We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joseph Hamilton Jr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joseph below.

Joseph, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned by surrendering myself to God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Putting Him first in all areas of my life. Being a Gospel Recording Artist starts with that. I had to unlearn EVERYTHING I learned as Romans 12:2(KJV) states ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ That in itself is a process. Unlearning all I have learned to learn Our Creators way of living. Also making a commitment to God and living for God, living in the Spirit of the Lord and living thru the Word of God. I am a steward of the Gospel and I am taught by the Spirit of The Lord on a daily basis how to be a good steward.

I wouldn’t have done anything different to “speed” up the learning process as everything I went through in my life brought me to this point. It was necessary. No MESS no MESSAGE, No TEST no TESTIMONY.

The skill that was/still the most essential that’s not necessarily a skill is being steadfast in the spirit. Letting the Spirit of the Lord guide me and speak through me even in song. As the scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Master, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Master. ‘

The obstacle that stood in the way of me learning more was none other than….ME. I held on to a lot of things that I needed to be healed and delivered from and it became a hindrance in my life. I had to let go of my past and understand that’s not me anymore. There were things that were deeply rooted in my heart that I didn’t know was there and through growth spiritually The Spirit of the Lord revealed these things to me which began to set me free. As scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 5;17(TS2009) ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a renewed creature – the old matters have passed away, see, all matters have become renewed!’

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a Gospel Recording Artist/Songwriter, and I go by the name H.A.M.M.(Heaven’s Anointed Messenger-Motivator). I started rapping in 2001 and became an independent artist in 2005. I grew up military and I listened to all sorts of music but it was Hip Hop I really gravitated too. Music was like an escape for me. Mind you I came up when you would grab a blank cassette tape, and wait for a song you like to come on the radio station, and record that bad boy. (HUSH)

I joined the Navy in 2000(stationed in Mayport, FL), began rapping in 2001, and separated from the Navy in 2005. That’s when I became an independent hip hop artist. I chose Jacksonville, FL to be my home. I could sit here and speak about how much music is and always will be a passion of mine but I’m not. That’s not what I want you to walk away with from this interview.

I will start here. Purpose. Do you know your purpose? Gift. Do you know what your gift is? Do you have any idea what you have been called to do? What you have been birthed to do? What is holding you back?

Jeremiah 1:5(NIV)  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to nations.”

From 2001 to 2014 I was heavy in the music industry as a secular artist. I wrote my own music, did my own promo and marketing, traveled, became a headliner of different shows in different cities. I was determined that my rap skills and my talent was going to make me millions. I hosted club nights, a club promoter, I had artists flying in to collaborate had my name ringing bells. I got to sit down with a few labels and maaaan you couldn’t tell me nothing! You couldn’t outwork me and in my mind I was rapping circles around other rappers. In my mind I was one of the best rappers. Out of all them years one would’ve thought I was gone “make it” right? Them doors never opened for me.

Reckless. In the midst of all that I was living absolutely reckless. I was basically an alcoholic. When I was in the military I was a heavy drinker. I’m talking blacked out at times. Smoking weed higher than a skyscraper. There was a time in the military I remember in what they call “A School” I heard about syrup. I drank it and I almost overdosed the 1st time! It was the absolute same when I got out but it was worse. I’ve been in plenty of fights and started some…drunk. I jumped behind the wheel more than a few times absolutely drunk not remembering how I got to where I was. Everyday all day I had to have a drink in my hand and a blunt in my mouth. I lied, cheated, and was a thief. Used people to get what I wanted but also had a big heart(negative and positive there). I used and hurt women, was a womanizer. Was hitting the strip clubs heavy lusting after women’s bodies. There was a time where I sold crack, then weed, hanging with the dope boys in the trap. Had a few stints of homelessness. I took chances I didn’t even have to take. Things I have done could have gotten me killed, someone else killed. or imprisoned. I was in a period of rebellion.

I tried to keep it together for years on the outside. Inside I was battling depression(couldn’t identify it at first). I didn’t want to live anymore so I contemplated suicide multiple times. In the environment I was in it was considered weak for a man to express his feelings, or cry. Many nights I cried in silence. Was angry, hurt and full of pain. Felt like a complete failure, unwanted, unloved, alone, and I felt misunderstood. I didn’t have the greatest relationship with my parents. I was a volcano waiting to erupt. The kicker was I really didn’t know why. I mean I thought I knew.

I got tired. 2014 I walked away from music and everybody else. Time to change. I moved in with my parents in Georgia(last place I wanted to go). I Finished school as a Merchant Seaman. As I lay across the bed one day a former female coworker just popped in my head. We first met in 2011. We were out of touch for a while and I looked her up on Facebook. FOUND HER. Well 2015 she became my wife and I moved back to Jacksonville.

Nightmare is the term I would use for our marriage then. We fought, we argued, and some situations got DARK. See the things that I thought I left behind RESURFACED. I had enough! 2018 I decided I gave everything else a try BUT God. So I gave my life to God. The ATTACKS became GREATER. I began my transformation personally and I also became a Gospel Recording Artist. The process became a painful one but it was necessary. No church, nor man, I was/am taught by the spirit of the Lord. In 2016 God sent me a brother(brother in Christ) along with a Spiritual Father. They became an important part of my family and I life.

As I began to grow an intimate, personal relationship with God He revealed to me what I was holding on to. Some of it I held on to was childhood trauma, abandonment issues, I was looking for the love of a mother in my wife, and my wife became my idol. Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” There was hurt, pain, my past and some from the military. I didn’t know how to love, didn’t know what love is, and there was still a boy trapped inside of a man’s body. I didn’t even know how to be a man. Basically what happened in our marriage was we unpacked all of our problems and past on each other, and attempted to have a happy marriage. Whew.

I experienced and still do to this day a love like no other. There is no love like God’s love. God’s love has shown me how to love my wife and how to love one another. Gods love has no race, color, or creed. He has shown me His compassion, grace and mercy. It was Him who saved me from myself all along. I asked God one day how does He see me? When He answered it absolutely blew my mind away. How He see me and how I saw myself is no comparison. As if my thinking was absolutely microscopic. My purpose and why I am STILL here He revealed to me.

How then did I realize I let go of my past? How did I know I was healed and delivered? Set free from bondage, shackles and chains fell off? Well…Multiple times throughout this journey in my praising and worshipping I completely broke down. I let out a cry so loud…crying out to God that I began to feel the heaviest weights being lifted from me. It felt as if His hand reached into me and pulled every trouble out of me until I felt a relief I never felt before. A peace within me I never felt.

Psalms 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”

Revelations 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

The very thing Men look down upon or think its weak is the VERY thing that helped set me free. It’s the very thing Our Creator WANTS YOU TO DO. Place ALL of your burdens upon Him 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” and CRY OUT to God.

Every door SHUT because it was not in His will for those doors to be open. Nothing went according to my plan but it all went according to His plan. I had to put God first in ALL that I do. His purpose is my purpose and His plan is my plan. He allowed me to go through all I went through because someone reading this article can relate and I want you know YOU CAN MAKE IT. God has a purpose and a plan for you.

I am here to be a good steward, spread His truth, feed His sheep, help bring others out of darkness into the light. This isn’t just about music. It’s way beyond that. It’s about your salvation. I’m here to tell you about a love no man or woman on this God given earth can give you. Every now and then I feel depression or something want to creep in but that’s when I go into praise, I go into worship and let the enemy know YOU NO LONGER LIVE HERE. I take comforting in knowing God is ALWAYS with me.

So with this Gift God has blessed me to have I pray that it uplifts the listening ear, provides encouragement and motivation, and know that God has a lot more planned for your life than you planned for yourself. Shalom.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When someone hears something that was written through me and they let me know they can identify with it, and/or it helped them get through a similar situation that brings me joy. To know that my testimony and how God is using me for His glory is helping someone in need.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Biggest impact. Bible. A few books that helps the entrepreneur that helped me was books like Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, Why “A” Students Work for “C” Students and “B” Students Work for the Government by Robert Kiyosaki to start

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