Sho Baraka
Amisho Baraka Lewis (born January 10, 1979), better known by his stage name Sho Baraka, is an American Christian hip-hop artist and writer who has recorded both independently and as a founding member of the 116 Clique. He was originally signed to Reach Records until leaving in March 2011. He then co-founded a record label and group known as "High Society" with fellow Christian rappers JR, Swoope, and Suzy Rock.
Also recorded as Amisho Baraka Lewis
Sho Baraka

Washedwithblood7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Sho Baraka
- Birth Name
- Amisho Baraka Lewis
- Born
- 10 January 1979
- Occupation
- Rapper, songwriter, director
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- Christian hip-hop
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Amisho Baraka Lewis (born January 10, 1979), better known by his stage name Sho Baraka, is an American Christian hip-hop artist and writer who has recorded both independently and as a founding member of the 116 Clique. He was originally signed to Reach Records until leaving in March 2011. He then co-founded a record label and group known as "High Society" with fellow Christian rappers JR, Swoope, and Suzy Rock.
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Note VALÉORINE
Sho Baraka (born 1979) is an American director, poet and rapper, among other activities. The director was born in Alberta.
Genres include Christian hip-hop. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q7499691 · wikipedia · Sho Baraka
In this article
Biography
Biography
His debut album Turn My Life Up was released in November 2007. His second album Lions and Liars, was released March 2010. His third album Talented Xth was released in January 2013. His fourth album, The Narrative, was released in October 2016.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Sho Baraka • Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Amisho Baraka Lewis • Born — 10 January 1979 • Genre — Christian hip hop, conscious hip hop • Occupation — Rapper, songwriter, director • Years Active — 2004–present • Label — Reach, High Society, Humble Beast • Website — Sho Baraka on Myspace
Biography
Biography
Sho Baraka was born Amisho Baraka Lewis in Alberta, Canada on January 10, 1979. Sho was introduced to hip hop at a young age. He was raised in Southern California during the height of gangsta rap which inspired Sho and some friends from his neighborhood in high school, formed a rap group that began touring with major recording artists. The rap group soon ended and many of Sho's close friends were killed or incarcerated. He decided to follow his father's advice and attend college, getting accepted into Tuskegee University. There he came into contact with Lecrae and Tedashii and eventually the 116 Clique and Reach Records were formed. While attending Tuskegee, Sho converted to Christianity.
Leaving Reach Records and new website
Leaving Reach Records and new website
On April 13, 2011, Rapzilla posted a blog from Sho stating that he planned to leave Reach Records after four years and two albums with the label. Although he is leaving the Reach label, Sho said he would continue to be an artist with Reach booking and continue to do concert dates and events with the label through 2011. He would also be featured on Reach projects released through the year. Sho is now a part of the music & art group High Society with Swoope, J.R., & Suzy Rock. Lewis announced that he would release a new album, Talented Xth, on January 1, 2013. On June 14, 2016, he signed with Christian hip-hop label, Humble Beast.
Cameos
Cameos
Sho can be spotted as Trip Lee's fictional boss in the video for Lee's song The Invasion (hero) off the album Between Two Worlds. Sho was in the music video for Lecrae's lead single, "Don't Waste Your Life" from his 2008 album, Rebel, as a former gang member of Lecrae's who escaped arrest years before. Lecrae portrayed a converted Christian, writing to Sho's character about how God had changed his life.
Studio albums
Studio albums
• Year — Album details — Peak chart positions • US — US Christ — US Rap — US Gospel • 2007 — Turn My Life Up * First studio album * Release date: November 20, 2007 * Label: Reach — — — — — — — 43 • 2010 — Lions and Liars * Second studio album * Release date: March 30, 2010 * Label: Infinity / Reach — 149 — 10 — 15 — 3 • 2013 — Talented 10th * Third studio album * Release date: January 15, 2013 * Label: Infinity / Lions & Liars — 108 — 5 — 12 — 1 • 2016 — The Narrative * Fourth studio album * Release date: October 21, 2016 * Label: Humble Beast — — — — — — — — • 2017 — The Narrative, Volume 2: Pianos & Politics * Fifth studio album (EP) * Release date: July 21, 2017 * Label: Humble Beast — — — — — — — — • 2018 — So Many Feelings (with Vanessa Hill) * Sixth studio album * Release date: March 2, 2018 * Label: Proper Art/Barakaology — — — — — — — — • 2025 — Midnight Of A Good Culture * Seventh studio album * Release date: September 19, 2025 * Label: Lions and Liars Music — — — — — — — — • "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Singles
Singles
• "Word" (featuring Charisse Beaumont) • "We Can Be More" (featuring J.R.) • "Maranatha" • "Their Eyes Were Watching" • "After the Funeral" • "Real Ones Winning" (featuring Avila)
Guest appearances
Guest appearances
• "WLAK" (Swoope featuring Alex Faith & Christon Gray) • "The Church" (Lecrae) • "In Ya Hood (Cypha Remix)" (Tedashii featuring Trip Lee, Lecrae, Thi'sl & Json) • "It's Your World" (Lecrae featuring Redeemed Thought) • "His Love Won't Let You Down" (Dillon Chase featuring Keynon Akers) • "Back Up" (Cam featuring Tedashii) • "Come Close" (Trip Lee featuring FLAME) • "Live Free" (Lecrae featuring Jai) • "Glorious" (DJ Morphiziz) • "Community" (Tedashii featuring Stephen the Levite) • "Eyes Open (Remix)" (DJ Official featuring Trip Lee) • "Chaos" (DJ Official) • "No No No" (R-Swift featuring Jahaziel & Monty G) • "Feel So Alone" (Benjah featuring Conviction & Ms. Lulu) • "Back To School" (S.O.) • "I Love Music" (Trip Lee) • "High" (Lecrae featuring Suzy Rock) • "Fools Gold" (Andy Mineo featuring Sho Baraka and Swoope) • "This is the Life" (Tedashii featuring L2) • "Brilliant Realness" (theBREAX) • "Don't Mean Much" (KB featuring Mitch Parks from After Edmund) • "Power Trip" (Lecrae featuring PRo and Andy Mineo) • "Cynical" (Propaganda featuring Aaron Marsh)
With the 116 Clique
With the 116 Clique
• 116 Clique: The Compilation Album (2005) • 116 Clique: The Compilation Album: Special Edition: Chopped & Screwed By DJ Primo (2006) • 13 Letters (2007) • Amped (2007) • Man up (2011)
With JAMM as Hello Revolution
With JAMM as Hello Revolution
• Protest Package 1 EP (2012)
Mixtapes
Mixtapes
• Barakaology (2009; free download) • We Can Be More Remixes mixtape (2010)
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Role || Notes • 2011 — October Baby — Drama coach — | Credited as "Amisho Lewis" • 2012 — Grace Card — Reformed Ex con — |
Videography
Videography
• 2006 – 116 Clique – "116 Clique Video"
With High Society
• Circa MMXI: The Collective (2012)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Sho Baraka. Thank you for all the birthday love. Shalom. 289569805613268992. January 11, 2013.
- 2.Sho Baraka. Thank you for all the birthday wishes. 421885110179606528. January 11, 2014.
- 3.Family Search. U.S. Public Records Index. 2009.
- 4.Davis, Bradford. Southern Baptist retailer removes black hip-hop artist's album that includes the word 'penis'. Washington Post.
- 5.Rapzilla. Sho Baraka's New Future – Leaving Reach Records. April 13, 2011.
- 6.Horton, Chad. Sho Baraka 'Talented Xth' Album Cover & Tracklisting. Rapzilla. November 19, 2012.
- 7.Humble Beast Records. Sho Baraka + Humble Beast. June 14, 2016.
- 8.October Baby (2011). IMDb.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 28 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,991 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Shmuel MorehAuthor
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- Shmuel Yosef AgnonAuthor
- Shmulik KrausAuthor
- Sho MadjoziAuthor
- Shobhaa DeAuthor
- Shōhei ŌokaAuthor
- Shoji GatohAuthor
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