About

A Philadelphia-based independent record label with a mission to make theologically-rooted hip hop for the modern context. Since 2003, Lamp Mode has released over 30 albums. The strength of Lamp Mode has been in the rich diversity of sound, all proclaiming Jesus to anyone who would listen. 

Since the beginning, Lamp Mode never "signed" any artists. We always worked under the notion of friendship and brotherhood. We always strived to be an artist-centric label, with the idea of creating a platform for artists to be able to release their music without constraints. This meant that we didn't make demands of the artists that we partnered with. We just tried to create the platform for them, so they could focus on creating the best art that they could. Here are some of the artists we have partnered with:

Json

Json is a St. Louis-based emcee known for his transparency, gospel-centeredness, skill at his craft and longevity in the game. Whether the topic is parenting, sexual abuse or life in the hood, Json approaches real-life subjects with a soul-touching openness and authenticity. Json has released six studio albums with Lamp Mode: Foreign, No Filter, Braille, Growing Pains, City Lights and Life on Life.

shai linne

shai linne is a theologian, author, and coined the term "lyrical theology". Shai has appeared on numerous independent and national Christian hip-hop releases and has released six solo projects of his own since 2005: The Solus Christus Project, The Atonement, Storiez, The Attributes of God, Lyrical Theology 1 and Lyrical Theology 2. He has since released some albums on his own independent from Lamp Mode.

S.O.

There’s a reason why Seun Otukpe, Lamp Mode Recording’s first international hip-hop artist, bears his soul so much in his music, which has been labeled as “emo rap.” S.O. knows he’s not the only person that has experienced pain, and he wants to show others how to find comfort in Christ during the storms of life. S.O. has released four projects with Lamp Mode Rec: So it Begins, So it Continues, So it Ends, These Things Take Time, Shine EP, and Augustine's Legacy.

Hazakim

Hazakim is Hebrew for "strong ones". They are a messianic Jewish hip-hop group based in Florida. Hazakim are known for their two major releases with Lamp Mode: Theophanies and Son of Man.

As a kid Mike never imagined himself becoming an emcee; being more drawn to classic jazz artists such as Miles Davis, Coltrane, Ellington, and Vince Guaraldi. Hearing the Cross Movement’s debut album, Heaven’s Mentality, changed all that. He wrote his first rhyme after hearing an agnostic rapper challenging the validity of Scripture—that rhyme became Liar Lunatic Lord or Legend—Hazakim’s first song…he hasn’t stopped since.

Falling in love with socially conscious east coast rap as a kid, Tony began writing rhymes of his own at the young age of 10. In addition to writing lyrics, Tony also found a voice in producing and arranging music for the group (with Mike also contributing from time to time). Incorporating the sounds of his upbringing, and the many cultural influences that make Hazakim who they are, Tony has helped to forge a unique musical backdrop for the duo’s lyrics.

Timothy Brindle

Timothy Brindle is the product of God's Sovereign Grace, as Jesus rescued him while he was a secular battle-rapper a week before 9/11 in 2001. Timothy’s conversion “interrupted” a secular solo project that he was working on with an underground producer named deejay essence. In God the Father's Kind and Wise providence He had timothy meet shai linne 7 weeks later who discipled him through the book of Romans over the next 2 years as they got plugged in to a church pastored by Rev. Lance Lewis.  

The Lord also saved deejay essence around this time, who moved to Philadelphia in 2002 to start Lamp Mode Recordings, releasing timothy's first Christian hip-hop album, The Great Awakening in 2003. Timothy released Killing Sin in 2005, The Restoration in 2012, and a group album called The Collective with Stephen the Levite and Zae the Blacksmith in 2013. His most recent project with Lamp Mode is The Unfolding. It's a 456 page book, combined with an album featuring the Bible's unfolding story of redemption.

Since their marriage in 2005, Timothy and his wife Floriana have been blessed with 9 children, including one in heaven. Timothy is a pastor at Olive Street Presbyterian Church in Coatesville, PA.

 

Stephen the Levite

Darrell Bell, better known as Stephen the Levite (STL), is a husband, father, community leader, and Christian emcee. The California native is a son of the hip-hop movement, a student of the culture, and a leader in a new genre of underground hip-hop music with a Christian message. Growing up in the era when Gangsta rap and East Coast/West Coast rivalries were dominating the urban music scene, STL was a bit different from many of his peers. Taking the time to delve into the origins of hip-hop with his Asian-American, Latino and Caucasian friends while in high school, fleeting music trends didn’t sway STL – his passion was tied to the core tenants of the genre. 

During his tenure with Lamp Mode, STL has released four studio projects: To Die is Gain, Truth, Beauty, Goodness (w/ Redemed Thought), The Forerunner EP, The Last Missionary, The Collective (w/ the Collective) and Can I Be Honest?

Redeemed Thought

Redeemed Thought was a group project between Stephen the Levite and MuzeOne. They re-released their debut album, Truth, Beauty, Goodness through Lamp Mode in 2006.

R-Swift

R-Swift released Revolutionary Theme Muzik with Lamp Mode in 2006.

Evangel

Evangel, 1/3 of Maryland based group Christcentric, released his solo album Expository Journey with Lamp Mode in 2008.