Truth Advocate

As a Gospel Rap Artist, Truth Advocate's goal is to influence believers and more importantly non-believers to get closer to God. As a young minister in training, it is his purpose to win souls for the Kingdom of Heaven by preaching and teaching the word of God. Truth Advocate was born Venus Stinson Jr. His journey began on December 31st, 1981 in Fort Pierce, Fl. He was then born to Venus and Essie Stinson. As a young child, Truth Advocate, also known as Bishop, knew then that there was somet...

As a Gospel Rap Artist, Truth Advocate's goal is to influence believers and more importantly non-believers to get closer to God. As a young minister in training, it is his purpose to win souls for the Kingdom of Heaven by preaching and teaching the word of God. Truth Advocate was born Venus Stinson Jr. His journey began on December 31st, 1981 in Fort Pierce, Fl. He was then born to Venus and Essie Stinson. As a young child, Truth Advocate, also known as Bishop, knew then that there was something different about him. He felt that something strange had set him apart from the other children he would surround himself with. Venus began to love music at the tender age of 3. "I can remember going to church with my mother and being wowed with how the musician's coordinated the music and how the singer's blended so well with them", says Bishop. There were numerous occasions were Bishop would get in trouble at school for beating on the desk with pencils. Or were he would get in trouble at home for beating on the furniture. Until one day, his step-father, Pastor Thomas McLemore, told his mother, leave him alone, he has something inside of him he's trying to get out. At that point, Bishop's mother and step-father bought Bishop his own pair of drum sticks and paired them with an old rugged chair. Bishop would sit down and beat on the chair for hours everyday after school. His parents would just sit, listen, and be amazed at how someone so young could have such rhythm as he did. From this moment on, they never stopped him from beating on things, for they knew that he had music inside of him. At the age of 8, a family friend that excelled in playing the keyboard was practicing with Bishop's sister. While his sister was singing and the family friend, Quentin Johnson, was playing, Bishop fell in love with the melodic tunes he had heard. Bishop stood next to Quentin and watched him play the songs while they continued to practice. After the practice came to an end, Bishop sat down at the keyboard and began to play some of the notes that he heard Quenting playing. The family was shocked.Especially being the his step-father and his brother had been taking piano lessons for the past few months and Bishop wasn't. Quentin showed Bishop how to hold his hands and how to play with both hands at the same time. By the end of that night, Bishop had learded 3 songs. That is when Bishop's parents knew that God had placed the gift of music within him. By the time Bishop was 9 years of age, he and his family Gospel group, God's New Creation, were in concert with famed Gospel recording legends The Williams Brothers in Fort Pierce, FL. Being that Bishop was so young and no one in that area had seen anything like this before, Bishop was the head liner for the show. Of course people came out to see The Williams Brothers, but they also came to see this boy wonder that never had lessons and could barely touch the floor with his feet while sitting play the piano. It was a wonderful experience for Bishop. And he prayed that it would not be the last of it's kind. Many years pasted and Bishop grew into a wonderful pianist. He never once took the credit for what he was doing with music. Instead he's always given the glory back to God and has always thanked him for giving him such a powerful gift. When asked what amazes her the most about her son playing the keyboard, his mother said, "The anointing. When we're in church, it seems like everytime he starts playing, people start shouting. And I thank God for it". Bishop is now a man with what became a new purpose. Once before, he just loved playing music, and he still does. But now he does it to bring people to Christ. Bishop's ambition is to reach today's youth through his music and teach them how to live a better, longer, healthier life in Jesus. He also reaches out to the older generation that does not particularly like rap music by saying; "If you listen to the message that's behind the music you'll learn to live this kind of rap". Not only has Bishop established himself locally in Fort Lauderdale, FL as a rising Gospel Artist, but he is also working with another young and talented Holy Hip-Hop group called T.H.U.G. 4 Christ. He continues to work on musical projects with his sister, Erica Murdaugh, and also plays the keyboard for the church he attends, Metro Life Chapel in Lauderhill, FL. Before working with T.H.U.G. 4 Christ, he was a founding member of the Holy Hip-Hop group Thugs For Christ. Bishop's partner, Aaron West Sr, unfortunately had a untimely death in June of 2007. But he continues the movement they began with the young men he coach. Bishop has not given up hope that his music will one day reach the masses nore will he. But he confidently says to everyone he tells about his music, "I bet you can't listen just once".