Meet Johny Locus

austinwhite711
Oct 6
7 min read

Johny breaks down his artistry and what's next to come..

We love to discover new christian creatives and are so happy we had a chance to interview this artist. We asked Johny a few short questions about his artistry and what to expect next. Here's what he had to say..

Every artist has a unique story. Can you tell us a little about yours?

"I grew up in Northeast Washington, D.C., in a two-parent household—something not very common in my neighborhood. The city, its energy, and its culture have always been a huge part of my story. I grew up riding the Metro, the easiest way to get around the city, and spending weekends grabbing carryout. There’s nothing like a large half-and-half, French fries, and fried chicken with mumbo sauce—the signature D.C. flavor—salt and pepper on everything. That was my go-to every weekend. And of course, Go-Go music was in the mix. It’s a genre that brings together live instruments and remixes of industry songs, heavy on percussion. I used to blast it in my headphones on the way to school, and even though I wasn’t allowed to go to events, I couldn’t wait to catch a band at homecoming. The news often misses the positive impact of the city, but growing up in that culture shaped me into the artist I am today. When I decided to follow Christ, I knew I wanted my life to reflect Him, and music naturally became the way I share that story. My journey is about showing that faith can thrive right in the heart of the city I love.."..

Please tell us about your art. What do you do / make / create? How? Why? What’s the message or inspiration, what do you hope people take away from it?

"My art is Christian rap, and for me it’s more than just ‘God is good’ music. I create songs that blend how good God is with how hard life can be—what it looks like to wrestle through difficulties with Him and what it truly means to follow Christ. The sound is heavily infused with D.C. culture and hip-hop storytelling. My message is that faith isn’t disconnected from real life; it’s something you live and breathe every single day. The inspiration comes from my own experiences and my interactions with other Christians. Too often, we can be vague or general when it comes to our struggles, and a lot of our stories start to sound the same. I grew tired of superficial conversations—I wanted the real, raw honesty that often seemed like only non-believers weren’t afraid to share. That’s the picture I paint in my music, and it’s something I’m committed to continuing. At the end of the day, I want people to walk away encouraged, knowing that God is present in their story no matter where they come from. My hope is that my music feels both relatable and uplifting—something that represents the culture, but also points people higher."..

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?

"My music is available on all major streaming platforms, and I’m active on socials where I share updates, glimpses into the creative process, and life updates. But honestly, the best support isn’t just streams—it’s connection. I love engaging with listeners, whether that’s at a live show, through a comment on one of my posts, a re-post of a song that sparks a conversation, or even just running into someone in person. The best way to support me is simply to connect with me and be part of the journey."..

When and why did you start playing/making music?

"To start, my father was an emcee for Go-Go bands from the early ’70s to the mid ’80s. I grew up listening to him command crowds, engage with fans, and rap at live shows—often on cassette tapes. He taught me the importance of instruments, transitions in songs, and connecting with the audience. Watching him perform made me want that life for myself. I joined the concert band in middle school as a lead percussionist, learning to read music and blend Go-Go rhythms into my playing. Later, I taught myself to write songs and wrote my first rap to Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” at 13. From that point, I immersed myself in all kinds of music, learning by ear how to write for different styles, watching interviews, and studying the craft of artists I admired. I recorded my first cover in 2011—Drake’s “I’m on One”—at a studio in Washington, D.C., across from Howard University called Listen Vision. Back in high school, my friend Rashad Stark and I used to have rap battles on Facebook Notes from 2008–2010, and we had the attention of our entire school. It was only natural that we would record our first song together. I remember getting the call one summer about him recording, and I immediately grabbed my red notebook with lyrics in hand. The minute I stepped into the booth and my voice touched the mic, I knew I was made for this artist lifestyle."..

Tell us a little about your faith journey and how you came to give your life to Jesus?

"I grew up in a Christian home, but I had a lot of questions that I never felt were fully answered. As a teenager, I doubted God and became frustrated with what I thought He expected from people. I believed that if I did right, I would receive blessings, but if I did wrong, I would face punishment. In 2012, I met an elder woman at my job who taught me how to read the Bible and truly understand it. She, along with her children who were around my age, invested a lot in my journey with Christ. I relied heavily on their example as I continued to ride the fence with God, living a double life. It wasn’t until 2016, on my way to spend the night at a girl’s house, that I got into a terrible car accident. That moment shook me and made me no longer desire the secret life I was living. That winter, I joined a church called Garment of Praise Ministries and began to thrive in my faith, though I still approached it in a more outwardly “religious” way. At the beginning of 2018, I fell back into a life of sin and selfishness. I was living with a girl, and we planned to spend our lives together. One day, while she was away on vacation, I was alone in her apartment and felt a heavy conviction. I opened my Bible for the first time in a long while, immediately broke up with her, and surrendered my life fully back to Christ. This time, I genuinely desired to follow Him—not just do the “right thing.” In early 2019, I met a DJ named Bryce G, and together with a Campus Minister and Lead Evangelist, we studied the Bible. It was then that I truly understood what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Today, I can say I have been a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ since August 19, 2019. I don’t discredit my journey before that, but that date marks the moment I fully realized this isn’t just a decision—it’s forever."..

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

"I’ve become a bit of a jack-of-all-trades with the variety of jobs I’ve held. My first job was as a courtesy clerk at a grocery store, and since then I’ve worked in local government in D.C. as an entry-level distributor for state IDs. I’ve also served as Merchandise Manager at a bookstore, Bike Tech at a sports store, Footwear Manager in a shoe department, Associate at a game store, Store Manager at a music store, and even as a banker at a commercial bank. Currently, I serve as a part-time minister at my church, which allows me to combine my professional experience with my passion for serving others."..

How do you balance your music with other obligations - significant other, children, job etc? Are you full time music?

"This an area I am still growing in. One thing I found in balance is overly communicating. Especially, when it comes to my wife. We have to be one in everything we decide in our marriage. We made the decision for me to become a full time musician Jan 2025. My wife is involved in everything I do. She is my rock and my wisdom. We pray before every decision and have a scripture I am to be reminded by. 1 Kings 3: 7-14. In verse 8, Solomon asked for a discerning heart to govern Gods people. I thought it was so powerful. What I realized in Gods response was even more powerful. God not only granted Solomon with wisdom, wealth and honor. He also shared with Solomon, IF he walked in obedience and kept Gods decrees and commands. He would give Solomon a long life. Not only do I desire wisdom to lead Gods people with my ministry in music, I desire way more to walk in obedience and stay faithful to Christ. I want Jesus more for my life than anything else."..

What advice would you give up and coming independent artists?

"USE YOUR RESOURCES! I can’t stress this enough—I didn’t learn it until my 14th year as an independent artist. You don’t need a full team, a videographer, or a lot of money right away. Whatever God has blessed you with, use it to your advantage. Find historic spots or unique locations in your city and use them for recording opportunities. God will show favor with what you place in His hands. Finally, stay faithful to God and allow Him to guide you as you navigate success as a Christian artist. It’s easy to get sidetracked when you aren’t praying or meditating on Him, so make Him the center of your journey.."..

Do you plan to stay independent as an artist? What's the next move?

"My plan is to continue as an independent artist unless a label comes along that makes sense for my next step. Right now, my focus is on establishing myself and making my mark as an artist in the DMV."...

What can we expect next from you?

"My most recent project, The Inevitable, was released in March 2025. Moving forward, you can expect more content highlighting this project, plenty of live shows, and collaborations with other Christian artists."