Andy Mineo, former stage name C-Lite, Born in April 17 1988 is an American Christian hip hop artist, producer, minister, TV and music video director from New York City. He is currently signed to Reach Records and in addition to his solo work is a member of that label's hip hop collective 116 Clique.
Years Active: 2001 – present
Genres: Christian Hip – Hop, Hip Hop
Label: Label: Trace, Marshall Street, Reach
At just 17, Andy Mineo was living a dream; he had money, local fame and the respect of his peers. But while attending college in NYC, he finally faced the music—neither was the key to life.
Andy, formerly known as "C-Lite," grew up in a single parent home in Syracuse, New York. Without any positive male figures around, at a young age, he struggled with profanity, submission to authority and physical aggression. With his conduct becoming uncontrollable, Andy was removed from the public school system and placed in behavioral modification centers. But change was on the horizon.
The summer before entering the 8th grade, Andy attended a Christian camp where his sister served as a counselor. While there, he heard the gospel preached clearly, cried out in desperation for Jesus to forgive him and experienced “some pretty unforgettable prayer sessions that really rocked [him].” Andy came home with a love in his heart for people that he once hated, and knew he was changed. But, he also came back to no home church, no community, no bible study and no mentors. So, as he rode his spiritual high into the ground and neglected to fan the flame that had begun, his relationship with God was compromised. His heart wasn’t set on pursuing Christ; instead, music and status had become his focus.
While in middle school, he began recording in his mom’s house and was buying new pieces of equipment with birthday money. Eventually, he started selling studio time out of his closet; before long, he was a sophomore in high school running a lucrative business out of his mother’s basement recording and producing hundreds of artists in Upstate New York. He had also started a rap group with a few friends that led to a deal with Syracuse University's Marshall Street Records, which gave them the opportunity to open up for the major acts that performed at SU. As a solo MC, Andy became well known in the underground freestyle rap scene for winning battle competitions during high school and his freshman year in college. Adding to his resume, he also excelled in athletics—thriving in football, basketball and lacrosse throughout high school.
Unfortunately, all of the success and recognition only led him away from God and towards greater sin. Headed for the big lights of New York City to attend college, stardom and rebellion seemed inevitable. But while taking a piano class his freshman year, Andy met Alex Medina (producer of “Background,” “The invasion (Hero)” and many other Reach tracks) who invited him to check out T.R.U.C.E. (an urban ministry that focused on evangelism via performing arts). He soon got connected with others, was discipled and the Lord began to deal with him more deeply concerning sin patterns in his life. After hearing Da Truth's “Price Tag” song, he vowed to shut down his recording studio and never use his gifts to help record music that did not honor God. He lost all his business and income, but he found his new identity in Christ.
Armed with a new purpose, Andy spent several months traveling with T.R.U.C.E. and sharing the Gospel in some of the most poverty-stricken and drug-infested neighborhoods in the U.S. He went on to release Sin is Wack Vol. 1, which caught the attention of Lecrae and many others. To his credit, he has since been featured on Rehab, Flame’s Captured, Tedashii’s Blacklight, Ambassador’s Stop the Funeral and many other notable projects. While his introduction to a larger audience came through his vocals on Lecrae’s “Background,” and he continues to pen melodic choruses, rapping remains his passion and focus for future projects.
Entering a new season in his life, Andy decided to drop his stage name, C-Lite, in favor of his birth name; it symbolizes his aim to live out everything off stage that he pours out through his art on stage. He recently graduated from City College of New York and currently serves on the board as a leader of a new church plant in Washington Heights. He is also leading weekly small groups and men’s groups at his apartment, traveling on the weekends to minister and working on his highly anticipated debut album. Once divided in his ambitions, Andy has resolved to love the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength and mind—no compromise.
To date, Reach Records' sales approach three million records and is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment's RED. Its founder and flagship artist Lecrae made Billboard chart history with his #1 album debut across five Billboard charts including the coveted Top 200. Andy Mineo is Reach Records' next big artist to break. And the pressure can at times be palpable. But in the midst of it all, Andy remains himself.
"I think its more a Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar relationship," Andy expounds. Mineo doesn't get too caught up in the hype and he doesn't focus his attention on possible album sales or the success or failure of any one project. On his debut album, "Heroes For Sale," he took an approach exploring infectious party beats, memorable hooks and a wide anthem-driven sound. Following "Heroes For Sale," Mineo's follow-up EP, "Never Land" took a lyrical and personal direction. For Andy, his success has given him an opportunity to dig deeper into his music and expand and grow as an artist. And for his next highly anticipated full-length album, Uncomfortable, Andy is exploring a sound that is a tribute to his home, New York City. "This album will be very nostalgic, musical and sample-driven. There are not a lot of anthemic pop songs on this album. It's more of a cohesive body of work. My other albums have sounded like playlists. This is more of a focused full-body of music. It's uncomfortable in its approach. I break a lot of song structure but it will take people on a journey." Mineo explains excitedly.
Ultimately, beyond the empathetic lyricism, colorful storytelling and emotion, Andy Mineo fans can always expect a relatable truth. While appealing to fans of artists like Action Bronson, Macklemore, Drake or Vic Mensa, Mineo's music stands apart as the only hip hop that weaves weighty topics, truth, humor, and inspiration from all genres of music into one cohesive and excellent work. It is in Andy's ability for self-reflection where his fans discover the honesty in his music. But Andy's take is simple. "At the end of the day, I want to sit at the table of hip-hop, be respected for my artistry and have an opportunity to bring what I believe to the mix like everyone else does."
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