The Birth of CHH Austin: A Journey of Restoration, Unity, and Faith in Action

In May 2023, something unprecedented was about to happen. Pastor Urban D from Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida, was taking the famous FlavorFest—a legendary urban ministries Christian hip-hop festival—on tour for the first time outside of Florida, hitting major cities across the U.S. Houston was one of those stops, and with it came a unique opportunity to showcase the best Christian hip-hop talent from cities across the nation. A leader from Houston reached out to our very own J-Nice the Kingdom Builder here in Austin, asking if we could bring Austin artists to participate in a cypher—an unbroken stream of back-to-back verses from different rappers, with no hook or chorus. This cypher wasn’t just any gathering; it was set to be the largest cypher in Christian hip-hop history, bringing together artists from all over the country to showcase their gifts for God.

J-Nice and I immediately got to work, reaching out to Austin’s CHH (Christian hip-hop) community to rally our local artists. But as it turned out, getting people together was tougher than we expected. For two months, we struggled to coordinate, schedule, and spark the same excitement that had once defined Austin’s Christian hip-hop scene. Prior to COVID, the CHH community here was strong—we were a family, showing up for each other’s events, supporting one another’s music, and sharing our faith side-by-side. But after the pandemic, things had changed. Isolation had taken its toll, and the sense of unity we’d enjoyed was gone. Artists were disconnected, and rebuilding that community felt almost impossible.

But J-Nice’s commitment to community never wavered. His persistence and heart for Austin’s CHH scene finally paid off, and we managed to get a group of artists to meet up at Rudy’s BBQ. That gathering turned out to be something far more meaningful than a mere logistics meeting; it was a time of restoration and brotherhood that we had all missed for years. Sitting around a table, sharing stories, praying for one another, and reconnecting as brothers in Christ felt like the first step in a new direction. We ended the night with a group photo, and for the first time in a long time, there was hope in the room that our community could come back together.

That night was the spark. We left Rudy’s feeling inspired but also with a sense of urgency; FlavorFest was just around the corner, set for mid-July, and other cities had already committed their artists to the cypher. We rallied those who were interested and committed, but in the process, we realized something else. Although everyone knew me and J-Nice, many of the artists didn’t know each other. They were familiar faces at best but had little opportunity to connect on a personal level. That’s when the Holy Spirit led us to do something new.

After talking with J-Nice and spending time in prayer, I felt that God was calling us to continue these gatherings—not just as one-offs for special events but as a regular meeting where Christian hip-hop artists could build genuine connections. We scheduled our second meeting at my apartment complex clubhouse, and to our surprise, the place was packed. We spent the evening praying together, encouraging one another, and laying the groundwork for something we didn’t yet have a name for but knew was divinely inspired.

As word spread, I reached out to Oasis Church, where I attend, to see if we could use their facilities. They welcomed us with open arms, and from that point forward, Oasis became our official meeting place. Thus, CHH Austin was born—a ministry of Christian hip-hop artists committed to community, faith, and serving the city of Austin. Since then, CHH Austin has grown from a monthly gathering to a full-fledged movement, with social media channels, a website, and even a dedicated artist account on streaming platforms.

The journey hasn’t been without challenges, especially financially. We’ve done everything so far with a $0 budget, fueled purely by faith, passion, and obedience to God’s calling. Yet, through this ministry, God has moved in incredible ways. We’ve gone into prisons, bringing music and basketball games to those in need of hope. We’ve taken our ministry to youth groups, public parks, children’s homes, and even to the streets to serve the unhoused. In partnership with local churches, we’ve held block parties in neighborhoods and given toys to kids in the projects, bringing joy and meeting practical needs.

One of the most impactful moments was our outreach to the local projects. We set up a block party with music, games, and food, sharing the love of Christ through actions and words. Seeing the smiles on kids’ faces and knowing we’d provided a safe, fun place for families to gather and be encouraged was incredibly fulfilling. Our mission has been clear from the start: to build unity, serve our community, and give Austin’s Christian hip-hop artists a place to grow in their gifts and faith.

What’s remarkable is that Austin, specifically Round Rock, has a rich legacy in Christian music—it’s the birthplace of the largest indepindant Christian rap record label, Grapetree Records (founded by Knolly Williams). Grapetree was featured on ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, Newsweek and in over 300 newspapers worldwide. The company grew to become the largest independent label in Central Texas and the world leader for the genre, with over one million CD units sold.Williams had signed a distribution deal with Diamante Music Group, a mid-size distributor that handled retail accounts for more than 40 Christian indies. Three years later, Grapetree stood as the coalition's bestselling label, with each Grapetree release averaging 10,000-25,000 units. At that point, Grapetree was releasing as many as 30 albums a year. grapetree records fell in 2001. In 2023 they revived the label just like CHH Austin was formed in 2023.

And now, CHH Austin stands as the largest Christian hip-hop ministry in Texas. Through God’s grace, what began as a simple cypher invitation has blossomed into a movement that’s rebuilding and strengthening the city’s faith-based creative arts scene. We’re grateful to be a part of this legacy and look forward to the future.

Today, CHH Austin is an official ministry under the umbrella of Vision2Love Ministries, and we’ve started taking donations to help sustain and expand our work. We still meet monthly, and every gathering is open to the public, creating a safe space for artists to unite, grow, and serve alongside one another. We’re a family once again—supporting, praying, and lifting each other up, as we’re reminded of how God has rebuilt this community from the ground up.

Our journey isn’t over. We’re just getting started, with plans to continue reaching into neighborhoods, hosting events, and bringing the Gospel to those who need it most. J-Nice and I are honored to lead this ministry and excited about what’s on the horizon. God has been faithful every step of the way, showing us that He can use a small spark to ignite a movement. CHH Austin is here to stay, and we’re ready to see what God will do next.

A big thanks to Urban D. for his work with FlavorFest and the pastorship he does with Crossover Church in Tampa, God used him to reignite something special here.