Ify Nsoha // Different

On the way back from church recently, my 17 year old asks, “Can we please turn the Ify songs back on?“

Ify is a rapper. And yes, we turned the songs back on.

Ify Nsoha is a Nigerian musician who has lived his life in the Czech Republic. His sound can be heard loud in our car speakers, and his tweets are often read out loud in our conversations. Here’s a recent one:

“PSA is nearly always strawmanned by its detractors and they often ignore the scriptures which clearly teach it, like Colossians 2:13-14”

– ifffster, @ifffster – 1:55 PM · Aug 3, 2022

“PSA,” by the way, means “Penal Substitutionary Atonement.” So, this is the kind of rapper I’m talking about – the kind that defends PSA on twitter.

Here’s another recent gem:

“Next time a Unitarian decides to start wisecracking make him look up the reference of Romans 10:13 in the Hebrew.”

ifffster, @ifffster – 2:11 AM · Aug 2, 2022

His point is that Paul quotes Joel who says ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ and when Joel says it in Hebrew, it is ‘Yhwh’, and Paul quotes this verse about Yhwh about Jesus. Bam!

So if you want to listen to a rapper with a thing for soteriology and Trinitarianism…. try out Ify.

Ify has a new album out: ‘Different‘. Here’s the Kuyperian interview:

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Kuyperian: Ify, how old are you, and how long have you been performing in any context?

Ify: I’m 22 years old. I’ve been writing and messing around with rap music for years, but haven’t put anything out till now. I’ve always had a massive love for music. I was in choir in highschool and have done worship leading for the last five years. This was just one way I could use my gift to glorify God.

Kuyperian: What brought your family to Czechia?

Ify: My parents are missionaries. We’ve been here for a while, and it’s been an interesting experience. Being able to share Jesus with people is central to my life. I want people to know the hope and joy and new life that there is in Christ.

Kuyperian: Your music is not simply “gospel” related, it is unapologetically about the grace of Jesus Christ for sinners. So direction-wise, you’re all in, it seems. Definitely a musician, but also definitely an evangelist?

Ify: Yeah! My faith is the most important thing to me and I believe Jesus is the way, truth, and the life, and that’s why I share what I believe with as many people as possible. The world needs hope, the world needs healing, the world needs redemption. Jesus is the one who can do that, and he is the one who did do that for us on the cross. And so it would be foolish for me to not let the world know!

Kuyperian: Your lyrics aren’t bubble gum either (just nice thoughts for Christians), you talk about depression, about sexual faithfulness, about depravity.

Ify: Yeah, the reality is life is messy and the aspects of our lives as believers that are tough and hard and a struggle are things that we need to talk about. Talking about these things helps inspire and encourage those who feel alone and isolated in their daily walk.

Kuyperian: But your album isn’t gloomy. It has its forays into the dark where people are calling to God for help. But the album shouts hope and joy.

Ify: I believe that hope is something our world his longing for. We have so much to be discouraged by, and I believe that through making music that inspires and lifts people up they can be encouraged not just in their faith and purpose but for their future, their families, and those around them.

Kuyperian: Favorite sport?

Ify: Basketball. Easy.

Kuyperian: Do you have a creative community of Christians that you are involved with? People that share your vision?

Ify: I would say I have been making friends and connections with like minded people.

Kuyperian: People will admire you, and your music is awesome. But Christianity isn’t cool anymore like it was 30 years ago when I started highschool. Back then all the artists sang about “taking a stand.” But many, many of those Christian artists have compromised on biblical sexuality, or they have deconstructed into apostasy. So…. How does a young hip-hop artist keep his way pure?

Ify: Relying on God in a culture that opposes him is hard. The big thing is knowing that God has accepted me and his love towards me will not change, he will remain faithful. People can change, people will change. You will be loved and appreciated one moment and hated the next. But if the Father’s love toward us, which is before time even began, does not change, there’s no reason I should seek the approval of man over God.

Kuyperian: Favorite subject from back in school other than music?

Ify: I’ve always liked apologetics and comparative religion (I got to learn both from Dr. Ted Turnau, who is a legend and a friend). Learning about why I believe in Christianity was really helpful, but it was also helpful to get a fair survey of multiple religions and understanding their backgrounds and the cultures they come from. Fascinating stuff.

Kuyperian: On Twitter you put a spotlight on historical forms of Christianity and liturgical structures. Is this where your heart is now? Is it what you think is best for the church?

Ify: I think that Christianity has a rich history, and we should actively seek to reconnect with that. I think a lot of the problems in modern forms of Christianity today is that they are catering so much to the current cultural moment that they lose what makes Christianity unique and special.

Kuyperian: Current favorite Bible section or passage?

Ify: 1 John 1:9. Being reminded that God’s grace is always for us and his forgiveness of our sins and faults will always be there is comforting in a world much less forgiving.

Kuyperian: What do you do for fun other than music?

Ify: I love to read actually! Huge fantasy guy. Reading Wheel of Time now, trying to actually make it through all the books this time around. I love the imaginative and expansive worlds that you find in Robert Jordan, Tolkien, Sanderson, etc. It’s the kind of stuff I’ve always loved, and I’m just enjoying being able to experience it.