Anonymity to Anointed: The Musical Revelation of aftrthght

aftrthght emerged as an enigma, deliberately crafting a mystery around his persona from the outset. His foray into the music scene was shrouded in anonymity, a conscious choice to allow his audience to immerse themselves in his music without preconceived notions influenced by appearances. After rededicating his life to Christ in 2021, he received a new revelation about his stage name after stumbling across the word 'metanoia', the Greek word for repentance, which can also mean 'afterthought'.

“It's actually wild because I chose this name when I wasn’t making music for the kingdom of God. But the intention was almost the same because God showed me that by calling myself ‘afterthought’ I am lowering myself in humility. It's a way of me saying that Jesus Christ is first and I am simply an afterthought. None of what I do is for my own glory, I am the afterthought. The fact that God inspired me to pick that name foreshadowing my repentance absolutely blows my mind. Only God could do that for real."

Originating from the vibrant entertainment hub of Los Angeles, we proudly introduce our For The Glory artist of the month for May: aftrthght. A self-professed "avid coffee drinker," skater, and artist are just some of the aspects that make up his unique identity.

For those who appreciate the intersection of conscious Lo-fi Hip-Hop and Rap Phonk spearheaded by devoted faith, aftrthght offers a unique musical journey akin to the ambiance of a rave with the likes of Playboi Carti, Chris Travis and Xavier Wulf.

We had the opportunity to speak directly with aftrthght, delving into how God has influenced his musical journey and led him to pursue his current sound without just focusing on creating ‘another hit’.

“Ultimately my goal is for each listener to get hit with the Holy Spirit when they hear my music. That it convicts them or draws them closer to God.”

Igniting his creative process with the foundations of a beat, aftrthght seamlessly extracts the melodies and rhythms that resonate within his spirit. It's an organic flow of inspiration from that point onward. Leading with prayer throughout the entire process from the preliminary writing sessions to post-release performances, his vision is to reach nations and win souls. The creative process aside, what he finds most rewarding are the messages and testimonies he receives from listeners.

When prompted about the trials inherent in the music industry, he explains how God remains his centre:

“I'm sure there are challenges ahead that I haven't seen before but as long as you keep God first, be humble, and keep your heart in the right posture then everything else will work itself out.”

Reflecting on his journey's challenges, aftrthght foresees promising future collaborations, including bold partnerships with influential figures such as Kanye West and the heartfelt artistry of Daphne Loves Derby.

While his name echoes sentiments of God's divine plan, aftrthght's consistent releases such as ‘temptations’ and ‘No Shame’ tell of how thoughtful he is as an artist, and so it's no surprise that an upcoming album is on the horizon. When asked about any advice he'd give to up-and-coming artists looking to break into the industry, he encourages them with the foundations of Matthew 6:33, which says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

“Truly die to your own desires and dreams. Don't make it your goal to ‘get into the industry'. Make it your goal to give your gifts back to the King. Stay in a posture of worship versus trying to make it. Be about God's business and He will be about yours.”

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