Biography
My Genesis:
My maiden name is James Albert Owens. I was born in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina at Memorial Hospital. I was born on the 29th day of November 1981. At the age of seven years young I continued to grow up in a single parent household. As I was raised with just my brother and mother, I slowly started to turn to the streets for ways and standards of living. After finding those standards and statues, I morphed into a very angry, sexual, quick tempered, emotional and mental abuser. I was rebellious. I was emotionally, mentally, and sexually abused as a youth. What I see as the biggest contributor to my past lifestyle, was my lack of self-esteem, which lead to trying everything under the sun in order to find…myself.
My Journey:
Once I moved out of my mother’s home by way of the United States Army in June of 2000, two weeks after my graduation. I was now living what many in the hood would say, “life in the fast lane”. As soon as I came into the military, I married a beautiful woman and very soon after we had a son by the name of Micah Arthur Owens at the age of 18 years young. And three years later I was stripped of my marriage and son because I was enslaved to sin. Sin drove me so far to the point were God had to strip me down to nothing, both naturally and spiritually.
I deployed to Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom II from October 15, 2004- September 17, 2005. While working in the Military due to financial problems I ended up working at Ryan’s Family Restaurant. After two years of hell God sent such a profound message to me in the form of people.
Da Clay’s book of Matthew (first book of my New Testament):
One day, as the Lord set a divine appointment for me to meet Pastor Anthony McCoy and Co-Pastor Sherri McCoy. Me, an ordinary waiter at Ryan's, would meet these two spectacular people of God as they dined at my table (Sunday afternoon is the best time and day for large tips). This just happened to be the day when my ex-wife and I were fighting and talked about divorcing each other. So, on this Sunday after a Church service they begin to minister to me right off the back through non-verbal character. Through out the course of the meal they were planting seeds as if I was good ground or something. Then for dessert they had sweets and I had their contact information. Seemingly, osmosis transported me through the doors of Transforming Life Fellowship Ministry on Veterans Memorial in Killeen, Texas (at the time). After about a month of Sundays and still clubbing at City Lights night club every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; stripping on Thursdays. So, I was back to the old James again, not implying that I gave my life to the Lord or nothing. I ran into my soul mate, best friend, encourager, and biggest fan; her name is Teri Nicole Owens. I am a Sagittarius and she’s a Virgo like Jay-Z and Beyounce. Shameful to say she drew me out of my new habit of simply going to church on Sundays. Instead, I spent more time sinning with her. She complained multiple times about not being ready to give her life the Lord let alone simply going to hear a word. Then later we began to get serious in our relationship and I asked her to come with me to church and she came. Months down the road we broke up because I finally gave my life to the Lord and she still wasn't ready. After about two weeks of separation she came to church on her own and eventually got saved.
Henceforth, about a month after salvation, I began to get this powerful urge to put my bible studies in a rap in order to remember what we learned because our bible study at the time was school; so we needed to learn what we was taught. That progressed to me writing raps about God and my past life. Although, at the time, Teri would tell me to stop trying to rap because I couldn’t; due to the fact that I didn’t rap before I got saved-I tried many times in my youth but I was just trying to be like the videos. Then shortly after I deployed to Iraq I got orders to be stationed in Fort Carson (Colorado Springs), Colorado. I was scared to go to Fort Carson simply because I felt that I would never find pastor’s, brothers and sisters that would accept my oversized jeans, 3-4x tall T's, and me thuggish jargon. Little did I know that God had pre-ordained a group of people that would help launch me into my “Prophetic Place”. And I was prophesied this by my Leaders Anthony and Sherri McCoy of Transforming Life Fellowship Ministry (TLFM) and confirmed later by my present spiritual masters. No matter how much I tried to first get out of the Army in order to stay there at TLFM and even try to turn down or delay my orders. They kept saying don’t be scared to go to Colorado and walk in your purpose because God allowed it for a reason. So I went and when…
Da Clay’s present book of Revelation:
I got stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado in March 3, 2006. Soon after that I ran into my purpose head-on. I was at the Citadel Mall, in Colorado Springs just enjoying myself. As I was cheerfully walking to my car I noticed an orange flyer in the windshield wiper. It said something about a Talent Show at a church called “Spoken Word International Church For All People”(SWIMFAP). So instead of calling the point of contact number that was at the bottom of the page, I chose to go there in person to see what the stage looked like (cause I use to dream of being on a stage). And when I a walked into the building people were laying in the floor in sleeping bags as if this place was a place for the homeless or something. As I continued to walk through the doors seeking for more information about the talent show I young women came up to me with arms wide open. The only other place that I have ever known for love to rain so great was at TLFM, so I felt at home after that. Then I asked her is this SWIMFAP. She replied, “Yes it is and all these people on the ground in sleeping bags are some members of the church. We are sorry for the way things seem but we are having a sabbatical were we consecrate ourselves, pray, fast, learn, and teach all while we are locked inside the church for the next 3 days”. That moment alone told me the character of the leaders of this house; they were really serious about a relationship with Christ not a religion. Then she turned me to a man and a woman with a smile that seriously rekindled my spiritual flame and their names are Drs. Gregory and Sheryl Burns, the pastors/ leaders of this great group of people. I felt the unconditional love so strong that in my mind & heart I was a member already.
So they allowed me to sit in on the lesson/ bible study for that night and when I left around about 10:30 p.m. I was so full of the word that I went to sleep as soon as I got home and I went back that very next morning (I was on leave in transition to my new military unit). So after that lesson was over on the second day I immediately asked when and how were they going to do the Talent Show? Then Dr. Sheryl Burns said, “That the Talent Show was cancelled due to lack of public participation”. Then she asked me, “How did I hear about it”? I replied, “ By way of a flyer sitting my car window”. Then she responded saying to me something so prophetic. She said, “ That was a powerful word today wasn’t it!" I said, “ Yes it was!” Then she said, “Perhaps God brought you here to move in to your new home”. Then she just smiled and walked away. And I was just speechless and thought about those words all the way home. So the following Sunday I became the ministry hand in covenant with a serious alt against the devil.
How Da Clay came about:
I finally got settled into my new unit, Dog Company 1st Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division as the Supply NCOIC. After about a month or two of being at this Company I went to turn in some paperwork at Property Book Office level. And as I was waiting to get some paperwork signed I began to write and the Warrant Officer over this particular office just happens to ask me what I’m I writing. I thought in my head he wouldn’t understand that I write Christian raps (because too many people combat against the word of God in this medium because it isn't traditional). So, he asked me again what am I writing. I said, “ You wouldn’t understand”. Then he said, “ Let me hear it Sergeant Owens”. So I gave him exactly what he asked for and I did that song as loud as I possibly could, he looked at me stunned with the deer-in-the headlights kind of look. And after everyone in the building looked at me like I was crazy to be rapping about Christ, from my point of view, he spoke up and said, “ I am S.O.C.O.M. of Double Edge Sword Records and I to am a Christian Rapper”. Then as he gave me a free copy of his newly released album titled: Tha Arrival I suddenly remembered what Pastors Anthony and Sherri McCoy prophesied. Then that was just the beginning of my newly found love for God and hate for the devil, which I express so passionately through out my music. And I thank Jesus for making it all possible for me to get back up after falling numerous times, I thank God for sending Jesus as an example, I thank my beautiful wife, I thank all of my leaders (past and present) for giving me a chance to be me and then being the me that God has called me to be, and lastly but surely not least thank the whole Double Edge Sword Family for allowing me to introduce myself to the world.
I am Da Clay-constantly being shaped and molded into God's beautiful image.
Instrumentation
I am a solo artist of Double Edge Sword Records. All I need is time, my voice, God, and a mic.
Discography
2006 - Da Clay - Self titled EP
2007 - Genesis: My life after His death will release Oct 16
Links
| http://www.DoubleSwordMedia.com |