Derek Minor

Derek Laurence Johnson Jr., professionally known as Derek Minor and formerly known as PRo, is an American Christian hip-hop artist, rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor and screenwriter. Born on December 16, 1984, in Pontiac, Michigan, he was raised largely in Middle Tennessee and became one of the notable figures in American Christian rap during the 2010s.

Minor is known for combining Christian faith with contemporary hip-hop and for writing about subjects such as identity, redemption, social pressures, perseverance and everyday life. He is also the co-founder of Reflection Music Group (RMG), a record label and creative company he established with Doc Watson. His career has included successful solo albums, collaborations with artists such as Lecrae and Andy Mineo, and production work that has earned Grammy recognition.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Derek Minor was born Derek Johnson Jr. in Pontiac, Michigan, and moved with his mother to Tennessee while he was young. Music became part of his life through his family, particularly his father, who also made beats. During a childhood summer visit with his father, Johnson began experimenting with rap, an experience that helped spark his interest in making music.

He later attended Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied recording industry management. His education gave him a practical understanding of the music business and production alongside his developing skills as a rapper.

In the mid-2000s, he began releasing music under the name PRo. The name was originally connected to the idea of the prodigal son, reflecting the Christian themes that were already central to his music. Between 2006 and 2008, he released several mixtapes and began building a reputation within Christian hip-hop.

Reflection Music Group and Reach Records

In 2009, Johnson co-founded Reflection Music Group with Doc Watson. The label became an important platform for his own music as well as for other Christian hip-hop artists. His work with RMG eventually led to a partnership with Reach Records, one of the leading Christian hip-hop labels in the United States.

He became associated with the Reach Records collective 116 Clique and worked alongside artists including Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii and Andy Mineo. He appeared on collaborative projects while developing his own catalogue through RMG and Reach.

In 2012, Johnson announced that he was changing his stage name from PRo to Derek Minor. He explained that the new name reflected his personal and artistic maturity. He also wanted to use his real first name as a more direct representation of himself.

Breakthrough Albums

Minor’s early albums included The Blackout, released under the PRo name in 2008, followed by Redemption in 2010 and Dying to Live in 2011. Redemption reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, while Dying to Live reached No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart and No. 2 on the Gospel Albums chart.

After adopting the Derek Minor name, he released Minorville in 2013. The album was built around the idea of an imagined city inspired partly by the 1998 film Pleasantville. Minor used the concept to explore the different sides of his own world, including wealth, poverty, morality, temptation and the contradictions found within society.

Minorville included songs such as “Gimmie,” “Ready, Set, Go,” “We Gone Make It,” “Dear Mr. Christian” featuring Dee-1 and Lecrae, and “Homecoming” featuring Isaac Carree. The project became one of the defining releases of his early solo career.

Empire, Reflection and The Trap

Minor signed a partnership with Entertainment One and released Empire in 2015. The album expanded his sound while continuing his focus on faith, culture and personal experience. It featured collaborations with artists including Lecrae, Colton Dixon and Hollyn.

His next major project, Reflection, arrived in 2016. The album explored identity, faith and the pressures of contemporary culture while demonstrating his growth as both a rapper and producer.

In 2018, Minor released The Trap, another project that examined the challenges of life, success and temptation through a Christian perspective. The album continued his practice of combining personal storytelling with broader cultural observations.

Musical Style and Themes

Derek Minor’s music sits within Christian hip-hop but frequently draws from mainstream rap, R&B and contemporary production. His delivery ranges from aggressive, rhythmically dense verses to more reflective and melodic performances.

His songwriting often focuses on the tension between faith and everyday life. Rather than limiting his lyrics to explicitly religious subjects, he has addressed relationships, ambition, social inequality, identity, success, failure and personal struggles while viewing these subjects through a Christian worldview.

This approach has helped him appeal to listeners who appreciate hip-hop but also want music that engages directly with questions of faith and purpose. His work with RMG has similarly reflected his interest in using music as both creative expression and a platform for developing other artists.

Production, Collaborations and Recognition

In addition to his work as a recording artist, Minor has established himself as a producer. He has contributed production to projects by other Christian hip-hop artists, including Lecrae. His production work on Lecrae’s Gravity earned him a Grammy Award, and he later received another Grammy for his contribution to Anomaly.

He has collaborated extensively throughout his career, working with Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Canon, Swoope, Dee-1, Canton Jones and many others. These collaborations have connected him to different generations and styles within Christian hip-hop.

His achievements as both a performer and producer have made him one of the more prominent independent figures in the Christian rap scene.

Recent Career and Legacy

After several years between major studio albums, Minor returned with Nobody’s Perfect in 2023. The project featured artists including Aaron Cole, Ty Brasel, Phillip LaRue and Jon Keith and focused heavily on themes of healing, adversity and personal growth.

He followed it with further releases in 2025, including the album Vigilante, while continuing to release singles in 2026. His 2026 releases include “UP,” “LOCKED IN,” “DON’T IT FEEL GOOD” and “Amazing Grace.”

Derek Minor’s career has developed alongside the growth of modern Christian hip-hop. From his early work as PRo and his involvement with 116 Clique to his leadership of Reflection Music Group and his solo catalogue, he has combined music, entrepreneurship and Christian ministry in a way that has influenced the broader independent Christian rap community. His work continues to reflect a commitment to honest storytelling, faith and the belief that hip-hop can address both spiritual and everyday realities.