier this month, gio. sat down with Edition8 to share his chronicle of faith.

It is not unusual for gio. to retreat to a quiet place in nature to play his guitar, write music, poetry and even letters to God. “I just like being in God’s creation and being able to write about what fascinates me about His creation. It gives me a lot of peace,” he told Edition8 in his first, one-on-one exclusive interview.

His unique, melodic sound is unlike any other in the CHH genre. With a sensitive ear tuned to the struggles of society and a compassionate heart that burns to win souls for Christ, gio. remains culturally connected to his audiences, rapping about issues most concerning to his generation, like self-doubt, identity crises, vulnerability and insecurities. “I feel like the lane that I’m in right now is still available. Christians still need that type of music which is what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to fill that in,” he said.

With songs, like “Fool of Me,” “Burn for You” and “We Fine,” gio. serves somewhat as a post-modern day theologian for the youth. He reveals, through hip-hop, God’s limitlessness in His choosing of who and by what means He will use to share the Good News.

“It’s time to realize that I cannot just run from my problems. It takes me and my conscious to solve them,” is a standout line from gio.’s successful single, “We Fine” that pulls listeners in a bit closer into his personal life. With over 300,000 monthly listeners on streaming platforms like Apple and Spotify, many of his fans may think that his life is worry-free, but gio. humbly reveals that he goes through many of the same things in life that his followers do. “I’m still learning,” he admits. gio. has grasped his main responsibility as a Believer and that is that his own faith experiences shared within his music can’t be a separate reality absent from his public lifestyle. gio practices his faith by connecting with other Believers and sharing the message with others who are not.

Culture matters.

One’s faith can’t be lived out or even began to be articulated detached from the context in which he lives.

Between ­traveling around the country and performing, gio. is a digital marketing student, studying at Liberty University, a private Christian school in Virginia. And bonds in brotherhood on a local, intramural basketball team.

As the youngest of five biological brothers, gio. was born into fraternity and notes that his life has never been short on guidance, principles or protection because of it. “It’s been super cool to have older brothers to seek wisdom from and learn from their mistakes. It’s definitely been helpful navigating my journey knowing what they’ve been through,” he said.

His given name is Joseph Giovanni. His older brothers shortened his middle name and gave him the stage name gio. gio. revealed that the cherished nickname carries a deeper significance, too. “I’m Italian. In Italian, gio. means God is gracious,” he said. “Because my music is who I am, I wanted to think of a name that represented that. gio.

represents, family, culture and God and how gracious He is.”

Keep reading for more of Edition8’s exclusive interview with Christian rap artist, gio. on how he uses hip-hop to glorify God and extend an invitation into the Christian faith.

What was your inspiration behind your new single “Fool of Me”?

Growing up I was always introverted with people that I didn’t know but with people that I did know, I was more comfortable. The thought of so many unfamiliar eyes looking at me made me a little scared and I think everyone is scared to open up because they are afraid of what people are going to think. And that was the basis of the song: You’re not going to make a fool of yourself. I think often times that comes from when we think that we are alone in the things that we struggle with but in reality, there are a lot more people struggling with the same things you struggle with. I wanted to make a song where you could shout out ‘I don’t want to make a fool of me and also realize that with vulnerability comes healing. That was the main subject of the song.

That line in the song when you say, “I don’t want to betray myself” stuck with me. Can you give more insight on what that means?

When you’re learning to betray yourself you’re realizing that your flesh is weak and we are so much stronger when we’re walking in the Spirit and with God. It was kinda like a confession: I don’t have it all together. I’m still learning how to go against my own flesh and my own desires.

What led you to pursue Christian Hip Hop professionally?

I really didn’t listen to rap until I was like 14. I fell in love with Lecrea’s music, Andy Mineo and KD (several other CHH rap artists). I started listening to those artists in late middle school into high school and those became my favorite artists. I loved how authentic they were in their writing and how vulnerable they were in their song writing which inspired me to write songs of my own; that’s what got me into hip-hop. I didn’t grow up in a hip-hop family but when I heard it, it caught my ear and became something that I wanted to pursue more.

For those who are unfamiliar with CHH, how would you distinguish it from traditional rap music?

What distinguishes CHH is really just the message behind it. I think that because hip-hop is such a popular genre for the youth, it’s an amazing opportunity for them to hear a positive message through something that still catches their ear that they can get “hype” to or just go about their day with. I see it as a beautiful and super cool thing.

What makes the genre special for Believers?

It’s a growing genre. I think when you first listen to it, it uplifts you and gives you hope because it’s more than just instrumental. It’s something that gets you “hype” and eventually the message sinks into you.

Who is your audience?

My audience is a Christian audience for sure. But there is also this group of people who are just looking for someone to open up to about their lives to make them feel like they are less alone and so I never limit who listens to my music. It’s really cool to see the older generation listening, too, and being open to these new sounds because even my parents were like, ‘what is this?’ But when they heard the message they were like, ‘I like it.’

What are some challenges that you face in the music industry as a CHH artist?

At first it was a balance of how much of God do I talk about because I wanted to make music that the Believer would love and also that the lost would not get turned off by. One challenge that I used to face was “what limits do I write?” But now, whatever God puts on my heart I write it out. My last couple of songs have been that and just to see how God has worked through those songs of pure devotion has been something that has motivated me and has no longer become a struggle. But I feel like I can’t wait to write the next song to see what God does with it. But an overall challenge for Christian Hip Hop itself is, you have Christian radio stations playing Christian conservative songs and pop songs but they never play Christian Hip Hop. There is this whole new genre that they don’t want to open up to just because it’s a newer sound. But there are so many people positively benefiting from this type of music. We feel like we’re lesser. But we are still spreading the Gospel and giving people hope. It’s just a different sound.

Would you consider CHH worship music?

I do consider it to be worship music. I just think it’s a specific genre of worship music. There are times when I promote my music as “worship songs you need in the gym” because they’ll get you motivated. But they are also praises unto God. Worship is our lifestyles; so 100 percent, I would consider my music worship because it represents my life and my life is worship unto God.

Which CHH artists would you like to collaborate with?

I’d like to collab with people who have the same passion as me. I like Andy Mineo and Hulvey. With Hulvey, I can tell that his life is really evident of God and I can hear it in his music, see it in his life, in what he posts on social media and just his heart. I can tell his life is really evident of the Lord and those are the types of people I want to collab with.

What are you working on now and what can fans expect from you?

My next project will deal with insecurities, learning that things take time, just the process of growth. That’s what my project will be about. Right now, I’m releasing singles to build up my fan base so when my album comes, I’ll have listeners.

What are some of your favorite songs in your catalogue?

“Burn for you” is a very sentimental song for me. It is the very first song that got on a Spotify playlist. Also, I went back and forth on whether or not I should drop it. I was scared to release it but God gave me this crazy confirmation and I was like I gotta put it out and I put it out. And to see how many people had a reaction to it and how many people could relate to it gave me a huge sense of peace. So, I love that song. I also like “Fool of Me” because of its vulnerability as well as my song “Mess it Up.” I like all of my songs. There was a point where I didn’t like any of my music. And now I’m learning that all of these songs that I’ve made, they’ve really helped me. And to see them helping others makes me smile.

Which biblical scriptures guide your artistry?

Matthew 6:33 - ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ I love that verse, with emphasis on the first part. We often seek all these things in the world and it never satisfies us. When we seek first the kingdom, we serve a God that wants to give us the desires of our heart and when we align our heart with His Will that’s when He gives it to you. He doesn’t want to give you your fleshly desires He wants to give you your desires in the Spirit. So, I love that verse a lot. I write verses and I put them up on my walls. I’ve been soaking in ‘His love is steadfast. It never ceases,’ Lamentations 3:22-23.

Off stage what are some ways you encourage your fans?

On my social media, I post Bible verses and what I’ve learned from them. If God speaks to me through a verse why not share with everybody else and hopefully they can get encouraged by that and take a look at their own lives. I talk about my songs and bring in Scripture as well. It has a message behind it that people can reflect on. I also include a prayer that people can read.

What is the one thing you want listeners to take away from your message as a CHH artist?

I want them to know that they are not alone and I want my music to reflect that. I’m still learning and it’s okay to make mistakes. Because of social media there’s been a lot of added pressure and anxiety put on our generation and I feel like the one thing that I want to tell people is that we worry about more than we should. Me— I like having fun. I want to tell people to have fun and enjoy life and always put God first in all that you do. Also, remember that it’s possible to do the right things with the wrong reasons. Whatever God has given you, use it to the fullest. Know who you are in Christ first. Know that your identity is in Christ. It will save you a lot of worry. My identity is not in music. My identity is in God. It gave me a lot of peace knowing that we serve such a loving God, such a graceful God that he gives us a second chance over and over again. He still loves us no matter what. If you say something to a friend that you didn’t mean to say, just apologize and seek forgiveness. Know that you are forgiven and God still calls you son and daughter, and that you are still His friend.

To learn more about gio. and to hear his music follow him on all social media platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Spotify and Youtube @wassupgio.

*This interview was minimally modified for clarity.

Christian hip hop artist, gio., has a heart for people