Deraj: Mentors [are] definitely [needed]. Accountability. As you are growing together with that person whom you really adore, there is always a strong attraction there. Sometimes you need people to be in your corner and monitor feelings that come up. Also, for people to speak to you about your relationship and give you a healthy perspective [is very important. They can help you navigate] how to communicate, deal with problems, arguments that may arise, how to really love one another in meaningful ways that will carry your relationship for the long haul.
JTH: What kind of advice have you received from your RMG label mates about being engaged and married?
Deraj: RMG is like a family. They place a large importance on family; family is your priority. The advice that I’ve gotten from my manager and Derek Minor is really making my wife and our [future] children our main priority. Once the music is all said and done, the listeners and fans are not going to be with me at the end of the day. Yasmin and my family will be there. I need to make time to sow into my marriage and my family dynamic.
JTH: What have they said about balancing family and music?
Deraj: [They have recommended] taking the time to not let music or shows consume you so much. It is really about pumping the brakes when necessary, making that intentional time. I want to backtrack and talk about advice for dating couples. One of the things that has been really helpful for Yasmin and I from our mentors is having intentional time together. Yasmin and I try to pray together each evening and/or reading a devotional together. That is a non-negotiable time. For example, when I was in Nashville for a show, that evening I made time to step away from the festivities to spend time with Yasmin. We read the devotional we had for the night and made sure that we prayed together. We have done that on numerous occasions, more so for the purpose of intentionally sowing into our relationship.
JTH: Deraj, I know that you make music, but you also do a lot of graphic design?
Deraj: I’m a full-time graphic designer for a church here in Orlando called First Baptist Church of Orlando. I also own a small multimedia design company called See & Hear Creative. I take on different projects, primarily [musical] artist-driven projects. I still do artwork for RMG. I’ve done stuff with Clear Sight Music, Thi’sl, to name a few, and I do music as well. When I’m not doing those things, I’m at home trying to write or record, so I wear a few hats.
JTH: What advice would you give to aspiring Christian Hip-Hop artists about pursuing a career in music?
Some great advice in this. It’s beautiful to see a godly relationship, especially considering our society’s hook-up culture.
Thank you JTH for doing this. As a man in a relationship it means a lot to me to see what the other Christians are saying about tough subjects.