Paul DeShield Releases First Gospel Rap Album
Paul DeShield has released his first gospel album, De Shield of Faith, a nine-track project which is “anchored in Bermudian identity” and has 73 scripture references.
Mr DeShield, who performs as Eminence, believes this is the first documented gospel rap album from Bermuda.
“I feel like this album is a culmination of my experiences and a reflection of my journey,” Mr DeShield told Bernews.
“It brings a message of positivity and redemption into the musical space from a Bermudian perspective.”
The album draws on Ephesians 6 and includes 73 references from 24 books of the Bible, according to Mr DeShield.
Its songs address “spiritual warfare, grief, identity, purpose and transformation”, combining Bermudian dialect with elements of the island’s Gombey tradition.
“The title is a play on words,” Mr DeShield said. “The armour of God protects you from the enemy, something you carry through life. It can help you through life’s troubles.”
Raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mr DeShield began recording in a home studio in Bermuda when he was 16.
He later performed at local events including Can U Rip It 2 at the Berkeley Institute and on the Chewstick Foundation stage.
He released music on SoundCloud between 2013 and 2023, but De Shield of Faith is his first official album.
Mr DeShield, 31, graduated from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2017 and later earned a Master of Divinity from La Sierra University in Riverside, California.
His church work has included serving as an elder, pastor and media minister in the United States.
“This particular chapter is an evolution and continuation of my skills and journey through life,” said Mr DeShield, who lives in San Francisco.
“It’s a project with more of a ministry perspective and an uplifting message.”
Mr DeShield said listeners have described the album as touching and authentic, adding that he wanted to offer an alternative to the negative themes sometimes found in hip-hop.
De Shield of Faith is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, and you can click here to access links to the platforms as well as listen to samples of the songs
