Andy Mineo

Andrew Aaron Mineo[1] (born April 17, 1988), is an American Christian hip hop[2] artist, producer, music executive, and video director based in New York City. He is signed to Reach Records and his creative initiative Miner League. In addition to his solo work, he is a member of Reach Records' hip hop collective 116 Clique.

Andy Mineo
Mineo backstage at The Wiltern, Los Angeles, in 2017 on the Friends & Family Tour
Background information
Birth nameAndrew Aaron Mineo
Also known asC-Lite
Born (1988-04-17) April 17, 1988
Syracuse, New York
GenresChristian hip hop, hip hop
Occupation(s)
Years active2001–present
LabelsTrace Music Group, Marshall Street, Miner League, Reach
Associated acts116 Clique, Wordsplayed
Websiteandymineo.com

Originally from Syracuse, Mineo worked as a producer in high school at Henninger High School in Upstate New York, and joined the hip-hop group Fat Camp, signed to Syracuse University's Marshall Street Records. After moving to New York City, he realized his weak spiritual condition, re-dedicated his life to Christ and closed down his production studio in order to restart his career. He independently released his first mixtape Sin is Wack in 2009 and joined a community outreach program created by Nicky Cruz called T.R.U.C.E. where he met long-time friends and collaborators Alex Medina, Wordsplayed, Rich Perez and others. Upon meeting, Andy began collaborating with Alex Medina on a record called "Background" that would later be placed on Lecrae's Rehab album and was Andy's introduction to Reach Records.[3]

In 2011, Andy released "In My City", a single featuring Efrain from Doubledge, that continued to build momentum and buzz. After rebranding from C-Lite, Andy signed with Reach Records and released, Formerly Known, a full-length studio album, Heroes for Sale on April 16, 2013. On January 28, 2014, he released an EP titled Never Land. His sophomore album, Uncomfortable, was released on September 18, 2015.

Andy began building his own creative initiative, Miner League and signed Wordsplayed along with L.A.-based alternative artist Willow Stephens that featured on his "Strange Motions" track on Uncomfortable. In 2016, the first project from the initiative, Clowntown, was released by Wordsplayed[4] and followed by Willow Stephens' self-titled EP.[5] In 2017, Miner League and Reach Records partnered to release a collaborative mixtape titled, Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird on August 4, 2017.

His video and television work includes "Saturday Morning Car-Tunez", "League Chumps Season 1", and co-direction on numerous of his own music videos. As a producer, his work includes tracks from his self-released "In My City", Formerly Known, Saturday Morning Car-Tunez, and Heroes for Sale. He also produced the single "Destiny" by Sheena Lee, in which he was a featured performer, and, along with rapper Derek Minor, aided DJ Official in producing "Power Trip" by Lecrae, featuring Andy Mineo, Derek Minor, and Sho Baraka, from the album Gravity. Gravity won the Best Gospel Album category in the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Early life

Mineo was raised in a single-parent home in Syracuse, New York.[6][7] In the summer before entering the 8th grade, Mineo went to a Summer camp at which his sister worked as a counselor and was exposed to the Gospel and his life had changed.[6][7] However, after his conversion, Mineo went into high school with no Christian support, and he soon drifted away from his faith.[6][7] While in high school, Mineo acquired recording equipment and started selling studio time out of his home.[6] He had formed a friendship with Chris "Oxburg" Leonard, and the pair recorded a song together in 2001.[8]

Career

After graduating from The City College of New York (CCNY),[9] Mineo, along with Leonard, joined a rap group called Fat Camp, which subsequently won a song contest for WJPZ-FM and signed to Syracuse University's Marshall Street Records.[8] The group opened up for major acts such as Jadakiss, The Roots and Common, as well as members of the underground scene, such as Immortal Technique and Dead Prez, when said artists performed at the University.[7] In 2006, the group recorded and released a studio album entitled The Food.[8]

In his first year of college, Mineo met the producer Alex Medina and through him discovered the urban evangelism project T.R.U.C.E.[6][7] After hearing the song "Price Tag" by Da' T.R.U.T.H., Mineo decided to close his studio and rededicate his life to Christ.[10] He also left Fat Camp, which promptly dissolved.[8] Although he is a Christian, he chooses to not to identify as a "Christian rapper", because he feels the label turns some people off.[11]

Following the closure of his studio, Mineo went on tour with T.R.U.C.E. He released his first mixtape, Sin is Wack.[6] Mineo explained in an interview that he came up with the concept of the "Sin is Wack" title through his work with T.R.U.C.E.[10] Following this release, Mineo sang on the Lecrae song "Background" from Rehab in 2010 and "Reverse" from Blacklight by Tedashii in 2011.[6][10] Mineo explained to Rapzilla "Background" was his first attempt at singing, and following the success of that song he received subsequent requests.[10] The Christian Manifesto claimed that Mineo's hook for "Background" made Rehab one of the best Christian albums to date, and stated that Mineo became one of the most sought after artists, particularly for singing hooks.[12] When asked about his recognition as a singer instead of an emcee, Mineo stated that "I enjoy making melodies", and said he wasn't too concerned about rapping when he supplied hooks for songs and was content with the opportunity to serve in any capacity.[10] Mineo contributed to "Put On" from Captured by Flame and "The Reunion Cypha" on Stop the Funeral by The Ambassador.[6][10] He released the single "In My City" in 2011 as part of the God in My City Movement prayer walk that Mineo was involved in. The song was reported by Rapzilla to become an "anthem for a lot of people."[10]

On July 28, 2011, at Legacy Conference 2011, Reach Records announced that Mineo had signed with the label.[13] Upon signing with the label, Mineo abandoned the stage name C-Lite, stating that he "never really liked the name" and that his signing marked a good time to transition to his legal name.[14] He released his debut mixtape on Reach Records, Formerly Known, on September 29, 2011.

In May 2012, Mineo launched a 4-episode web series entitled Saturday Morning Car-Tunez which featured him remixing classic hip-hop songs.[15] The remixed songs were released as a free download.[16] On July 17, Mineo performed alongside Lecrae at the Apple Store in SoHo, New York to promote Lecrae's 6th studio album, Gravity.[17] In August, Mineo performed in the 2012 God Belongs in My City Concert tour with Anthony Shepherd & The Roar and Sheena Lee.[18] He also headlined the 2012 Kingdom Choice Awards along with Swoope and Bizzle.[19] From the month of October through November, Mineo toured as a member of the 116 Clique on the Unashamed 2012: Come Alive tour.[20] On December 7–8, Mineo was a featured performer at the Kings Dream Conference, a launching of the Kings Dream label by the hip-hop group theBREAX.[21]

On January 8, 2013, Mineo announced the release date for Heroes for Sale, April 16, 2013, and released the cover.[22]

On January 1, 2014, Mineo announced season two of Saturday Morning Car-Tunez, which showed the making of Mineo's EP, Never Land, which he released on January 28, 2014.[23] Never Land includes "You Can't Stop Me", "Never Land" and "Paisano's Wylin'".[23]

On May 19, 2015, he released a single, "Lay Up", featuring New York native Wordsplayed and produced by Alex Medina and Tyshane.[24] In the two weeks before that, he set up a way for fans to text him to receive a private link to the song on SoundCloud.

Andy Mineo revealed the art work for his second full-length album with Reach Records, Uncomfortable, on July 16, 2015. The album was released on September 18, 2015.[25][26]

In 2016, Mineo released a music video for his song "Hear My Heart", which describes his guilt for not learning sign language to communicate with his deaf sister for 25 years. Mineo said he worked for a year to make translate every sound in the song into a three-dimensional experience so that deaf viewers could experience the rhythm of the music.[27]

Mineo founded Miner League, a brand he had explained was going to give him new an outlet to make music and expand his reach. Wordsplayed was the first artists signed to the brand. Mineo had experienced a creative halt while writing his upcoming album. He reached out to Wordsplayed, and together they came up with the concept of Magic and Bird, a five-song extended play of songs from Mineo and Wordsplayed. They spent three weeks in Atlanta, Georgia to further develop the project. It grew from a five-song E.P. to a ten-song mixtape with one bonus song and two skits. Mineo and Wordsplayed called their song, "Dunk Contest", a summarization of their time in Atlanta.[28]

The pre-release claimed No. 1 on the iTunes' all genres slider. Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird peaked at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums. "The set moved with 11,000 equivalent album units earned in its first week, with 8,000 in traditional sales." said journalist Timothy Yap from Christian music portal Hallels. The mixtape also peaked at No. 3 on Rap Album Sales and No. 23 on Top Rap Albums. "Dunk Contest" entered Spotify's Viral Top 50 in Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Spain, France, and Turkey. On September 21, 2017, Mineo and Wordsplayed launched the Friends and Family Tour.[29]

Mineo scored his first RIAA certification when "You Can't Stop Me" went gold on January 17, 2018.[30] The rapper kept the news quiet until he released the remix featuring Messiah on April 11, 2018.

On April 27, 2018, Mineo released an extended play called I: the Arrow. Four days before his EP's scheduled release, Mineo said that he was "unsure [of] when [he] began to feel stuck in this cloud or when it will end, but [he knew] there [were] others who feel the same." He featured the electronic group Weathrman his songs, "Family Photo" and "Anxiety". Mineo revealed that the six-track release is the first of four extended plays culminating into his third studio album. The E.P. peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart earn 6,000 equivalent album units in its first week.[31]

On September 21, 2018, he released another EP, II: The Sword, which is the second of four EPs.[32] The EP, peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Digital Albums Chart for the week of October 6, 2018.[33]

Personal life

Andy Mineo married Cristina Delgado on August 23, 2014, after their engagement that April.[34][35]

He lives in Washington Heights, and is close friends with his mentors Alex Medina and Rich Perez, who also are frequent artistic collaborators with Mineo.[36] Mineo was a pastor at Christ Crucified Fellowship, of which Perez is head pastor, but with the increasing success of his music career took on the role of deacon instead.[36]

Discography
Main article: Andy Mineo discography

Production discography

Fat Camp

The Food – 2006

Oxburg

Death Before Dishonor – 2007
Sin Is Wack – 2009
01. "Night of the Living Dead" (featuring Ravi Zacharias)
02. "New Creation"
06. "Who's Watching?"
"In My City" – 2010
Formerly Known– 2011
Saturday Morning Car-Tunez – 2012
  1. "Hands High" remix of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" by Busta Rhymes – (produced by Courtland Urbano)[16][37]
  2. "Shut 'Em Down" (featuring Co Campbell) remix of "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" by DMX – (produced by Alex Medina)[16][38]
  3. "Next Episode" (featuring Sheena Lee) remix of "The Next Episode" by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg – (produced by James Gabriel)[16][39]
  4. "Benjamins" (featuring Rich Perez and Izz) remix of "It's All About the Benjamins(remix)" by Sean Combs featuring Lil' Kim, The Notorious B.I.G., and The LOX – (produced by Tyshane)[16][40]
Heroes for Sale – 2013
06. "Caught Dreaming" (featuring For King & Country) – with Jeremey S. H. Griffith and J.R. for So Hot Productions[41]
08. "Shallow" (featuring Swoope) – 808 & Elite with additional production by Joseph Prielozny and Andy Mineo[41]
11. "Uno Uno Seis (featuring Lecrae) – Alex Medina with additional production by Andy Mineo[41]
14. "Still Bleeding" (featuring Co Campbell) – With Chris Morgan and additional production by Joseph Prielozny[41]
Never Land – 2014

Lecrae

Gravity – 2012
11. "Power Trip" (featuring PRo, Sho Baraka and Andy Mineo) – (DJ Official with additional production from PRo and Andy Mineo)
Anomaly – 2014
3. "Say I Won't" (featuring Andy Mineo) – (808xElite and Gawvi with post-production by Andy Mineo)

Sheena Lee

Project Destiny – 2012
"Destiny" (featuring Andy Mineo)[42]

Tedashii

Below Paradise – 2014
05. Catch Me If You Can (featuring Andy Mineo)
06. "Paradise" (featuring Tauren Wells – With Dre "The Giant" Garcia for Odd Soul Creative

Videography

2010

  • Andy Mineo - "My City" (co-directed with David Ham)

2011

  • Andy Mineo featuring Sho Baraka - "Fools Gold" (co-directed with Francis De La Torre)

2013

  • Andy Mineo - "Uno Uno Seis" (co-directed with the Craig Brothers)

2013

  • Andy Mineo - "AYO!" (directed and produced - Squint and ORIGN8 Visuals)

2015

  • Andy Mineo - "You Can't Stop Me" (directed Kyle Dettman; Shot by Kyle Dettman and Aaron Craig; Edited by Louis Palacios and Kyle Dettman; VFX: Kyle Dettman) [43]

2016

  • Andy Mineo - "Hear My Heart" (co-directed with Kyle Dettman; DP by Mick Hawkins) [44]

2017

  • Andy Mineo, Wordsplayed, Magic & Bird - "KIDZ" (co-directed with Mike Folabi; Edited by Mike Folabi) [45]
  • Andy Mineo, Wordsplayed, Magic & Bird - "JUDO" (co-directed with The Craig Brothers) [46]

Filmography
YearTitleDirectorProducerCinematographyActorRoleNotes
2012Saturday Morning Car-TunezN (Andy Mineo and Francis De La Torre)NHimselfFour-part web series
Welcome to the Family Documentary[47]NShort documentary web film by R.M.G.
2013Heroes for SaleNWeb series
Everything Must Go[48]NDocumentary web film
2014Saturday Morning Car-Tunez: Season 2N (Andy Mineo and Francis De La Torre)N (with The Craig Brothers and Mick Hawkins)NFour-part web series
2015Saturday Morning Car-Tunez: Season 3N (Andy Mineo and Francis De La Torre)N (with Francis De La Torre)NFour-part web series
20166 Ways Italians are Just Like LatinosNYouTube comedy video
2017League Chumps Season 1N (Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed)N (with Mike Folabi)NSeven episode web series

References
  1. "Stop The Traffic, by Andy Mineo". Exposing Darkness. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  2. "Andy Mineo Raps About Christ. Just Don't Call Him a Christian Rapper. - Narratively". narrative.ly. July 3, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  3. "Andy Mineo talks meeting Alex Medina, TRUCE Ministry & Uno Uno Seis Response (@andymineo @rapzilla)". Rapzilla. August 6, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
  4. Daniels, David (March 22, 2016). "wordsplayed announces his brand new album 'clowntown'". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  5. "​Soulful Vocalist Willow Stephens To Release Debut EP". newreleasetoday.com. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  6. "Andy Mineo's Biography" (Web). Reach Records Website. Reach Records. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  7. I Am UNYC (May 2, 2012). "I AM UNYC - Andy Mineo (@iamunyc @AndyMineo @reachrecords @AP_Films)" (Web/Video). I Am UNYC – via YouTube.
  8. Bialczak, Mark (November 5, 2007). "Syracuse rapper Oxburg takes his time to get 'Premonition' just right". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  9. Hauptman, Amy (June 25, 2012). "Andy Mineo: Minister & Rapper" (Web). Intervarsity Christian Fellowship USA.
  10. "Andy Mineo - Introduction (@andymineo @reachrecords @rapzilla)" (Web/Video). Rapzilla. October 5, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2012 – via YouTube.
  11. "Andy Mineo Raps About Christ. Just Don't Call Him a Christian Rapper". July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  12. Wildes, Michael (October 12, 2011). "Formerly Known". The Christian Manifesto. Archived from the original (Web) on February 19, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  13. DaSouth.com (July 28, 2011). "Reach Records announces signing of Andy "C-Lite" Mineo at Legacy Conference". DaSouth. Archived from the original (Web) on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  14. "Andy Mineo fka C-Lite Signs To Reach Records (@andymineo @reachrecords @rapzilla)" (Web). Rapzilla. July 29, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2012 – via YouTube.
  15. JoshIVM (April 17, 2012). "Andy Mineo To Start Web Series" (Web). Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  16. "Andy Mineo 'Saturday Morning Car-Tunez'" (Web). Rapzilla. June 28, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  17. Menzie, Nicola (July 18, 2012). "Photos: Lecrae, Andy Mineo Perform Live at the Apple Store in NYC" (Web). The Christian Post. The Christian Post Company. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  18. The Bellamy Group (August 11, 2012). "Andy Mineo, Anthony Shepherd & The Roar, and Sheena Lee Headline 'God Belongs in My City' concert Tour August 16–18 in Jacksonville, Miami and Orlando, Florida". BREATHEcast. Archived from the original (Web) on August 14, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  19. DJ Wade-O (August 13, 2012). "Swoope, Andy Mineo & Bizzle Headline 2012 Kingdom Choice Award Nominees". Wade-O Radio. Archived from the original (Web) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  20. Wolfe, Roman (July 24, 2012). "Lecrae Announces Release Date For "Gravity," Launches 30-City Tour In Support Of Album" (Web). AllHipHop. AHH Holdings. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  21. Hrabkovska, Silvia (November 6, 2012). "Kings Dream Entertainment Launches Inaugural 'Kings Dream Conference'". BREATHEcast. Archived from the original (Web) on January 19, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  22. Solis, Steven (January 8, 2013). "Andy Mineo Debut Album 'Heroes For Sale' Announced with Cover & Release Date". Rapzilla. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  23. Lassiter, Chris (April 26, 2014). "Andy Mineo Responds To 'Never Land' Debuting At #2 On iTunes". HipHop dx. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  24. Daniels, David (May 19, 2015). "Music: Andy Mineo - Lay Up ft. wordsplayed". Rapzilla. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  25. Hernandez, Victoria (September 18, 2015). "Andy Mineo "Uncomfortable" Release Date, Cover Art & Tracklist". Hip Hop DX. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  26. Sarachik, Justin (July 16, 2015). "Andy Mineo Announces 'Uncomfortable' Along with Artwork; New Album Set for September Release [VIDEO]". Breathe Cast. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  27. "Andy Mineo Communicates to the Deaf in 'Hear My Heart' Video - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  28. Madden, Sidney. “Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Discuss Their New Mixtape 'Magic & Bird'.” XXL, Townsquare Media, August 3, 2017, www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/08/andy-mineo-wordsplayed-magic-and-bird-mixtape-interview/.
  29. Yap, Timothy. “‘Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird’ Is the #1 Christian Album This Week.” Hallels.com, Hallels, August 20, 2017, www.hallels.com/articles/17971/20170820/andy-mineo-and-wordsplayed-present-magic-bird-is-the-1-christian-album-this-week.htm.
  30. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  31. Asker, Jim. “Andy Mineo's 'Arrow' Shoots Straight Onto Top Christian Albums, Maranda Curtis Crowns Top Gospel Albums.” Billboard, Universal Music Publishing, May 10, 2018, Billboard/articles/columns/chart-beat/8455411/andy-mineo-arrow-no-2-top-christian-albums-chart.
  32. Clarks, Jessie. "Andy Mineo's New Project 'II: The Sword' Arrives". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  33. "Digital Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  34. Law, Jeannie (February 25, 2015). "Newlywed Rapper Andy Mineo Offers Marriage Advice to Single & Married Men Alike [VIDEO]". Breathecast. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  35. Yap, Timothy (August 26, 2014). "Andy Mineo Married This Past Weekend : News : Hallels". hallels.com. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  36. Mitchell, Corrie (July 3, 2014). "Andy Mineo Raps About Christ. Just Don't Call Him a Christian Rapper". narrative.ly. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  37. JoshIVM (May 5, 2012). "Andy Mineo Saturday Car-Tunez Episode #1" (Web). Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  38. JoshIVM (May 12, 2012). "Andy Mineo Saturday Car-Tunez Episode #2" (Web). Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  39. JoshIVM (May 19, 2012). "Andy Mineo Saturday Car-Tunez Episode #3" (Web). Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  40. JoshIVM (May 19, 2012). "Andy Mineo Saturday Car-Tunez Episode #4" (Web). Indie Vision Music. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  41. "Andy Mineo 'Heroes For Sale' Production Credits". Rapzilla. March 26, 2013.
  42. "Sheena Lee "Destiny" ft. Andy Mineo". Rapzilla. July 8, 2012. Archived from the original (Web) on November 11, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  43. Reach Records (January 16, 2015). "Andy Mineo - You Can't Stop Me (@AndyMineo @ReachRecords)". Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
  44. Reach Records (September 19, 2016). "Andy Mineo - Hear My Heart". Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
  45. AndyMineoVEVO (June 13, 2017). "Andy Mineo, Wordsplayed, Magic & Bird - KIDZ". Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
  46. AndyMineoVEVO (August 8, 2017). "Andy Mineo, Wordsplayed - JUDO (feat. Judo, Tree Giants)". Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
  47. Reflection Music Group (March 21, 2012). "RMG - Welcome to the Family Documentary (@rmgtweets)". Retrieved January 13, 2013 – via YouTube.
  48. Reach Records (April 9, 2013). "Andy Mineo - Everything Must Go (@AndyMineo @reachrecords)". Retrieved April 9, 2013 – via YouTube.
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