Wordsplayed

John Itiola, aka Wordsplayed, is a Christian rapper based in San Diego. His style is influenced by trap music, a subgenre of hip-hop characterized by steady tempos and a prominent use of kick drums, hi-hat, and synthesizers. Born to Nigerian immigrants who moved to the United States in the early 1980s, Itiola grew up in Long Island, New York. In 2008, he became friends with members of the evangelical hip-hop ministry T.R.U.C.E., which included the rapper Andy Mineo, who gave Itiola a guest spot (credited as John "Word Up" Itiola) on his 2009 Sin Is Wack mixtape. Itiola also joined Mineo's artist collective Miner League. Itiola released his debut single as Wordsplayed, "Martinelli's (ft. Andy Mineo)," in 2014. He followed it with the 2015 single "Sammy Sosa" and the 2016 mixtape Clowntown, which was released by Miner League and hit number 35 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart. In 2017, Itiola and Mineo teamed up for Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird. The full-length collaboration debuted at number 49 on the all-genre Billboard 200. ~ Benjamin Schulz