King David the Recruiter

At first listen, his songs sound much like anything you'd hear on popular rap radio — bangin' trap beats, thundering bass, hard-hitting and aggressive lyrical flow. Tune into what he's saying, though, and the message may catch you by surprise. He stalks the pavement spitting, "Christ all in my vein," holding out his right arm.

King David, 37, grew up on the outskirts of Chicago. "I started gangbanging at 11 years old," says the real-life David Taylor. "That was my dream as a kid — to be a big-time dope dealer." He had his first spiritual encounter while reading from the book of Deuteronomy with a cousin at the age of 17. "From that day on, things just started happening," he explains. "I became paranoid."

The particular passage they read discusses curses that shall befall those who turn their back upon the Lord, and King David felt a strong connection. "I had a lot of enemies," he says grimly. "I used to do a lot of dirt, and people really wanted to kill me. I come from war." It took many more years and signs for King David to evolve into his role as a Christian rapper. Despite an initial surrender to God, he found himself face-to-face with his demons again several times. He spent six years incarcerated in Minnesota for attempted murder. He's been out for two years. "My heart was darkened for a minute, and then the light bulb went back on," King David says. While in prison he began writing songs again, yearning to turn his life in a positive direction. Today, King David sees himself as something of a street minister, confident his experiences told through rapping will reach young people trapped in similar cycles of violence. - SARAH STANLEY-AYRE

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Taylor

Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for music came at an early age. I was maybe 9 or 10 years old when I got my first beat machine from an older cousin. During that time I was into creating Chicago House Music and dancing. Later in early teenage years I began freestyling in ciphers with friends while hanging out. I wrote my first song at 17. I rapped it to one of my cousins and I remember he was blown away when he heard it. Even though I knew I was good at writing and freestyling I never made time for it. I did have friends who were pursuing hip hop as a means to escape poverty, I focused on selling dope.

It wasn’t until I started to follow God did I then take music more seriously. I then begin to write songs and shortly later recording.

I linked with an old friend from the streets who used to rap but who had now started to follow God as well.

We began to write together and formed the group Sunz of War.

Within that year 1999 we dropped our first underground Gospel Hip Hop CD and began to perform all across the Twin Cities.

My partner abruptly quit rapping a couple years later however I continued to write and perform.

It wasn’t until 2013 that I began to record again due to circumstances.

Today I have an EP and about a dozen singles in my catalog to stream and to download under my artist name King David the Recruiter.

By the end of the summer I plan to release my first album Most High willing. Then, just keep releasing after that.

I also just recently self published my first book. It’s a novel called “The Awakening” Deuteronomy 28., by Dawid Yashar’el Yahudah.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My road has been a very rocky road. Very turbulent The roughest patches for me included 6 years in prison, custody battles, homelessness, death of friends and family.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a musical artist and song writer. I am known for my rapping and leadership in the community and in ministry.
I am most proud of the fact that I am still alive and in my right mind pursuing perfection.

I believe what sets me apart from others is that I have an original sound, I am an innovator, trendsetter, leader and established authority in the art cosigned by my peers who are all Ol G’s in their respective areas of service from film to professional sports. From gang leaders to Arch Bishops.

The anointing that’s on my life separates me from the others.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memories were when my step-dad used take me the Bulls games. The 90’s Bulls favorite team of all time.

Pricing:

Speaking Engagement
Freewill offerings accepted
Booking for Music
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