By Ryan Zepeda —
Aaron Cole’s mom and dad nearly aborted him, but the breakout Christian Hip Hop star was too far along in the womb for the procedure to be legal.
“How does it feel to know you was unwanted… to know you was just one good late night pimping,” Cole raps on “Shouldn’t Be Here.” “It makes me asks is there any point of even living?”
Aaron’s dad was 19, his mom only 17, when he was conceived.
Today, Aaron, at only age 20, is a rap sensation signed to Gotee Records with three albums and other projects banging on the charts. His song “Right on Time” with Toby Mac has 7.4 million views on YouTube.
Aaron Tyrese Cole made it out of the womb in Bristol, Virginia, on February 28, 1999. Mom and dad stayed together and another baby was born. They separated and reunited when dad came with another child. Today, Aaron has three full siblings and one half sibling.
Dad was a hip hop artist who got saved somewhere in there, and Aaron picked up on his musical ways. The tyke was performing in front of friends and family from age 4. His dad produced an album for the little one titled Fourth Period.
His father had his own recording studio in his apartment and has helped Aaron with his music.
Aaron discovered Jesus for himself as a result of getting bullied for being a good kid.
“I remember in junior high just enjoying being a regular kid, but I would get picked on because I wasn’t smoking, drinking or getting in trouble,” he says. “One afternoon I told my dad what was going on and why, and he shared that he thought I was called for a purpose and that this calling would cost me to NOT be like everyone else.
“It was that moment that I encountered God for the first time for myself,” Aaron says. “And I knew I was born to do this and began writing and putting my own songs together.”
In 2016, Aaron’s parents told him the truth about his beginning, that he was going to be aborted. It was a huge blow. There was rejection but also relief. He owed God his life.
“It’s really crazy to think about it that I was this close to not having a chance to go to school to, not have a chance to do anything that everybody else on this earth is doing,” Aaron says on Rapzilla. “It put a perspective on me. I’m really grateful for everything that I’m able to do. Sometimes we take things for granted.”
The song which discusses this biographical fact, “Shouldn’t Be Here,” is a tear-jerker. Aaron himself cries when he performs it.
“I cried,” Aaron says. “Sometimes when I’m performing it, I’m testing it out and I sometimes get choked up.”
It has resonated with audiences, where inevitably there are fans born of the same circumstance — and they thank him for addressing their pain.
In 2017, Aaron’s music became so popular it caught the eye of Toby Mac, owner of Gotee Records.
His brush with abortion has marked his psyche and his life.
“I feel like basically (abortion) is just wrong for,” he says. “If you make the decision to do what you do, I feel like you should be able to deal with the consequences that come with it, 
which is not really a consequence but taking care of your responsibilities…because this is God’s creation and it’s beautiful because it’s made in God’s image. I think you should really take care of your responsibilities and give life to what God created.”
If you want to know more about a personal relationship with God, go here
Ryan Zepeda studies at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Los Angeles. Summer Liampetchakul, Hailey Johnson and Kayla Armstrong contributed to the article.
Read about other Christian hip hop artists by clicking: 1K Phew – Aaron Cole – Ada Betsabé – Andy Mineo – Benjamin Broadway — Bizzle – Canon – Cass – Datin – Flame – Gawvi – HeeSun Lee – Jackie Hill-Perry – Jarry Manna — JGivens – Joey Vantes — John Givez – KB – Lecrae – Lil T Tyler Brasel– MC Jin – NF – nobigdyl. – Propaganda – Ray Emmanuel — Ruslan – Sevin – S.O. — Social Club Misfits – Steven Malcolm – Tedashii – Tobe Nwigwe – Trip Lee – Wande Isola – WhatUpRG — YB
And secular rappers who have come to Christ (at least to some degree): Chance the Rapper – Kendrick Lamar – Snoop Dogg — Kanye West — No Malice
And an overview article about the state of affairs in CHH: Christian Hip Hop in Controversy.
