Rising Stars: Meet Shaquille Thomas of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaquille Thomas.

Hi Shaquille, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up carrying a deep void after my dad left. At the time, I didn’t know how to process that loss, so I looked to people to fill it—friends, relationships, attention. I confused lust for love and found myself compromising who I was just to feel accepted. That search led me down paths that included encounters with drugs and even the police, moments that could have easily changed the direction of my life.

Through all of it, music became my refuge. It was the one place I felt safe enough to be honest. I expressed my pain, confusion, and emotions through music because it felt like my only voice when I didn’t know how to speak outside of it.

Everything shifted when God intervened. He didn’t just redirect my life—He redefined my purpose. What I once used as an outlet for pain became a platform for truth. I felt God speak clearly to me, saying, “Now you will speak for Me.” Today, my music and my life are centered on that calling, using my story not just as testimony, but as a way to reach others who may be searching for identity, healing, and purpose the same way I once was.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the struggles were:

Growing up without a father present and carrying the emotional void that came with it
• Constantly moving and lacking stability during childhood
• Experiencing financial hardship, including times without lights or hot water
• Searching for identity and validation in other people
• Confusing lust for love and unhealthy relationships
• Compromising personal values to feel accepted
• Exposure to drugs and making risky choices
• Encounters with law enforcement
• Feeling unheard and voiceless outside of music
• Using music as an escape before understanding it as a calling
• Wrestling with purpose before fully surrendering to God

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create faith-centered, testimony-driven music that reflects real struggles and real redemption. My sound is rooted in storytelling, using music as a way to give a voice to pain while pointing people toward healing and purpose in Christ.

I’m known for keeping it real and being transparent, testimony-driven Christian hip-hop that speaks to real struggles and points people to Christ and really allowing God to speak through me.

What I’m most proud of is the transformation God has done in my life. Coming from instability, brokenness, and searching for identity, I didn’t just find success—I found purpose. I’m proud that I didn’t let my past define my future and that the things meant to break me became the very tools God uses to reach others.

I’m also proud that I’ve stayed committed to my calling, using my music as ministry rather than just a platform. Being able to walk in obedience, tell the truth through my art, and help others feel seen and heard means more to me than any recognition ever could.

What sets me apart is that my music isn’t just inspired by faith—it’s rooted in lived experience and obedience. I don’t create from a place of image or trend, but from transformation. I’m willing to be honest about the uncomfortable parts of my journey—instability, brokenness, mistakes—because I know that transparency is what connects and heals.

I also see music as a calling, not just a career. God didn’t just give me a voice—He gave me an assignment. That perspective shapes everything I do, from my lyrics to how I move as an artist. I’m not trying to blend in or chase what’s popular; I’m focused on being faithful and letting the message reach the people it’s meant for.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is obedience to God and walking in my purpose, because everything in my life changed when I stopped living for approval and started living for His calling.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngrmusic.co
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaquille-thomas-675549332
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@iamshaquillethomas

Image Credits
Isaiah Thomas
And of course my Wife Dejia Thomas