Meet Ray2k of Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray2k.

Hi Ray2k, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up with a solid foundation in music. For example, my dad taught me how to play drums in church and I was first trombone in concert band throughout middle and high school. I also cultivated a yearning for my own music in my free time by learning how to produce beats around middle school. As an adult I began to develop my relationship with Christ unlike ever before, and taking my relationship with Him seriously. I began delving into the Bible every morning before anything else and truly seeking His face for myself. In March 2023, I went on a fast. The goal was to draw near to Christ, and for Him to reveal a vision for how He wanted that year to look for me. At the end of the fast I felt the word “music” heavy on my heart. I spent some time producing beats and looking for artists to produce for with no avail. I ran back to God in prayer asking for clarification as I felt I was being obedient and His answer was for me to write lyrics and be the “mouthpiece”. Ever since then I have been writing lyrics and producing my own beats to spread the gospel through CHH (Christian Hip Hop). I used my producer name Ray2k, Ray (my middle name), and 2k (2000 the year I was born) as my artist name and ran with it. I started with posting beats on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music and rebranded them as artist pages. I quickly obtained everything needed to record: a PC I built for gaming, studio monitors, and a Blue Yeti Podcast microphone in my room. I began learning how to build vocal chains and engineer beats with the intent for vocals to sit in them. I also studied how to master a song so that it is suitable for radio play. YouTube university and partnering with Christ definitely refined my artistry, and still does to this day. In 2024, I dropped a new single every 2 weeks for the entire year to build consistency, devotion to God, and also to get used to recording records with the objective to release them for the public. I also started filming content to funnel listeners to my artistry and get the word out that Christian Music has a new face and sound. In 2025, I have gotten engaged thus I have taken a break from music. Additionally, I have had limited access to my studio setup, but not for much longer….

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely been a road… smooth, not so much. A major struggle in the beginning was finding people who supported my work. As an upcoming artist it is quite easy to be discouraged by negative comments. Lacking a community who feeds you positivity about your work polarizes perception of your own artistry. Secondly, I definitely struggled figuring out how to record, and also how to engineer vocals to my preferences. It took tons of trial and error before I got any results that were remotely close to what I was looking for.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an upcoming Christian Hip Hop Artist who writes his own lyrics, produces his own beats, and engineers his own vocals, setting me apart from your typical artist. I am known for hard hitting beats and consistent releases. I am most proud of mustering the confidence to release work that I once considered just a hobby.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned on my journey is that faith without works is truly dead. There is no way I could have gotten this far in my musical career without putting in the work. Believing is one thing but investing time in the craft truly has made a difference, which is evident in my discography.

Pricing:

• Features $50
• Booking Inquiries contact [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/ray2kmusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ray2kmusic/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ray2kMusic/releases
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ray2kmusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ReSG3j0qRPd8HGAW9kJhL?si=xYZO_64VSZeYtVBHS7ZIxQ&nd=1&dlsi=3675ee4ba04248b8