Brandon Clahassey of Beacon Light began his foray into music at high school parties. He carried this activity into college, honing his skills as a rapper via rap battles and free styling. At one point, however, Clahassey almost gave up.

"I realized I wasn't going anywhere in life and I knew I couldn't do it by myself, so I called on God," Clahassey said. "I actually stopped rapping because I used it in such a wrong way before, so I felt like I couldn't do it in the right mindset."

However, discovering the music of Christian hip-hop artist Lucre changed Clahassey's perception of how rap music and religion could align.

"I felt like God was speaking to me, that I could use rap for Him in a positive way and still have it be good and not be corny," Clahassey said.

Clahassey transformed into a Christian rapper approximately three years ago, and has been writing and recording since. Initial recordings were made at friends' homes, but eventually, Clahassey found fellow musician Jordan Stonehouse. Together, the two started making Clahassey's best work. A lack of funding called some minor discouragement, but a positive experience counseling at a summer camp made Clahassey realize that he could touch a younger audience in a meaningful way.

"I realized not only did the kids really like my music, they were spiritually fed by it," Clahassey said. "That gave me the drive to actually do it. Just seeing how God used [the music] in their lives, I knew I had to do this."

Clahassey chose his 17 best songs and went to work on a record. The result, Overcomin', is Clahassey's reflections on changes that need to be made in society, and is particularly geared toward the Christian community in an attempt to present the gospel.

"There are so many people that are misrepresenting who Jesus is in the world, by the way they live," he said. "Christian actually means ‘little Christ,' so I want to portray him in the right way."

Clahassey also writes about personal tragedies on the album, and says even those who do not subscribe to the Christian faith will find something to like. Recently, his songs "Fire!" and "Salvation" were featured on 99.3 WJQ during the program Ignite Radio.

Beacon Light's Overcomin' will be officially released on Sep. 24 at The Edge Urban Fellowship, where Clahassey is an active worshiper and participant. Some of his involvement with The Edge includes "using hip-hop music to engage the culture and lead people to Christ and change the community."