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Jackie Hill Perry
Birth nameJacquelyn Hill
Born (1989-06-21) June 21, 1989 (age 35)
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
GenresSpoken word, Christian hip hop
Occupation(s)Poet, hip hop artist, writer
InstrumentVoice
Years active2008–present
LabelsHumble Beast, P4CM, Reach Records
WebsiteOfficial website

Jackie Hill Perry (née Jackie Hill, born June 21, 1989) is an American poet, writer, and hip hop artist who initially garnered popularity for her performances of spoken word pieces such as "My Life as a Stud", "A Poem About Weed", and "Jig-a-Boo" at the Passion 4 Christ Movement (P4CM). She has written for various Christian ministry organizations, such as The Resurgence and John Piper's Desiring God, on the topic of Christianity and homosexuality. She signed to the Portland, Oregon-based Christian hip hop label Humble Beast in January 2014, and released her debut album on November 4, 2014, available both commercially and for free. Hill married fellow spoken word artist Preston Perry in March 2014; the couple currently have four children.

Hill believes that an encounter with sexual abuse as a child contributed to the confusion over her gender identity she faced while growing up, and her discovery at age seventeen that she was a lesbian. She lived a life of sexual promiscuity and struggled with drug and pornography addiction, until her conversion to Christianity in 2008. Her self-proclaimed status as a former lesbian has sparked controversy, with many gay rights activists stating that sexual orientation cannot be changed and that Jackie Hill Perry's experience lends credence to the idea of conversion therapy. Jackie Hill Perry maintains her belief that God can transform lives and that he empowers believers to resist temptation. She signed to Reach Records on June 13, 2024.

Biography

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Early life (birth to 2008)

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Jackie Hill Perry was born Jackie Hill on June 21, 1989, in St. Louis.[1] She was raised without a father in her home and experienced sexual abuse at the age of five.[1] Hill attended church until she was ten. She said an encounter with sexual abuse, school bullying and a lack of attention from boys contributed to her struggle with gender confusion.[2] Since the age of four, Hill thought she should have been born a boy, and at age six she started imitating male tendencies, such as standing up to use the toilet.[3]

At age 17, she started pursuing multiple serial relationships with other women.[2] Hill's second girlfriend suggested that she become a stud, a woman who takes a masculine role in a lesbian relationship.[3] Hill began to gain attention from girls when she assumed the stud role, explaining that "I was never the 'cute chick' but when I became a stud, it seemed like every girl wanted me. I would be in straight clubs and have girls throwing themselves at me. For a girl that's insecure and craves to feel loved, that was like a drug for me."[4] Hill Perry abused drugs and became addicted to pornography.[1][2] In October 2008, she converted to Christianity.[5]

Conversion and current activities (2008–present)

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As recounted in her poem "My Life as a Stud", Hill states that "...one day, the Lord spoke to me. He said, 'She will be the death of you.' In that moment, the scripture for the wages of sin equal death finally clicked."[2] Hill left her girlfriend, returned to church, and started writing poetry. She performed her first spoken word piece at a P4CM poetry conference in 2010, and met Preston Perry, the man who would eventually become her husband.[2] Over time, Hill gradually lost interest in women, and Preston proposed to her in August 2013 through the spoken word poem "The Covenant".[2][6] The couple married in March 2014.[2] Hill Perry attributes that change in her sexuality to God's transformation of her life.[2]

Record label Humble Beast announced on January 7, 2014 that it had signed Hill Perry as an artist.[7] She has appeared as a guest musician on several Christian hip hop recordings, including Because You Asked by Swoope and Instruments of Mercy by Beautiful Eulogy.[7][8] Her debut album, The Art of Joy, was produced by Beautiful Eulogy and released on November 4, 2014 [9][10] Hill Perry is also a staff member of the Legacy Movement ministry.[11] In 2016, Hill Perry, JGivens and John Givez were featured on Lecrae's "Misconceptions 3" from the album Church Clothes 3.[12] Hill Perry and her husband are part of "Poets in Autumn,” a worldwide tour of Christian spoken word artists including Ezekiel Azonwu, Chris Webb, Joseph Solomon and Janette...IKZ. They create collaborative and individual pieces that address topics in the Christian faith.[13] In 2019, Hill Perry and her husband started a podcast called "With the Perrys." They offer insight on relationships, theology, politics, race, and parenting.[14] On June 13, 2024, it was announced that Hill-Perry had signed to Reach Records.[15] Alongside the announcement, she released a new single, "First Draft".[15]

Stance on homosexuality

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Jackie Hill Perry maintains that she is an ex-lesbian, and that her transition to heterosexuality is among the changes God worked in her life. On July 31, 2013, Christian hip hop radio show Wade-O Radio published an interview with Hill Perry where she spoke out against the Macklemore song "Same Love".[3] Citing 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, she stated that "The word of God itself, apart from Jackie Hill, testifies that people can change. So if the word of God is the word of God, then we need to deal with that and believe that it's true. I think we've made God very little if we believe that he cannot change people. If he can make a moon, stars and a galaxy that we have yet to fully comprehend, how can he not simply change my desires?"[3] This stance has been criticized by many, particularly gay rights activists. According to The Washington Times, Hill Perry's experience "runs counter to pronouncements by gay rights groups that exclaim sexuality as an inherent, immutable characteristic", and, even further, comes amid "wide-ranging reports about the psychological dangers of so-called 'reparative therapy,' which aims to change the orientation of homosexuals."[2] Hill Perry estimates that about 40 percent of the messages she has received over social media have been negative.[2] When Hill married Preston Perry in March 2014, one critic accused the couple of both being gay and marrying to "play God to a bunch of ignorant people."[2]

Hill Perry, in her 2013 interview with Wade-O Radio, clarified that she does not believe that every Christian with a homosexual disposition will lose those desires. "If God chooses not to change my desires, he has promised to give me his Holy Spirit that will help me flee from them. There are people who were alcoholics for 20 years, went through rehab and they don't drink anymore, but sometimes they may be tested. If they see a bottle of whiskey, they're going to want that whiskey, but they have a choice."[3] In 2018, she clarified that "by calling me to Himself, [God] was after my whole heart. His intention was to turn it toward Him and transform it as only He could, enabling me to be holy in how I expressed my sexuality and everything else."[16] In a 2024 podcast interview with Lecrae, she stated "I think I use language that conversion therapists and evangelicals have used ... so I think the assumption is 'because she's using the same language she must be communicating the same method' and I'm not. ... What I'm saying is that God saves you for Himself and in saving you for Himself He frees you from the penalty of sin and the power of sin."

Influences

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In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, Hill Perry cited Mali Music, Propaganda, and Ebony Moore as "a few people who inspire me to be great at my craft."[17] Theologically, she names pastor John Piper as a major influence, and even based Art of Joy on Piper's book Desiring God, where Piper explains his concept of Christian hedonism. Hill Perry states that

Aside from the doctrines of grace, it's one concept that has really renewed my mind when it comes to faith and sin. Now, when I look at certain sins, it's not, 'Oh, I'm just doing this because I want to.' No, what in this sin do you think will satisfy me that God can't? It makes my processing of my issues a lot deeper, and it's also expanded my view of God.[18]

Writing

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Jackie Hill Perry has written for various Christian ministry organizations, focusing on reconciling issues of homosexuality with Christianity. Among these are her articles "Love Letter to a Lesbian", written for Desiring God, a ministry of John Piper, and "A Christian Response to the Same-Sex Marriage Ruling", for The Resurgence, a ministry of the now-defunct Mars Hill Church.[19][20] Hill Perry also released her own book, Gay Girl Good God, which was published September 3, 2018. She is also author of a Bible study for women and teen girls "Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today's Culture.".[21] Hill Perry released her second book, Holier Than Thou: How God's Holiness Helps Us Trust Him, in 2021. Hill Perry's third book, Upon Waking, was released in 2023.

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • The Art of Joy (2014)
  • Crescendo (2018)
  • Practice (2024)

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jackie Hill Perry". Humble Beast. Humble Beast Records. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Daniels, David (October 27, 2014). "Christian rapper Jackie Hill-Perry comes out as ex-gay firebrand". The Washington Times. News World Media Development. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Daniels, David (July 31, 2013). "Former Lesbian Jackie Hill Responds to Macklemore's 'Same Love'". Wade-O Radio. DJ Wade-O. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  4. ^ Flores, Ashley (April 1, 2013). "Whole Spotlight: Jackie Hill". WHOLE Magazine. Be Made Whole Ministries. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  5. ^ Perry, Jackie Hill (August 20, 2018). "Jackie Hill Perry: I Loved My Girlfriend—but God Loved Me More". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Newbell, Trillia (March 4, 2014). "Because Jesus is Better: An interview with spoken word artist Jackie Hill". The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Southern Baptist Convention. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Horton, Chad (January 7, 2014). "Jackie Hill signs with Humble Beast Records". Rapzilla. Philip Rood and Chad Horton. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Video: Swoope - #SameTeam Remix ft. The Industry". Rapzilla. Philip Rood and Chad Horton. August 11, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "Jackie Hill Perry - The Art Of Joy 11/4". Humble Beast. Humble Beast Records. October 7, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  10. ^ Solis, Steven (October 7, 2014). "Jackie Hill Perry 'The Art of Joy' Album Tracklisting & Release Date Revealed". Rapzilla. Philip Rood and Chad Horton. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  11. ^ "Legacy Staff". Legacy Movement. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  12. ^ Vissman, Donna (January 17, 2016). "Lecrae Releases Church Clothes 3 with Kanye West & Jay-Z". Williamson Source. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Poets in Autumn". thepiatour. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "Thirty Minutes with The Perrys". Spotify. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Sarachik, Justin (June 14, 2024). "Jackie Hill Perry Revealed as New Reach Records Signee". Rapzilla. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Hill Perry, Jackie (August 20, 2018). "Jackie Hill Perry: I Loved My Girlfriend—but God Loved Me More". Christianity Today. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Smethurst, Matt (October 25, 2012). "Coming to You Raw and Uncut with Jackie Hill". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  18. ^ Daniels, David (November 17, 2014). "John Piper's book 'Desiring God' inspires Jackie Hill-Perry's album". Rapzilla. Philip Rood and Chad Horton. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  19. ^ Hill, Jackie (May 16, 2013). "Love Letter to a Lesbian". Desiring God. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  20. ^ Hill, Jackie (July 15, 2013). "A Christian Response to the Same-Sex Marriage Ruling". The Resurgence. Mars Hill Church. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  21. ^ Hill-Perry, Jackie. "Book". jackiehillperry. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
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