Hulvey

Testimony A Musician's Story - Testimony

In this episode of Testimony a Musician’s Story, presented by Sound Seekers, rapper and singer Hulvey shares his Christian testimony. Hulvey talks about how God told him to drop out of college and pursue music, Hulvey then moved to Atlanta, and less than a year later he was signed to Lecrae’s Reach Records. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and wisdom. Additionally, Hulvey breaks down “Back in the wick”, "Reason" featuring Lecrae & SVRCINA, "We Against the World" featuring Andy Mineo, and "Eternal" in the 4-Song-Breakdown, from his debut album Christopher.

*The transcription of any lyrics and some of the interview content may not be entirely accurate. *

[00:00:00.330] - Gaelika
Yo, what's up? In this episode of Testimony: A Musician's Story presented by Sound Seekers, rapper and singer Hulvey shares his Christian testimony. Hulvey talks about how God told him to drop out of college and pursue music. Hulvey then moved to Atlanta. Less than a year later, he was signed to Lecrae's Reach Records. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and wisdom. Additionally, Hulvey breaks down "Back in the Wick", "Reasons" featuring Lecrae and SVRCINA, "We Against the World" featuring Andy Mineo, and "Eternal" in the four-song-breakdown. I am Gaelika Brown and this Sound Seekers presents Testimony: A Musician's Story.

[00:00:49.970] - Gaelika
And let's start with your first music memory, the first memory, whether it be music, video, song.

[00:00:59.090] - Hulvey
Yeah, I was a kid. I think I was like five. I remember being in my grandparent's house and they have, like, this Elvis doll that they gave me for Christmas. It was like one of those ones I stand on, like around Stan. And I remember he was like it was like a dancing Elvis doll. It was playing that song "A Little Less Conversation", I just remember dancing to it. That that became like my favorite Elvis song ever, one of my favorite songs in general. So, yeah, that was like my first that's like my first touch point, I think with music that I really remember.

[00:01:35.750] - Gaelika
I mean, Elvis is a good touch point for sure. Yeah. Yeah. He sticks with you. That's interesting I ask that question to a lot of people. You get Michael Jackson a lot, never Elvis. But I mean, Elvis was before Michael and he had that same effect on people. Oh, yeah.

[00:01:55.980] - Hulvey
And he did. He did. I think is it was really like his charisma, you know what I mean? Like his his whole just focus and like, and to he was just fun. You know what I mean. And that's why him and Michael are a lot of like they both can dance and like they both had like their own their own thing, you know what I mean? Their own their own staple things about them.

[00:02:20.210] - Gaelika
Yeah. I mean, they were both performers, entertainers. They were you don't want to have too many of those these days. So they stand out. And let's move on to your childhood growing up. So you were raised in Brunswick, Georgia. Brunswick, Georgia. Yeah. So for those who aren't from Georgia, you aren't familiar with that area. Like, where is I in correlation to Atlanta? And how is it is it suburbs? Yeah.

[00:02:51.290] - Hulvey
So Brunswick, Georgia is southeast Georgia. So it's an hour from Jacksonville, Florida, an hour from Savannah, Georgia. So it's kind of like in that in that coves I know the beach and stuff. So it's a coastal town and it's five hours from Atlanta. So Atlanta is like North Georgia, Brunswick, south Georgia. So to get some correlation about four, five hours.

[00:03:15.860] - Gaelika

And it was a beach town?

[00:03:18.080] - Hulvey
Yeah. Yeah. So like. And if you've ever heard of St. Simon's Island or Jekyll Island, but is this near, it's it's the same community I was in. So it's it's it's a city, but it's like a coastal town because most people move there for the beach or just want to go to the beach. So, I mean, I would go a lot, but I was like college in Brunswick, but I would go go to the beach a lot, so. Yeah.

[00:03:45.490] - Gaelika
So what did you do growing up there?

[00:03:49.600] - Hulvey

Yeah, we first of all, went to the beach because my mom my dad loved it when I was a kid. I didn't like you. I do now, but I didn't like it. But we'll go to the beach. It's like the beach.

[00:04:01.810] - Gaelika
And I thought all kids like the beach.

[00:04:03.350] - Hulvey
Not what I didn't like was I'd get in the water and then I'd be like, man, it just made me feel so sticky because like the water is just full of salt. You just feel so sticky as a kid, isn't it. Is one for me. But we go to the beach. I grew up going to church a lot. So there's tons of churches. There's like there's literally like three hundred churches back home, which is four and eighty thousand. Population. That's a lot of churches and it's like a concern for me more than it is like a good thing, but there's three hundred churches.

[00:04:47.120] - Gaelika
Why do you say it's a concern for you?

[00:04:48.780] - Hulvey
like, man Christ died for us to be one, and I think three hundred churches says a lot about how we think about about unity and about like the body. Like if we really if we cared about there being one body, I think we'd fight more for it. I mean, I'm not saying you can't have, like, different places, but it's just like. We are the church and the fact that the that the bride of Christ is not united in that way is concerning, but it's also an opportunity because like we can. Just takes one or two people or three or four or five to help unite the body of Christ.

[00:05:34.950] - Gaelika
Yeah, yeah. Well, valid points on both ends. Yeah. So you have siblings?

[00:05:45.890] - Hulvey
Yeah, yeah, I got two brothers I got there, both my younger brothers, so I got one. He's in college and the other brother, he is in middle school. So he's in eighth grade.

[00:05:56.780] - Gaelika
All right. Yeah. So you're the oldest, three boys, two parent household?

[00:06:03.290] - Hulvey Yeah.

[00:06:05.360] - Gaelika
And you said that you guys went to church, so it was a Christian household. Yeah, I was a Christian household.

[00:06:10.710] - Hulvey Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:12.890] - Gaelika
Like how what was the frequency of your church going.

[00:06:18.020] - Hulvey Well, explain that.

[00:06:19.670] - Gaelika Was it a weekly thing?

[00:06:21.690] - Hulvey
Yeah, you know, we went out every week, every week, every week. I think it was just like. I just we went every week, but for me, like I didn't grow until I was actually, like, seeking him myself. You know what I

mean? So, yeah.

[00:06:41.220] - Gaelika
When did you start seeking Him yourself?

[00:06:43.800] - Hulvey
Yeah, I really started going after him around my high school and especially college, like in middle school. I had it hard for him, but I just like. Oh, no, I just didn't really go after him. I mean, like, it's not a bad thing, it's more so than just growth. But I really started to know him like in high school and college, especially college. College was a season for me where I just got really hungry and started to go after him so hard if I can start to just know his voice and. Yeah, yeah.

[00:07:24.100] - Gaelika
So what was it about high school that made you really develop his heart and want to go for him?

[00:07:31.840] - Hulvey
Yeah, yeah. I went on a mission trip. I went on a mission trip with a new name, Doug Pierce. He's my mentor. And so it was him and a group of students from the church I was at. And I remember. Going it was in Memphis, Tennessee, and like I saw some of the craziest things I've ever seen, like on one standpoint, and this isn't the most important part, but still, like I saw a man with a six infused vertebrates, like healed in the name of Jesus. So like a woman, like in a gas station, like drooling on her mouth, like crazy stuff healed, really just. Wow. Stuff like a drunk woman in a gas station sober, like really strange stuff that I can't do. Not because I saw it. Yeah. And like I saw what he did and more so than that I saw like people's hearts getting pierced and like people like. Being convicted like like in a beautiful ways, and people like their heart's desire in him, and then I have a moment for myself where I was in a room, it was me and Doug. And I remember literally like hearing Jesus speak to me, not like out loud, but like in my heart. I remember hearing him just say, follow me. And I started breaking down, crying, and I was crying for like 30 minutes. Remember that being so beautiful because, like. And like, just hear it here, like knowing that he would choose me is incredible because I don't deserve him to me, but he chose me. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:09:18.200] - Gaelika
I mean, that will do it again if that doesn't, you know, make you more curious and wants you to go more after God, I don't know.

[00:09:29.720] - Hulvey Yeah, exactly.

[00:09:31.940] - Gaelika
OK, and so then you say you go to college in colleges where you really like really went after Him.

[00:09:39.410] - Hulvey
Oh yeah. Like I'm talking like. I was seeing everything differently. I like seeing Him differently, like in a way of like how truly, real He is the fact that He's in me like. Even like, you know. I remember like little girls and stuff, too, like I remember just seeing all of them as my sister, just like my eyes were changing, like for real. Like the way I was seeing people, like seeing the potential and seeing like. Seeing like the opportunity for them to get to know Him, like I remember just. Yeah, I was just having, like so many opportunities on campus, just pour in and be there for people and help them out. I mean, like do their stuff and yeah. And I remember just for myself, it was just such a intimacy with God where I was spending every day we're like there's like a little spa that I had, like, go duck off to every single day and just be with him. And that was that was big for me because, you know, it's easy to talk about God and other things, to know God and to know him personally, you know.

[00:10:55.770] - Gaelika
And where did you go to college?

[00:10:58.030] - Hulvey

College of coastal Georgia.

[00:11:00.300] - Gaelika
So and you stayed on campus then?

[00:11:02.670] - Hulvey
No, actually, I was a commuter, but I was there so much that everybody thought I stayed on campus. I was there all the time, like all the time. And I loved it.

[00:11:13.740] - Gaelika
Were you involved in any positions?

[00:11:17.670] - Hulvey
Yeah. I would like go. No, no. That I wasn't involved in any positions but I would, I would go to like on campus ministry and stuff which was cool, but I felt my biggest ministry was just people like this loving people and around that time to like I was getting discipled a lot like outside of the college. Right. By my mentor Doug. Yeah. Yeah. So I was definitely like super involved. Like I did a intermural playing basketball and I just be on campus a whole lot, just having fun to me. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:12:00.480] - Gaelika
So do you say when do you officially say that you gave your life to Christ? Would you say, oh yeah, you were in high school?

[00:12:09.320] - Hulvey
It's so funny because for me there is no time stamp. It was just a time on my heart. I just realize life is like you've paid it off in me and. You know, I love you and you set me free, like, but, um, so I honestly, when I was a kid like four, I said the prayer and stuff. So in the world's eyes, that might be good. But for me, like it was some time around high school, college where my heart some clicked in my heart with him. So to be honest, like I don't have a time frame and I'm like, I love that for myself because it was never about religion. It was never about knowing, it was about knowing. And like he came to to like, show me here, you know what I mean? Like, and he found me, you know what I mean? So, yeah, I

[00:13:03.270] - Gaelika
I like that. So for those who aren't watching and only listening, when he said about knowing and knowing was knowing, he pointed at his head and then knowing and he pointed at his heart. So big difference there.

[00:13:18.390] - Hulvey Big difference.

[00:13:20.820] - Gaelika
And you've mentioned, Doug, your mentor, a few times. How important and just valuable and just any persons want or just a person's. What do you think is mentorship? DISCIPLE'S

[00:13:36.330] - Hulvey
It's huge. It's huge. Like like I said, I just find it hard to think that you can really, really grow without being discipled. You can grow, but if you want wisdom, you ain't gonna get wisdom from somebody else that is on the same page as you. Like Doug, gave me this analogy, like two people in the sand. And they stuck in their heads poking out, trying to find some time to figure out a way out, which they're both looking at each other now, know how to get out it. Say somebody is walking on the sand. I got you. Let me dig up. So it's like you got to have wisdom, but you know what I mean? Like, it takes somebody with wisdom, with life that's been through life. Yeah, but that's what I like. Also going like being made to or by somebody that you see him because there's are people that will mentor people that I don't necessarily mean that, like they're being discipled by somebody who's full of spirit and they still can get good things and learn. But it's for me with Doug, it's like he points me to him every time. Yeah. Like legit like to him, like, that's it. And that's that's that's why I think I value so much this man, the studios cares about him and that's rare right now. You know, like in church, a lot of people in

for a lot of people want to talk about all the blessings and the things and the stuff and the events and the this and that, statements about how great we simply realize, just gazing at him with just that that makes him like that little amaze God's heart beat faster just looking at him. So it's like I saw that matters.

[00:15:21.910] - Gaelika
Like everything that you're saying is super valid and important. I agree. I mean, I've been blessed welcomingly, great discipleship and really strong relationships and like being like. Then getting to the point where years later, because you say it's about the wisdom and wisdom is so important, so then being able to then use that same wisdom that was given to you on other people, but like unconsciously, because I've been in situations where there have people who were like, you know, newer to the faith coming in and they're saying things and like maybe five, six years ago I would have nothing to say, like, I wouldn't even know what. And then automatically, like, things are coming out of my mouth and they're like, wow, that's a really good point. And I'm like, that's literally something that my mentor told me like five years ago.

[00:16:18.460] - Hulvey
And it's because it's what in your life they want to see in your life, like is going to come out like, you know, what was that first like out of your out of your mouth from your heart, just like how you speak basically like what you're passionate about. Come out. It's going to come out your speech.

[00:16:40.450] - Gaelika
OK, so let's move on to more current times. Yeah. Congratulations on your engagement.

[00:16:49.460] - Hulvey
Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. So bless.

[00:16:53.170] - Gaelika
You're one of the people in history now that we're engaged during a pandemic.

[00:17:00.370] - Hulvey
I know, that's crazy. Crazy. That joint just when we thought we had plans, that pandemic not just out. We're long distance to the for like two months, like dating. Like we weren't even seeing each other at the beginning, but first couple of months. So, like, this was so beautiful. It was beautiful. Like, to be honest with you, like looking back at my bed, I'm thankful for that because it showed us how committed we were to each other, you know.

[00:17:32.360] - Gaelika
So what's the distance. You're in Georgia? And she was?

[00:17:35.840] - Hulvey
She's in Texas and Houston, I'm actually in Houston right now. It's pretty cool. So, yeah, she's she's out here in Texas.

[00:17:42.860] - Gaelika
All right. And so the first couple of months, you guys aren't seeing each other strictly just long distance. How often are you seeing each other before then? Then?

[00:17:53.600] - Hulvey
Um, because it was like early. Probably like. We saw each other like once in January. And like twice, twice or three times in February. And then, like two months of nothing else, are you sure? But then like the growth, like because we were committed to each other, the growth from that, because if you really aint bout it, most people would have probably dipped. It's just not going to work. We aint gonna even see each other. But for us. So I am to be honest, I knew I was going to marry her from the beginning. So for me, if I really have no one thing for me, like I knew what I was going after. So, yeah, that's what was dope about it.

[00:18:45.010] - Gaelika
Yeah, the pandemic definitely made or break couples.

[00:18:50.940] - Hulvey Yeah. Yeah, I know.

[00:18:53.550] - Gaelika
Then when was your decision? You said that you already knew you wanted to marry her, but when did you.

[00:18:57.810] - Hulvey
Yeah I proposed. Yeah I proposed it in October.

[00:19:03.670] - Gaelika
Right on. Yeah. And I saw the video on your IG, so if anyone wants to see that they have it, it's very beautiful. You surprised her. How did you pull that off?

[00:19:18.540] - Hulvey
Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork with her friends, like her friends, you know, women are just more creative. So they were helping me get all the details. But I definitely wanted to do like. Passing out like a note, like a note to each location, she went to scavenger hunt, what it was like a bunch of ideas, all of us were kind of help. So it was a team effort, but I can't take all the credit.

[00:19:48.150] - Gaelika Well, again, congratulations.

[00:19:50.470] - Hulvey Thank you.

[00:19:51.400] - Gaelika
And how would you say that God's presence looks like in your life personally outside of the music? Just personaly?

[00:19:59.270] - Hulvey
Yeah. His presence, like, to be honest, is such an interesting question because he's in me and he's present right now. So, you know, like, if I could just stop and pause. So because he's me, I can feel its presence, you know what I mean? So it's like everywhere I go because he's in me and I carry like I carry him, I'm his temple. So I yeah. I guess that's like the way to answer it, like, at least for me personally, is that his spirits, along with my spirit and his like if I say something that's like from his heart or he'll affirm me with his presence like in me, which is really crazy like that he would allow us to have that. Or if something strange is going on, like I get like this weird, like tingling like in my spine, this weird feeling like it's just disarming because he's in gives me that, uh,

[00:20:57.480] - Gaelika your Spidey senses.

[00:21:00.630] - Hulvey Exactly.Exactly.

[00:21:04.890] - Gaelika Yeah, it's discernment.

[00:21:06.420] - Hulvey
OK, yeah. Yeah. Like so his presence like when I'm gaze on him like he's where he's showing me like he's reminded me like yes. On my stay here because I like his presence like. It's hard because, like, I don't need his the feeling to know the things in me, but it's a blessing to know that he will like. He'll manifest himself to me through his presence, which is beautiful.

[00:21:39.370] - Gaelika
Well, yeah, it's beautifully put. All right, so we're going to move forward to what I call the hot topic what's trending something a little more. Off you for a minute. Yeah, so what's trending right now, the Internet's like just on fire and was excited to see Beyonce and Jay-Z at the Grammys. And I don't know if you watch the Grammys. I didn't

[00:22:08.860] - Hulvey
I usually do, but I didn't this year. I actually did. I was mad. I missed it.

[00:22:14.410] - Gaelika
It just kind of popped up. It was like, oh, the Grammys are on.

[00:22:17.240] - Hulvey Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:22:19.780] - Gaelika
But apparently they made an appearance. They came in late kind of snuck in, sat by the exit like the camera caught them and kinda glazed over them and that one little camera glaze, like people were like, oh my gosh, it's Beyonce and Jay-Z. And they're just like people just love them. And so my question is like they obviously have a bad influence on people and couples be aware of their potential influence on people. Is it like a conversation that influential couples should have regardless of like your fame status. And like you and your fiancee?

[00:23:00.760] - Hulvey
I mean, you should totally, um, you should totally be aware of, like, any type of favor or influence that you get with anybody. Like , and personal relationships, because then you can leverage that. You can leverage that in ways that I especially like knowing him. Like you can leverage that in ways that are incredible. Like because there's like even in me and Rachel like. Students at her church like like we get so many opportunities to pour into them because they look up to us so together like a team discipleship, you know what I mean? Where together, you both get to pour in, so, yeah, you should be totally aware of it as a couple like you. And I think it it's like a different like some people that's their focus. Yeah, I wanted to be like. Hey, like, this is an opportunity, but our focus is on God, like on him, but not on like trying to influence people, but influencing people is definitely a tool. Like I think it's all a tool to find people back to God every time. I don't do that, like, what am I doing, you know?

[00:24:23.750] - Gaelika
Right. Yeah. And you mentioned your fiancee, Rachel, Rachel Meloncone. OK, so like people in a church in her church, you look up to you guys and just looking at your IG like I saw that she's a beauty pageant winner. She's an author, has a book "I'm enough" with like I'm black enough kind of in the. Yeah, I'm not exactly the title in the title. I mean, she sounds like a really interesting person with your story as well. So it just seems like the two of you together that you definitely would be an influential couple with in your circle of people who know you.

[00:25:09.380] - Hulvey
Oh, yeah. You know, it's been so cool because, like, we both have our own testimony and God has. Why, he's shone through us in beautiful ways and in two different contexts like. You know, for her, like just her, her. Story of self-worth, like especially the girls like it always translates because that's just something that seems like I'm not a woman. So I don't understand what women go through that, you know what I mean? I do, too, like. I think her message just really relates to a lot of especially what's going on right now, just so much social media in comparison and stuff, just embracing who God made you to be. For me, I'm more translating to them kids that the good kids feel like I did all the good. Hey, I supposed to know him or the kids. I just feel counted out like that's my story. I mean, where. You know, people didn't think I was all this and that, and that's the beautiful part, I didn't have to be, you know, he gave me my values. So both of us have to have interesting stories. And at the end of the day, like, his grace is at the center of all of so.

[00:26:27.310] - Gaelika
Right. Right. Yeah. And talking about being counted out and people not really like thinking that you have all that, I'm not sure exactly your words just were. But let's talk about music and how you even got started in it.

[00:26:44.090] - Hulvey
Yeah. So I was in middle school and I remember. Just freestyle rapping and battle rapping and that just now is like my hobby, like I would I would battle rap kids in the locker room and I loved it. It was something I love to do, even in the hallways then. I remember.

[00:27:09.500] - Gaelika
I mean, how did you even get into battle rap, because that's not something

[00:27:12.230] - Hulvey
oh yeah, I mean, well, I was it was more so like through friends who I put me on to Eminem and stuff, and then, you know what I mean, just kind of happened like because like a lot of kids tried to rap in school. So I was with my friend one day, actually. I remember I was in the bleachers with white, not white. We were waiting all these years before school. So I was in the bleachers with them and I just started roasting them and it ended up being like ended up being kind of funny. So I was like this, I just kept doing it. And then I did like a little song like for, for like a PTA, like the parent events they be doing. I did like a song, like a PTA event thing and like won, and then it was me and my friend Jaylon. And then when I was in high school, then I really started like, like making songs like but that time I'm making songs making like. My own beats everything, and then I entered like a couple of talent shows in high school, just like. I was writing my own raps, song notebooks and stuff like that, so that's why what I was doing and putting stuff on SoundCloud. So yeah, that's kind of like the origin, like all that stuff, like school stuff.

[00:28:36.910] - Gaelika
And the stuff that you were making and putting out was that Christian based?

[00:28:42.310] - Hulvey
Yes, it was. But then over time, to be honest, like I kind of started I wasn't like cussing and stuff, but I was just kind of on some, lukewarm stuff . The stuff I was putting out was just like I was just vibing and. That's kind of whenever I started getting, like more local attention and my stuff started getting better and like, people like it, but it wasn't like Christian music you know what I mean. God maybe put a line into it, but like it was just songs. You know.

[00:29:17.720] - Gaelika
And how did you then get into Christian music?

[00:29:22.640] - Hulvey
Yeah, so I was with the cool part is I was always into it. I listened to Lecrae in middle school, like, so always around that. But I was trying to make it at first. First stuff I was making was Christian. But for me as a career, I really started to I had a moment in college where God literally called me to give up everything I was doing. So I deleted all my songs like in college. Yeah. This is around that time I'm telling you about, like I'm growing on stuff like a season where I was like cutting me all out. I deleted all my songs, like I have literally just put out a song. In college, I was doing well. I like people around my campus. It was resonating with stuff. And I just deleted it. You know what I mean? Like, it was like deleted all of it and now it's hard for me because that's all I had a God. Like after that, it was like you gave me a whole new focus and started to change, like the heart of my music over time. And it was still a process, but. Over time, he started teaching me how to create from his spirit, and that's what I was really created. So I make stuff from him. And so, yeah, I thought that that moment was big for me.

[00:30:42.870] - Gaelika
I'm sure I mean I mean, it literally changed the whole trajectory of your life.

[00:30:48.390] - Hulvey
The whole thing. Yeah, actually, I never thought of it like that. Yeah, it did as well.

[00:30:54.150] - Gaelika
So yeah, listening to Lecrae, you start making God tells you to drop out of college. God tells you to be a college dropout, not Kanye but God, um, then you start making music that's more focused towards Christian.

[00:31:10.180] - Hulvey
I mean, to be honest, two and twenty. Right before I moved to Atlanta by having God gave me like the vision for BTRHNKR the EP I have out. I mean, he gave me the vision for like. So I came into Atlanta with this vision, like I got this project and this is what I'm doing. And I did it and picked it up as far as crazy was like God gave me that joint, like before like all that.

[00:31:38.460] - Gaelika
Yeah. So OK. So the decision to drop out of college and you're just like, I'm moving to Atlanta. OK, and so you have the vision to make the project, but you don't make it until you actually get to Atlanta. Yeah, and at that time you were working at Publix cleaning toilets.

[00:32:00.570] - Hulvey
Yeah. Yeah, it was rough. It was it was good. I learned a lot from that. But yeah, that that's how I was funding you, you know, that's what I was going to fund it. But then. Remember, I remember the dude is working with Zach Paradice, that man was just blessed that he was able to be honest and above all, in charge, but he gave me like a heavy discount. I mean, we we was working every week on this thing to the point where we started seeing it become something that really beautiful. And then and then at that time Reach [Records] was kind of hearing it. And then he was he he then that's that's right. Out time. And they started getting ready to sign me. So. Yeah.

[00:32:44.020] - Gaelika
So would you put it out on just SoundCloud or was it on all platforms at that time it wasn't even up.

[00:32:56.200] - Hulvey
Me and the AR at Reach had a relationship. In college I sent them a demo and he liked it. And so we were talking like for a long time and nothing really came of it until I started a couple of songs I made and these songs that I sent to him, like I wouldn't put them out sometimes, like, so in the song that, like, put me on his radar like I had in my God, there's this I like this kid he's got it. Is a song that's never came out. Oh really. But it shows showcase what I could do, you know what I mean. So yeah. But yeah, basically that's why I would keep sending them stuff. And when he saw that I could make my own project and directed myself and the way it came together, he was a man. So yeah.

[00:33:41.170] - Gaelika
I mean that's God right there. So how soon when did you what's the time span from when you moved to Atlanta and then you signed with Reach?

[00:33:51.490] - Hulvey
Yeah, it was from a song in July. Moved in there in January, so I won't watch it. So six months.

[00:34:03.860] - Gaelika Wow.

[00:34:05.930] - Hulvey
I wasn't even on a right like when I moved in January. Yeah, because me and an hour we were building at the time and before I moved to these are good details, too, before I moved to Atlanta. He brought me to Atlanta. Like, just to come by for this, this is A A three C and then I came up there for that and just kind of built. He to the office to reach just to kind of hang out, kind of we were just building that weekend. He took me to showcase another moment where I freestyle like it was at a secular event, like in a studio, like a big time, like secular studio. He took me and I freestyled in front of like a

hundred people. And that was like a big moment I forget about that moment. I shouldn't because I was a big moment.

[00:35:06.670] - Gaelika Show out or go home.

[00:35:11.200] - Hulvey
That joint was a moment. So, yeah, yeah. He brought me up. And then but then when I came back to Brunswick, like from that trip over time, I remember him just being like, man, I just don't think it's going to work. Like, he just literally thought, I mean, I just like I don't have the time to developed an artist right now. Are you still moving to Atlanta? So basically, like, he cut it off. But I stay with it. And I probably probably within a month after I moved, he went and had lunch with so God's hand was on, you know what I mean? I think that was the enemy trying to keep me from from getting up there. But I stayed the course anyways and moved and got plugged in with a guy named Scott Free. Started doing ministry, but it was so cool because, man, every step of the way, guys, it got to me, so. Yeah.

[00:36:06.160] - Gaelika
OK, so now you're titled as Lecrae's protege. You went from listening to him to being his protege. Let's talk about that full circle moment right there.

[00:36:23.370] - Hulvey
Yeah, it's it's pretty surreal because, like I mean, he was like my favorite artist, like in middle school and high school, so. To be able to be like a voice to people like you was for me is like a blessing. So I mean, I do stuff like God use speaking in my life so many years, I think I'll consider myself one of the biggest fans, you know what I mean? So it was cool because, like, I got to now I'm getting to step in those shoes and know it's like really humbling because, like, I don't deserve this at all. But it's really just a blessing, I think, and just the opportunity for me to speak to people and just have favor. So it's crazy. Like, don't get me wrong, it's crazy. But I know that that's not where my voice is, that you know what I mean? Because one day. I wont be that. And so I got to remember who I am, you know?

[00:37:27.310] - Gaelika
OK, so let's talk about your debut album, The Heart of Christopher.

[00:37:36.910] - Hulvey
It's called Christopher. The heart is like a was like a brief that I wrote. But just to help people understand the songs, OK? I felt like giving us some context.

[00:37:47.920] - Gaelika
So why did you feel the need to to write the context, give us context?

[00:37:53.710] - Hulvey
Our AR hey, bro, you should you should write some for the label because we are presented to the label. So you gave me that idea. Yeah. I just really quickly wrote it all down. Yeah. I felt like it was just important to say, hey, this is what the song means because for the label to hear it they can really get an understanding of why. OK, cool. Like this is the this is what he's trying to do. He's trying to accomplish, you know.

[00:38:19.570] - Gaelika
So what is it for those who haven't read that or aren't aware yet? I mean, this is going to come out when no one comes out. So by then, they would have heard it. But let's just talk about Christopher and what it means to you.

[00:38:33.340] - Hulvey
Yeah. So the name Christopher means Christ barrier. And this whole album is really just. It's diving into who I am, but also like it also takes a dive into some of the darkness or some of the things that I've also experienced, like there's a song in there called "9th Grade" where I talk about. Just being in school, wanting to feel accepted or "Cold Nights" where I talk about being so anxious and, you know, I

mean, like just wanting to be better, wanting to be free. And I think, like, the whole kind of premise of the album is the end of the day. The last song, Washing the Blood starts about being free. So I think the whole thing is what I've always been about and kind of coming off of my last one is, hey, like be free because he's pay for me to be free. And I my true identity is is in him as in who he paid for me to be. The whole album kind of will take you through that like it's kind of like a. It's like one of them, joints, was like, you know, we used to be like super conceptual and like it's like a story like this is a story, but it's loose in a good way where you get to get pieces and be like you listen, you have in different pieces of who I am and what he's done in my life. And then at the end, you're able to put it all together. Oh, OK. I get it. I get it. So, yeah, yeah. The heart behind it is that I pray that people get to listen to it and be like, man and I want to be free. I want to know who I am, you know what I mean, like I want to know that, that he can redirect my story, you know, he can work powerfully in my life. You know what I mean, just as he has in Hulvey's. That's what I hope the heart or that's what I hope people take from it, you know.

[00:40:45.520] - Gaelika
Just so people understand, right, your first name is Christopher in real life, last name is Hulvey. All right. So let's move on to the four-song-breakdown. There's four songs that I would like for you to just kind of break down and talk about. And the first being "Back in the Wick", I did get to hear the album. So, I mean, you snapped on that one. I loved the little piano keys in it.

[00:41:17.050] - Hulvey Thank you.

[00:41:18.220] - Gaelika
OK, let's talk about "Back in the Wick".

[00:41:21.550] - Hulvey
Yeah, man that joint., first of all, shout my manager Pat because a that song me I love Reach but it ain't really believe in a song like that.

[00:41:33.880] - Gaelika Really.

[00:41:34.930] - Hulvey
Pat was like, bruh, ya'll trippen. Yeah. We putting that song out, so shout out to Pat. Reach ended up coming to grips with it. Alright, let's do it. And our team it was just like a little, you know, hey, we believe in this so what can we do it you know. So I made that song the one night. I was at Reach me and my manager, Patrick Bradley, had just became our manager. He flew to Atlanta. He was with me for some for some stuff. And then I think he's with me for for a big video shoot. And then it was so cool because he. He was with me in the studio. We were up to like 6:00 in the morning or 4:00 in the morning. I don't even know it's four or six, whatever. And I finished the whole record that night. And the whole concept of the record is to just share some of my story, share some of our convictions, take people back to, like, give them that sound that like that Brunswick's sound. Like what you're hearing like is super like that. Raw like. Just raw hip hop, like that's kind of how it is back home, like Southern, like the drums got to slap and everything I'm saying got to resonate. I guess that's how it is back home. So, yeah.

[00:42:58.400] - Gaelika
And "Reasons", the single with Lecrae and how do you pronounce

[00:43:05.350] - Hulvey SVRCINA?

[00:43:09.470] - Gaelika
OK, well, this is the first time I heard of her, but her voice is amazing.

[00:43:21.060] - Hulvey

Yeah, she bodied it. Yeah, that joint was real because first of all, I'm talking about loss losing my granddad. That was hard. So I'll talk about that. Also talk about just for myself, like just nights of anxiety that went through kind of had by just expressing that, but also expressed how Jesus can pull you out of that. And so that's kind of the song was really simple, like, hey, you have pain, he has hope. And it's like and you don't like you can't keep like she said, you can't keep going at a rate like this, running from your life when you're meant to live. So it's like keep on breathing. So for me, it was just an opportunity to just throw out a fishing rod. Hey, there is hope, like stop running away, like from what he's asked you to do and stop being ashamed of your past, because within your past, like there's opportunity for healing because he's died for that he took all that passed on himself. So yeah. Yeah. That was a beautiful moment to share hope, you know,

[00:44:32.000] - Gaelika
And the decision to have Lecrae and SVRCINA on it.

[00:44:35.960] - Hulvey
Yeah. So, so cool. So originally, this is SVRCINS's hook. She sent it. And I heard it and I was like, man this is dope. So it was sent out so Reach and they were kind of pitching it around and said, man, I love this. So I took it on. I did two verses. Then what happened is Crae heard and he was like, I want to get on it. So I didn't even ask to be on the song. He wanted to be on a song which was so cool to me. I don't like stuff to be forced. Yeah, so he did. He hopped on. That was because I had the features on his album like. And Andy both wanted to be on the record, said they were I would really ask you and that's what was so dope to me, like so dope, you know,

[00:45:21.580] - Gaelika right on.

[00:45:22.790] - Hulvey
Yeah. And Andy, the Andy feature is what I wanted to talk about next week "We Against the World."

[00:45:31.350] - Hulvey
Yeah, yeah, I love that song. That song is coming out this well by the time this interview comes out, it wont be a thing. But right now, this present moment, it is coming out this weekend. And that song was I love it because both me and Andy were singing about two different things. I'm singing about me and him. We against the world, me and God. And not like people like the world, not trying like to , like say, oh I'm against you. Like the system, the things that are coming against my heart, you know, just the world in general. I just we it's about, you know what I mean. And then with Andy, he was speaking from the context of people by banding together with people. And I love that because both of those are the gospel. Both of those are what Jesus laid out to love God by the gospel of the kingdom of God and the love people. And I think it was so cool that we got to to bring those two concepts together into one record. And we shot a video for like a month ago or a couple of weeks ago, and it just came out so good and it was all of it was just a blast. Like the song for me came naturally, like I was in a studio, the whole hook and post hook came together in the same session session. And then Andy got his verse in his room during quarantine. So it was those cool, like how it all came about.

[00:47:02.460] - Hulvey
So you made the song. He heard it and they wanted to jump on it.

[00:47:06.450] - Hulvey
Yeah. And at first I was like, no, I think for myself forever. And they were like, bruh, he would kill this. You need to put his man on a song and I did.

[00:47:16.830] - Gaelika
Well, it's funny because it sounds like Andy Mineo song on the way before, like, I saw who the features were going to be. And I'm just listening. I'm not looking like what track is way, but as soon as I heard it, I was like, oh, listen, Andy Mineo feature.

[00:47:33.760] - Hulvey

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Is it right down his line for me? I just like what's good. I'm not ever trying to chase the big name. I want these records. I mean a lot to me, like for myself. So it was so cool though. I ought to humble myself, it was more like Andy is dope and he would smash this. It was more so just like man, I feel like I can do this myself. I had an idea like my own verse. I ended up putting the verse on it like, man, I'm so thankful that he was on it because he smashed. He went crazy.

[00:48:11.710] - Gaelika
Well, I mean, it's not bad that your debut like official debut album. Both singles have videos, one with Lecrae, one with Andy Mineo.

[00:48:22.350] - Hulvey
Yeah, no, it's a blessing in this reality is blessed. And I'm thankful to me despite my own selfishness sometimes, you know.

[00:48:36.580] - Gaelika
And let's talk about "Eternal".

[00:48:39.420] - Hulvey
Yeah, a good grab, some people don't ask. Man, that's that's the sleeper on there.

[00:48:47.000] - Gaelika
Yeah, well, this is only the four-song-Breakdown. So of course I got to pick Lecrae, and Andy to talk about, but there were there are other songs on there too I wanted to talk about and "Eternal" was definitely one I had to decide. I'm like I was like yeah. Some other ones I wanted but let's do eternal.

[00:49:04.680] - Hulvey
Yeah man I love. So I wrote that song. Song for me is like such a it's such an expression of what I feel like in my heart, it's like I can't feel his eternity in my heart, like, man, like, oh, I'm going to be with him forever. And in the song, like, I remember some of that. Was it the first verse? I wrote it outside looking at the trees. So when I said sitting down thinking, staring at the trees, seasons come and go but you don't ever leave. I was literally right now outside looking at the trees just like, you know, so I'm writing on paper and this so cool in that song. I just know that that song is for the ones who might be caught up on Instagram, the the the glitz and glamor of the world. Hey, don't don't forget. You know, yeah, don't forget what really matters,

[00:50:04.240] - Gaelika
For real, so, I mean, just the whole, like, bottom part of the album with the Holy Spirit and you mentioned earlier was The Blood. So the final song, I mean, I'm assuming that was all intentional to kind of. To layer it up like that and to put all of that right at the bottom.

[00:50:27.930] - Hulvey
All of it super intentional. So I. I'm guessing for you, as cool as you could, you could tell because that was the goal was I wanted that to show when I wanted it to feel like a spiritual journey, because I the the the battle was, hey, are we stacking too much light at the end? Are we doing too slow? And I realize I don't trip. And this is a journey and is if you can track the whole album is getting track like the first two tracks is kind of like layered like like, like give me context for the rest of the album, but then it gets into the story and it starts taking you deep into the pain. And then like the solution at the end is all the solutions like all of it. Yeah. And I think too it's like, oh he can do that? Oh he's making praise music. Oh he's making gospel trap, like all that type of stuff. The end of the album is definitely like his home, but you know what I mean. At the beginning I like to because it's like musically like current. The beginning is like my current expression, like, like twenty, twenty one. That's what begins to sound like, you know.

[00:51:46.640] - Gaelika
Yeah. No, you definitely can feel it. It's crazy that you were thinking like is it too much light at the end. Like no. Never too much light at the end of it. Yeah. I mean even if you're like in a different place spiritually, like if you're not on the same journey as Christopher, but maybe you've been there, it's

almost like it brings you back to that.

[00:52:11.510] - Hulvey
And so as I. I appreciate that.

[00:52:14.960] - Gaelika
Yeah. Yeah. It brought me back to that. So I immediately like just felt that again.

[00:52:20.990] - Hulvey
So I appreciate that. Seriously. Well. Yeah, that's what it's for and that's what I'm making for my people. Man, cool, man. God, I hear you, though, because for me, I'm like, if you can't tell already my stuff. Like, some of it is really simple, like really simple. Some of it is really intricate, but most of it is coming from my heart. I'm not trying to be too complicated because that's just not me. I'm a simple dude.

[00:52:55.110] - Gaelika
Yeah. Just make it sound nice. And I mean, that's also the cool thing, though, because you may say that your simple but your music, just capabilities are not simple.

[00:53:10.060] - Hulvey Oh, thank you

[00:53:11.190]
You pull from different genres. And it's not like, oh, he only makes Trap, he does pop like you literally do it all.

[00:53:19.470] - Hulvey
Yeah. I love all them beats. That's all my influences. And like if you can hear this that's me. That's Christopher was funny too. This album was not going to be titled Christopher. I wanted Christopher to be my next album. This album was only an EP the Holy Spirit, literally showed me my manager and hey this is Christopher and you actually have an album, not a DP. So at all. More songs. It was like God just did the whole thing. I look back and I'm like, oh my goodness, man, that's crazy that he could see all that before we can because he's God, you know.

[00:53:55.620] - Gaelika
Well, speaking of. So how does God's presence look like in your life musically?

[00:54:02.460] - Hulvey
Oh yeah. Get in. Get into that creatively. So this being a studio like "Washing the Blood" like that joint came right after commuion. That man is doing a Taylor Hill, Crae, Tadashi, Bizz and an engineer from Reach. We were all in the same room and we took community. That's all came right after that literally freestyle. I freestyle that song. That whole song was not written, right? Yeah. From of spirit. I was in there like Phil and his presence. It was crazy. So yeah, that was that song. And the way that that came about was from his presence. I felt his presence that whole time. It was beautiful, even as a deluxe album that would be coming out that came from those sessions, too, which is really crazy. Eternal. I'm outside listening to just being with him writing. "Nothing Without Jesus", I was in my room on my knees with the mic recording myself, the mic far away from me, just with him just crying out, you know. "Where the Love Go", even like in a funny way, I was right, not talking about gossip and all this stuff with the Lord that night before, give me the words words in the intro talking about what I saw on a gas station, saw what God did, like a woman talking about my friends that I've seen, like, come to know him, like writing about all of that. So he is the center of all my stuff like everything I do. Even "9th grade" by hopefully somebody can hear that, and be like you like you've been through that, God delivered you, so, yeah, yeah,

[00:55:50.580] - Gaelika
no, I mean, that records is going to touch a lot of teenagers and early adults who can recall back to that time. So that's definitely going to do a lot. OK, so my final question, now that you've gone through

this process, who would you like to see me interview on the show and just FYI? I interviewed Rockstar JT and he said, you

[00:56:16.530] - Hulvey
really, really? That's my brother. Yeah, that's that is got testimony. Well. Torey D'Shaun would be great because he just got a lot of. He's got a lot of layers and yeah, his music is just super like you can deep down, like is good. Like I recommend, like, he has EP called Boopie and it's a nickname and they call them and it's just is though like that was like from like twenty eighteen and then he, he just put out a song with like no big deal, like he's, he's really dope but tortoiseshell and also I recommend Big Breeze is somebody that I've been kind of. Just trying to be there for my brother. He's he's actually the other feature on my album. Yeah.

[00:57:15.380] - Gaelika
And when you said that I recognize his name from there, because the first time I've heard it,

[00:57:19.470] - Hulvey
yeah, he was on "Where the Love Go" yeah, yeah . He's a dude out of Atlanta. He's got a real he's been through it all. He's really from the streets. Some people I mean I'm from the streets so I know he's really from the streets. He's really seen it. He's seen it and done it. So his testimony is crazy. Also another dude toss out there would be three fifty. These are upcoming dos just really resonate with. He's from Texas. And I know he's been through so much here and how guys like being there with him and even using his wife and his brother in his life been crazy. So, yeah, those are the three I'd recommend for sure.

[00:58:07.220] - Gaelika
I would definitely look into them. I heard the name Torey D'Shaun. I can't think of the music, but I'm pretty sure I heard his stuff online playlists, Big Breeze, I heard on your album and 350 I'm not familiar with, is it?

[00:58:20.960] - Hulvey
He wrote on "Cold Nights".

[00:58:23.930] - Gaelika
OK. Yeah. And is it the number 350 or does he spell it out?

[00:58:28.910] - Hulvey
It's the number, 350, marketable.

[00:58:38.350] - Gaelika
Hey, what's up? Thank you. Thank you for listening to the show. Thank you for watching the show, however you consumers. Thank you. Please subscribe to the show and if you really enjoy the content, please leave a review. It really does help with the ranking of the show. And if you want to go an extra mile, share the show, share this episode. And for all things, testimony, visit testimonystories.com Until next time, I'm Galika Brown, the music lover, constantly seeking positive music.