Childlike Cici

Childlike CiCi is an American Christian hip-hop artist, songwriter and evangelist known for combining contemporary rap, trap and drill-influenced production with faith-centered lyrics and personal testimony. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in North Carolina, she began writing and recording music before eventually stepping away from secular music after her conversion to Christianity. She returned to music in 2022, describing her work as a Christian rap ministry built around faith, authenticity and evangelism.

Her career has developed quickly within the Christian hip-hop scene. She has worked with artists including Lecrae, KB, Jackie Hill Perry, TuKool Tiff, LaNell Grant, Futuristic and Kieran the Light, while her own releases have established her as a distinctive voice in contemporary Christian rap. In 2024, she became associated with Capitol Christian Music Group, with industry publications identifying her as the first Black female Christian rapper to sign a major-label deal.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

Childlike CiCi was born in Brooklyn, New York, and later moved to North Carolina, where she was raised. Hip-hop was an important part of her life from an early age, and she eventually began developing her abilities as a rapper and songwriter. According to interviews, she did not initially approach music as a Christian artist. By her senior year of high school, she had begun sharing her music more publicly and became involved in secular music circles.

Her early experiences included recording music in environments associated with the secular hip-hop scene. She began attracting attention from artists, labels and other industry figures, but her direction changed significantly after her conversion to Christianity in 2019. CiCi has described that period as a turning point in which she reconsidered the music she was making and the influence she wanted her work to have.

From Secular Rap to Christian Music

After becoming a Christian, CiCi stepped away from music for a period rather than immediately attempting to convert her existing career into Christian rap. She spent time developing her relationship with God and reassessing what she wanted to communicate through her creativity. She has explained that the music she had previously been creating no longer aligned with her faith and that she initially questioned whether she would make music again.

Her return came in 2022, when she released “Souls.” The single marked the beginning of what she calls her Christian rap ministry. Rather than treating Christian music as a separate style from hip-hop, CiCi built her approach around the sounds and energy she already understood while changing the subject matter to faith, Scripture, testimony and everyday Christian life.

The name Childlike CiCi reflects this philosophy. She has connected the idea of being childlike with maintaining humility and a straightforward, trusting faith. That concept has become part of the identity surrounding both her music and ministry.

Career and Breakthrough

Following the release of “Souls,” Childlike CiCi began building an audience through music and social media. Her energetic delivery and direct approach to Christian themes helped her gain recognition within Christian hip-hop. She also became known for using contemporary hip-hop sounds rather than trying to fit Christian rap into a strictly traditional gospel format.

Her early catalog included the 2022 project Hello Designer, followed by the 4 Friday EP in 2023 and I DONT EVEN WALK BY SIGHT (IDEWBS) CYPHER later that year. She continued releasing singles and collaborations throughout 2023 and 2024, including “Confidence,” “GTA (Got That Anointing),” “Water,” “Love Never Fails” and “Love In The Lost.”

A significant step in her career came with her association with Capitol Christian Music Group. In 2024, she was added to the Capitol CMG roster, a development that received attention within Christian hip-hop because of her position as a Black female rapper working at a major label.

Musical Style and Influences

Childlike CiCi’s music sits firmly within Christian hip-hop while drawing heavily from contemporary rap. Her songs incorporate trap and drill-influenced sounds, energetic flows and conversational lyricism, but the subject matter is rooted in Christianity. Her lyrics frequently address faith, identity, spiritual growth, perseverance and the tension between Christian values and contemporary culture.

Her approach is also shaped by her own history. Rather than presenting faith as something detached from everyday life, she often places biblical ideas alongside recognizable hip-hop language and modern cultural references. This combination allows her music to connect with listeners who may not identify with conventional gospel music but are comfortable with rap.

Her music is energetic and often playful, but it is built around a clear spiritual message. This balance between contemporary hip-hop and explicitly Christian themes has become one of the defining characteristics of her work.

Notable Songs and Albums

Childlike CiCi’s discography developed from independent releases into increasingly prominent projects. Hello Designer, released in 2022, introduced her early Christian rap sound, while the 4 Friday EP followed in 2023. Her 2024 It’s Time EP continued that progression and included the title track featuring KB.

Her major-label era became particularly visible with All We Like Sheep, released on June 6, 2025 through Capitol CMG. The 12-track album includes collaborations with Lecrae on “Day One,” Futuristic on “God’s Not Dead,” KB on “It’s Time,” and TuKool Tiff, LaNell Grant and Jackie Hill Perry on “All I Know.” Other songs include “Party In The Heavens,” “Storytime,” “Water,” “Rest Of My Life” and “Selah.”

The album demonstrated CiCi’s interest in connecting biblical imagery with contemporary life. Its title references the biblical image of humanity as sheep, while the songs explore themes of faith, identity, obedience and spiritual purpose.

Collaborations and Recent Activities

Collaboration has been an important part of CiCi’s career. She has appeared alongside established Christian hip-hop figures including Lecrae and KB, while also working with Jackie Hill Perry, Kieran the Light, Toyalove, Reece Lache, Futuristic, Bizzle and others. Her collaboration with Lecrae on “Day One” became one of the notable songs associated with All We Like Sheep.

In 2025, she continued expanding her catalog with releases including “God’s Not Dead,” “Who Is Y’all,” “Day One,” “All I Know,” “Hold Me Down” featuring Lee Vasi and All We Like Sheep.

Her activity continued into 2026, with releases including “MR SEND HIS SON,” “BLOW THE TRUMPET,” “Jump,” “Who Tryna Party?,” “CHILD OF GOD” and Head High. Head High is a four-song EP released in September 2026.

Beyond recorded music, CiCi has developed a reputation as a live performer and Christian speaker. Her ministry work includes appearances at festivals, conferences, youth gatherings and revival events, where she combines music with testimony and ministry. She has also shared stages with Christian hip-hop artists such as KB and nobigdyl.

Influence and Place in Christian Hip-Hop

Childlike CiCi’s emergence has coincided with a broader shift in Christian music toward rap, Afrobeats, R&B and other contemporary styles. Her work represents a generation of Christian artists who use modern production and hip-hop culture while maintaining explicitly faith-centered messages.

Her significance also comes from her position as a Black woman in a Christian hip-hop scene that has historically had fewer female voices than the wider hip-hop community. Her Capitol CMG deal received particular attention because of its significance for women in the genre, and she was also selected as one of TIDAL’s Artists to Watch for 2025.

Rather than separating her artistic identity from her faith, Childlike CiCi has built her career around the two existing together. Her journey from secular rap to Christian hip-hop, followed by her rise through independent releases, major collaborations and a major-label album, has given her a distinctive story within the current Christian music landscape. As she continues releasing music and performing, her focus remains on using hip-hop as a means of expressing faith, testimony and encouragement to a new generation of listeners.