A founding member of the 116 Clique, Christian rapper Sho Baraka was born in Alberta, Canada but was raised in Southern California during the rise of gangsta rap. Sho loved the music, but watching many of his friends go to jail after joining the gangsta lifestyle influenced the aspiring rapper to choose a different path. He left for college and Texas, but rap pulled him back in, this time with a Christian spin as he formed the 116 Clique in 2005 with friends Trip Lee, Lecrae, and Tedashii. He launched his solo career two years later with the album Turn My Life Up, then in 2010 he released Lions & Liars, which would climb to number three on Billboard's gospel chart. Released in 2013, Talented 10th topped that chart and featured a guest appearance from his fellow 116 Clique member Tedashii. Baraka returned three years later with his fourth LP, The Narrative (Humble Beast), which broke into the Top Ten of the Billboard rap chart. ~ David Jeffries