Purified (rapper)
 |
Purified | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rowan Meldal-Johnsen |
| Born | Durban, South Africa |
| Genres | Christian hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Instrument(s) | Voice |
| Years active | 2008-present |
Rowan Meldal-Johnsen better known by his stage name Purified is a Christian hip hop electrohop artist from Durban, South Africa. He is currently living in Sydney, Australia and attends Hillsong Church in Sydney.[1] He has released three studio albums: Don't Hold Back (2009), Set On Fire (2011) and Rebirth (2013).[2] His debut album was the highest selling Christian hip hop Australian album[3][4] with the follow up album[5] topping the Australian Christian album sales charts as well.[6]
Career
Rowan Meldal-Johnsen was born in South Africa and grew up in Durban. At age 13, Rowan's family immigrated to Australia settling in Sydney.[7] Meldal-Johnsen became a student at Hillsong International Leadership College (HILC), a Christian college where he studied Pastoral Leadership. During his studies and together with a friend, Dave, a rapper, Rowan Meldal-Johnsen formed a hip hop group named Purified Testimony,[7] in addition to running a hip-hop focused mentoring group for upcoming artists. Purified Testimony developed good following doing weekly rapping shows aimed at youth, in high schools, and at local hip hop events. In 2008, the duo disbanded allowing both members to pursue separate solo careers. taking the name Purified from the band name, he developed as an emerging solo rap artist.[6]
Purified toured internationally in 2009 in the USA, Europe and Australia. He also ministered in 2009 with Hillsong Church in Zimbabwe.[1] Purified worked and toured with several notable Christian hip hop and rock artists such as Tony Stone, JR, Lecrae, Tedashii, Canton Jones, Braille, Sean Slaughter, Everyday Process, K-Drama, Relient K, Switchfoot, Pillar, The Almost, Hillsong United.[citation needed] He has appeared at Australia's most notable Music Festivals Big Exo Day, Groundswell, Blackstump, and Spirit Festival. He has also appeared on Channel 10's morning show The Soup and on the Australian Christian Channel.[citation needed]
He has partnered with Nath Heimberg to form Live Life Loud Crew, a Christian youth movement "to make a difference in this world through the creative arts".[8] He carries a tattoo on his arm that says "Jesus is Lord".[9]
Discography
- 2009: Don't Hold Back
- 2011: Set On Fire
- 2013: Rebirth
References
- ^ a b DaSouth: Australian Rapper Purified from Hillsong Church ministering in Zimbabwe to over 10,000
- ^ Rapzilla: Purified Rebirth album cover and release date revealed
- ^ "Australian Rapper, Purified, Drops Album March 1st". Theoraclemag.com. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Purified bio". Youth Alive NSW. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ Rapzilla: Australian rapper Purified drops album March 1st
- ^ a b One21Music: Purified - Hip-Hop
- ^ a b Live Life Loud Crew: Purified - Latest release
- ^ by NathHeimberg. "Live Life Loud Crew home page". Livelifeloudcrew.com. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ MadFest2010: Guest performance by Purified [Rapper]