Rene Francisco Sotomayor, better known by the stage name T-Bone, is a

Christian rap Christian hip-hop (originally gospel rap, also known as Christian rap, gospel hip-hop or holy hip-hop) is a cross-genre of contemporary Christian music and hip-hop. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United Stat ...

per. His father was Nicaraguan and his mother is Salvadoran. His name came from being called 'Bones' as a youngster because he was very skinny. The 'T' was "added to give the name a little slang edge."

Music career

He started rapping at the age of seven at parties and in

rap battles Battle rap (also known as rap battling)Edwards, Paul, 2009, p. 25. is a type of rapping performed between two or more performers that incorporates boasts, insults, wordplay and disses originating in the African-American community. Battle rap is of ...

. After opening for a rock group, he signed his first record deal. His released three albums on the independent Metro One record label: ''Redeemed Hoodlum'' in 1993, ''Tha Life of a Hoodlum'' in 1995 and ''Tha Hoodlum's Testimony'' in 1996. All three albums were characterized as

gangsta rap Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of rap music that conveys the culture, values, and experiences of urban gangs and street hustlers, frequently discussing unpleasant realities of the world in general th ...

albums, which was rare in Christian music at the time. In 1997, he released ''History of a Hoodlum'', a compilation of hits from his first three albums, on the Metro One record label. After a brief hiatus, T-Bone released his fourth album, and first on the

Flicker Records Flicker Records is a Christian music record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It was founded by members of Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline. The label mainly focuses on rock/pop rock artists, though it also created a subsidiary, Big Ho ...

music label, '' The Last Street Preacha'', in 2001. It received critical acclaim, was nominated for the Rock Gospel Album

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

, and saw T-Bone break into the

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...

market. It was the first rap album to debut at No. 7 on the Christian Contemporary Music charts. 2002 saw an increased exposure of T-Bone to both Christian and mainstream markets with the release of his fifth album, ''Gospelalphamegafunkyboogiediscomusic''. The album was characterized by the guest appearance of hip-hop legend

KRS-One Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from the Bronx. He rose to prominence as part of the ...

on the title track – returning the favor of the controversial guest spot T-Bone had made on KRS-One's ''

Spiritual Minded ''Spiritual Minded'' is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer KRS-One. It was released on January 22, 2002 through MNRK Music Group, Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Slammin' Studios. Hip hop production, ...

'' album earlier in the year. 2005 saw the release of his most successful album to date, '' Bone-A-Fide''. The album cover controversially featured T-Bone in an image evoking

Che Guevara Ernesto "Che" Guevara (14th May 1928 – 9 October 1967) was an Argentines, Argentine Communist revolution, Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, Guerrilla warfare, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and Military theory, military theorist. A majo ...

, leading to concerns that he was promoting

communist Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...

ideologies – charges he denied. Adding to the controversy were collaborations with two major secular rappers,

Mack 10 Dedrick D'Mon Rolison (born August 9, 1971), better known by his stage name Mack 10, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. He was a member of hip hop supergroup Westside Connection along with WC and Ice C ...

and

Chino XL Derek Keith Barbosa (April 8, 1974 – July 28, 2024), better known by his stage name Chino XL, was an American rapper and actor. He released five solo studio albums. His album '' Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary'' (2012) won the 2012 HHUG Alb ...

. ''Bone-A-Fide'' was his first album not to be produced by long-time collaborator Chase Dante and saw T-Bone move away from the previous West Coast sound of his earlier albums to a smoother, more East Coast sound. Also, in 2005, he was featured as

Jairus The raising of Jairus' daughter is a reported miracle of Jesus that occurs in the synoptic Gospels, where it is interwoven with the account of the healing of a bleeding woman. The narratives can be found in Mark 5:21–43, Matthew 9:18–26 ...

in the rock opera ''

!Hero ''!HERO'' is a 2003 Christian rock opera about Jesus. It is based on the question, "What if Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?". After the original tour in 2003 ended, it was released on DVD, CD, and was written into a trilogy of novels ...

'', along with

Michael Tait Michael DeWayne Tait (born May 18, 1966) is an American contemporary Christian music artist. Tait met Toby McKeehan in 1984 when he was in high school. Both Tait and McKeehan and Michael met Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the ...

of Tait and dc Talk,

Rebecca St. James Rebecca Jean Fink (; born July 26, 1977), known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian Americans, Australian American Contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress. She began p ...

, and Mark Stuart of

Audio Adrenaline Audio Adrenaline was an American Christian rock band that formed in 1986 at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. The band gained recognition during the 1990s and received two Grammy Awards and multiple Dove Awards. Audio A ...

. '' Bone-Appétit: Servin' Up tha Hits'', a compilation set of hits from his last three albums, was released on September 25, 2007. ''Pa mi Dios y Pa mi Gente'' (''For My God and For My People'') was released on April 7, 2017 and ''Broken English'' was released on March 15, 2018.

Other works

Film career

T-Bone's first major film role was in 2003, playing the role of Briggs, a rapping prisoner in the comedy-romance ''

The Fighting Temptations ''The Fighting Temptations'' is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, written by Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson, and distributed by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a man who returns to ...

'', starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and

Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most culturally significant figu ...

. In the film, T-Bone performs the song "To da River" with secular artists

Lil Zane Zane Copeland Jr. (born July 11, 1982), known professionally as Lil' Zane or simply Zane, is an American rapping, rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 2000 single "Callin' Me (Lil' Zane song), Callin' Me" (featuring 112 (group), 112), which ...

and

Montell Jordan Montell Du'Sean Jordan (born December 3, 1968) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer. Best known for his 1995 single " This Is How We Do It", and " Get It On Tonite", Jordan was the primary male solo artist on Def Jam's Def Soul ...

. Also in 2003, he starred in ''Black Rose''. He co-starred in the 2006

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

film ''

All You've Got ''All You've Got'' is a 2006 sport/drama film directed by Neema Barnette and starring stars Ciara Harris and Adrienne Bailon. The film debuted on MTV. Synopsis A rivalry between two volleyball teams (the Phantoms and the Madonnas) causes a bi ...

''. His other films include

Carman In Celtic mythology, Carman (Carmán) or Carmun was a warrior and sorceress from Athens who tried to invade Ireland in the days of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with her three sons, Dub ("darkness"), Dother ("evil") and Dian ("violence"). She use ...

and Stephen Yake's ''R.I.O.T.,'' ''The Rally'' (2009) and ''

I'm in Love with a Church Girl ''I'm in Love with a Church Girl'' is a 2013 American Christian drama film directed by Steve Race. It stars Jeff "Ja Rule" Atkins, Adrienne Bailon, Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, Toby Mac, T-Bone, Michael Madsen and Martin Kove. The fil ...

'' (2013).

TV shows

* ''Real Videos'' (TBN): host since 1997-2008 * ''TX 10'' (JC-TV): host since 2006 * ''Hope and Glory'' (

Gospel Music Channel UP TV (stylized as UPtv; formerly GMC TV and originally Gospel Music Channel) is an American basic cable television network that was founded to have a focus on gospel music. It has expanded into family-friendly original movies, series, and special ...

) * ''Hispanic College Quiz'' (

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

): co-host

Works

Albums

Collaborative works

* Appeared in the rock opera ''

'' both on the recording and touring show.

Music videos

*2018: "Ain't Ashamed" *2018: "Chuurch" *2016: "Volare" featuring Marcos Witt *2007: "Name Droppin'" *2005: "Can I Live" (Produced by Kenn Michael for CODEKRAFT) *2001: "Ride Wit' Me" (Produced by King Tech for Bolo Entertainment) *1996: "Throwing Out tha Wicked" (Produced by Bill Boyde) *1992: "Lyrical Assassin" (Produced by Dough Green)

Films

*''

'' (RGM Films LLC) *''

'' (Paramount Pictures/ MTV Films) *''

'' (Paramount Pictures/ MTV Films) *''R.I.O.T.'' (Steven Yake Productions) *''Black Rose'' (Short)

Other

* Performer at 2004 GMA Gospel Music's Dove Awards (UPN, PAX) * Featured performer at the 2003 MovieGuide Awards * Featured performer/Presenter at the 2003 Arpa Awards (Telemundo/Univision) * Presenter at 2001 Stellar Awards * Featured performer at the 2000 ALMA Awards with Kirk Franklin * Television appearances include "E!", "Live at the Apollo", "MTV's "The Cut" and "From the Church to the Charts", "LA TV", "Urban Latino", "Despierta America" (Univision), "Entertainment News" (Telemundo), "Entertainment News" (MGM Latin American Network), and "Keeping it Real" (Soundtrack Channel)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Nominations

*2001 ''Tha Last Street Preacha'' - Best Rock Gospel Album *2007 Best Rap/Rock Gospel Album of the year: ''Bone-a-fide!'' *2008 Best Gospel Performance: "With Long Life" with

Israel Houghton Israel Houghton (; born May 19, 1971) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, producer, and worship leader. His worship team is credited as Israel & New Breed. Musical career Houghton produced an album by Michael Gungo ...

Visionary Award Nominations

*2009 Hip Hop/Rap Performer of the Year

Dove Awards

2008: *Winner of Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year "Name-Droppin" 2004: * Winner of special event album (''

'', a rock opera) * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Gospelalphamegafunkyboogiediscomusic) * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (''Raised in Harlem'' from ''!Hero'') 2002: * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Album, (Tha Last Street Preacha) * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (Ride Wit Me) * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded (King of My Life) 1997: * Nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album (Tha Hoodlums Testimony) * Nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song (Keep on Praising) 1995: * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Tha Life of a Hoodlum) * Nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song" (Throwing Out Tha Wicked) 1993: * Nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album (Redeemed Hoodlum) * Nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song (Lyrical Assassin)

Collaborations

Songs

* "Alabemos" by Marcos Witt ( Sigues Siendo Dios ) * "Gospelalphamegafunkyboogiediscomusic" KRS-One * "With Long Life" Israel & New Breed * "Lonely Man" Audio Arenaline (Lift) * "We're a Band" Audio Adrenaline (Live from Hawaii) * "A Few Good Men" Mack 10 * "You Can't Win" Chino XL * "1,2,3 Praise!" Virtue * "Joy" Feat. Joi of Brownstone * "The Slam" tobyMac * "The Slam Dubb Remix tobyMac * "Rubber House" Rachael Lampa * "With Long Life" Israel & New Breed * "To Da River" featuring Lil' Zane and Montell Jordan (from ''The Fighting Temptations'') * "I'm Thankful" by Yolanda Adams (from the album ''Believe'') * "With long life" by Israel Houghton and New Breed * "Te Amo," by Israel and New Breed * "I Can't Schleep" by J.C. Crew * "Mi Dios es grande" by Josue Del Cid * "Wrapped Up (Remix)" by Dawkins & Dawkins * "What a Fool I've Been" by Crystal Lewis (also features J-Raw)

Soundtracks

* "To Da River," featuring

and

Lil' Zane Zane Copeland Jr. (born July 11, 1982), known professionally as Lil' Zane or simply Zane, is an American rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 2000 single " Callin' Me" (featuring 112), which peaked at number 20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 10 ...

from "The Fighting Temptations Soundtrack" * "Raised in Harlem," featuring Michael Tait for ''!Hero'' * "The Struggle Continues," featuring KRS-ONE for Spiritual Minded * "I'm Thankful," featuring

Yolanda Adams Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albu ...

for Believe * "Lonely Man," featuring Audio Adrenaline for Lift * "My Story" and " God is Exalted," featuring Carman for R.I.O.T. * "Little Jackie" and "What a Fool I've Been," featuring Crystal Lewis for Fearless * "King of My Life," featuring Natalie LaRue for Soul Lift * "Wrapped Up," featuring Dawkins and Dawkins for Focus * "Sooner or Later," featuring Freedom of Soul for The 2 nd Coming * "Watcha Gonna Do," featuring JC and the Boyz for Chill 4 A While * "I Can't Schleep," featuring J.C. Crew for Serius Bizness * "With Long Life," Featuring Israel and New Breed for A Deeper Level * "Te Amo," featuring Israel and New Breed Jesus at the Center * "Alabemos," featuring Marcos Witt (Album : Sigues Siendo Dios )

Producers

* Fredwreck (Dr. Dre,

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

, Xzibit, Dogg Pound, Westside Connection, Mack 10) * Warryn Campbell (

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the Contemporary R&B, R&B girl group 4 All the Sistas Arou ...

Mary Mary Mary Mary is an American urban contemporary gospel duo formed in 1998, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell. Their name is inspired by two biblical figures: Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. They ar ...

) * Bosko (

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...

LiL Jon Jonathan H. Smith (born January 17, 1971), better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, DJ, and record producer. Regarded as a progenitor of the club-oriented hip-hop subgenre crunk, his production and voice presence were inst ...

E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group The Click (band), The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 stud ...

Master P Percy Robert Miller (born April 29, 1967), better known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, dancer, actor and entrepreneur. He founded the record label No Limit Records in 1991, which was relau ...

) *

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/ pop songwriting and record production team. Their productions have received commercial success since the 1980s with var ...

(

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist. Commonly referred to as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, the Voice", she is List of awards and no ...

) *

Darkchild Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), better known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists. Jerkins has won two Grammy Awards from 19 nomi ...

(Destiny's Child, Brandy, Christina Aguilera, Brian McKnight, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin) * King Tech (Eminem, Sly Boogie, Chino XL, Common) * Tommy Simms (Babyface, Eric Clapton, Carman) * Rex Rideout (Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone, Luther Vandross, The Temptations) * Buster and Shavoni (

Kirk Franklin Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American Gospel music, gospel musician. One of the List of best-selling gospel music artists, best-selling gospel music artists, his accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. ''Variety (magazine), Var ...

, God's Property) * Avila Bros. (Jessica Simpson, Janet Jackson, Usher, Mariah Carey, Macy Gray) * Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin (2pac, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Mack 10, Eazy E) * Dwayne "Muffla" Simon (Run DMC, LL Cool J, King Tee) * Chase (Dr. Dre, Az Yet, Rakeem, KRS-ONE, Mista Grimm) * David Bannister (Carman, Cee-Cee Winans, Jaci Velasquez)

Additional highlights

* Lifetime music sales exceed 800,000 units * Selected to do commercials on MTV for "The Cut" * Did four commercials on MTV with Beyonce and Mike Epps for "The Fighting Temptations" * Partnered in 2008 with the Hands & Feet Project, started by Christian band Audio Adrenaline, to build churches and an orphanage in Nicaragua. T-Bone's parents will be moving to Nicaragua to run a children's village.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:T-Bone 1973 births 21st-century American rappers American people of Nicaraguan descent American people of Salvadoran descent American performers of Christian hip-hop Flicker Records artists G-funk artists Hip-hop activists Hip-hop musicians from San Francisco Hispanic and Latino American rappers Living people Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area