{{Short description|American Christian hip hop/folk rock musician}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Heath McNease | image = Heath McNease.jpg | caption = McNease in 2014 | image_size = | birth_name = Heath Daniel McNease | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Colquitt, Georgia | origin = | instrument = Singing | genre = Christian hip hop, folk rock, contemporary worship music | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 2005–present | label = 7Spin | associated_acts = Pen Pals, Jetty Rae | website = {{URL|heathmcneasemusic.com}} }}
'''Heath Daniel McNease''' is an American Christian hip hop and folk rock musician. He released four albums with 7Spin Music, two of those hip hop releases, ''The Heath McNease Fanclub Meets'' in 2007 and ''The Gun Show'' in 2010, while he released two folk rock roots releases, ''The House Always Wins'' in 2010 and ''Shine On'' in 2010. The remainder of his albums have been released independently. He released four hip hop albums, ''Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape'' in 2011, ''Thrift Store Jesus'' in 2012, ''Jesus Shuttlesworth: The Mixtape'' and ''The Weight of Glory: Second Edition (A Hip Hop Remix Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis)'' in 2013, and ''Among Thieves'' in 2014, while two were folk rock roots releases, ''The Weight of Glory – Songs Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis'' in 2012, and ''Fort Wayne'' in 2014.
==Early life== McNease was born Heath Daniel McNease<ref name="CR Story">{{cite web|first=Lauren|last=Shelby|title=Heath McNease: A rapper who's investigated a Thrift Store Jesus |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Heath_McNease_A_rapper_whos_investigated_a_Thrift_Store_Jesus/48078/p1/|publisher=Cross Rhythms|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=March 25, 2012}}</ref> in Colquitt, Georgia.<ref name="CR Story"/> His parents raised him and his siblings in the church, where his father was a deacon, and his mother was the choir director.<ref name="CR Story"/> The hip hop influence was imparted to him by his two older brothers, while a cousin, and his mother in particular, got him listening to folk rock music.<ref name="CR Story"/> McNease graduated from Miller County High School, and went on to graduate from Bainbridge State College. Two years later, he obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Valdosta State University.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Hip-Hop artist Heath McNease releases debut album|author=Staff|journal=The Miller County Liberal|url=http://www.millercountyliberal.com/news/2007-05-02/front_page/004.html|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=May 2, 2007}}</ref>
==Music career== He started his music recording career in 2005,<ref name="JFH Profile">{{cite web|author=Jesus Freak Hideout|title=Heath McNease|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/LosingDaylightEP.asp|accessdate=July 28, 2015}}</ref> with his first studio album, ''The Heath McNease Fanclub Meets Tonight'', which was released by 7Spin Music on April 24, 2007.<ref name="JFH Review One">{{cite web|first=Justin|last=Mabee|title=Heath McNease, "The Heath McNease Fanclub Meets Tonight" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheHeathMcNeaseFanClubMeetsTonight.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=April 22, 2007}}</ref> The subsequent two studio albums, ''Shine On'' and ''The Gun Show'',<ref name="JFH Review Two">{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Fryberger|title=Heath McNease, "Shine One" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/ShineOn.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=April 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name="HM Review Three">{{cite journal |page=46 |first=Jeff |last=Sistrunk |title=Heath McNease – The Gun Show |url=http://issuu.com/hmmagazine/docs/july-aug-2010 |journal=HM Magazine |date=30 June 2010 |accessdate=July 28, 2015 |issue=Jul/Aug 2010}}</ref><ref name="JFH Review Three">{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Fryberger|title=Heath McNease, "The Gun Show" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheGunShow.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=April 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name="CR Review Three">{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Hayes|title=Review: The Gun Show – Heath McNease |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Heath_McNease/The_Gun_Show/94747/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=August 3, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rapzilla Review Three">{{cite web|first=David|last=Kincannon|title=Review – Heath McNease 'The Gun Show' |url=http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/features/reviews/2115-review-heath-mcnease-the-gun-show |publisher=Rapzilla|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> were released on the same day, May 4, 2010, from 7Spin Music. His next release, ''The House Always Wins,'' released by 7Spin Music on February 22, 2011,<ref name="JFH Review Four">{{cite web|first1=Scott|last1=Fryberger|first2=Sam|last2=Schaumberg|title=Heath McNease, "The House Always Wins" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheHouseAlwaysWins.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=February 16, 2011}}</ref> was his last release with the aforementioned label.
The next release, a mix tape, ''Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape'',<ref name="JFH Interview">{{cite web|title=Heath McNease Interview|first=Scott|last=Fryberger|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/HeathMcNease2011.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=June 28, 2011}}</ref> was independently released on July 3, 2011,<ref name="JFH Review Five">{{cite web|first1=Scott|last1=Fryberger|title=Heath McNease, "Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/StraightOuttaConsoleTheNintendoThumbMixtape.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> and all of his forthcoming releases would be released independently. His follow-up release, ''Thrift Store Jesus'',<ref name="Chron One">{{cite journal|title=INTERVIEW: Heath McNease talks "Thrift Store Jesus," explaining art to Christians, and working with "outsiders" RedCloud and Pigeon John|author=Sketch the Journalist|journal=Houston Chronicle|url=http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2012/03/interview-heath-mcnease-talks-thrift-store-jesus-explaining-art-to-christians-and-working-with-outsiders-redcloud-and-pigeon-john/|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=March 9, 2012|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208091120/http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2012/03/interview-heath-mcnease-talks-thrift-store-jesus-explaining-art-to-christians-and-working-with-outsiders-redcloud-and-pigeon-john/|url-status=dead}}</ref> was released on February 28, 2012.<ref name="JFH Review Six">{{cite web|first1=Scott|last1=Fryberger|title=Heath McNease, "Thrift Store Jesus" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/ThriftStoreJesus.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=March 8, 2012}}</ref> The forthcoming release, ''The Weight of Glory – Songs Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis'',<ref name="Chron Two">{{cite journal|title=INTERVIEW: Heath McNease discusses his free C.S. Lewis-inspired album|author=Sketch the Journalist|journal=Houston Chronicle|url=http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2012/08/interview-heath-mcnease-discusses-his-free-c-s-lewis-inspired-album/|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=August 14, 2012|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208082605/http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2012/08/interview-heath-mcnease-discusses-his-free-c-s-lewis-inspired-album/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IVM Interview">{{cite web|title=Interview : Heath McNease|first=Lee|last=Brown|publisher=Indie Vision Music|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2012/08/23/heath-mcnease-2/|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=August 23, 2012}}</ref> was released on August 14, 2012.<ref name="JFH Review Seven">{{cite web|first1=Scott|last1=Fryberger|title=Heath McNease, "The Weight of Glory – Songs Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheWeightOfGlory.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=August 30, 2012}}</ref><ref name="IVM Review Seven">{{cite web|first1=Lee|last1=Brown|title=Review : Heath McNease – The Weight of Glory: Songs Inspired by the Works of C. S. Lewis |publisher=Indie Vision Music|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2012/10/12/heath-mcnease-the-weight-of-glory-songs-inspired-by-the-works-of-c-s-lewis/ |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> He released ''Jesus Shuttlesworth: The Mixtape'', another mix tape, on February 19, 2013.<ref name="JFH Review Eight">{{cite web|first1=Scott|last1=Fryberger|title=Heath McNease, "Jesus Shuttlesworth: The Mixtape" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/JesusShuttlesworthTheMixtape.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=March 16, 2013}}</ref> There was another release, on January 10, 2013, ''The Weight of Glory: Second Edition (A Hip Hop Remix Inspired by the Works of CS Lewis)''.<ref name="Jam the Hype Interview">{{cite web|title=INTERVIEW: Folk singer Heath McNeases discusses hip hop remix of his C.S. Lewis-inspired album|author=Sketch the Journalist|publisher=Jam the Hype|url=http://jamthehype.com/interview-folk-singer-heath-mcneases-discusses-hip-hop-remix-of-his-cs-lewis-inspired-album/|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=June 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name="JFH Review Nine">{{cite web|first1=Mark|last1=Rice|title=Heath McNease, "The Weight of Glory: Second Edition (A Hip Hop Remix Inspired by the Works of CS Lewis)" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheWeightofGlorySecondEdition.asp |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=July 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name="NRT Review Nine">{{cite web|first1=Mark|last1=Ryan|title=A Noble Nod to Lewis|publisher=New Release Today|url=http://www.newreleasetoday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=21373&user_id=58120 |accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=July 25, 2013}}</ref> He released two albums in 2014, the first, ''Fort Wayne'', on September 23.<ref name="JFH Review Ten">{{cite web|first=David|last=Craft|title=Heath McNease, "Fort Wayne" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/FortWayne.asp|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=January 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CR Review Ten">{{cite web|first=Paul S.|last=Ganney|title=Review: Fort Wayne: Songs Inspired By The Film – Heath McNease |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Heath_McNease/Fort_Wayne_Songs_Inspired_By_The_Film/155284/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=June 17, 2015}}</ref> The second, ''Among Thieves'', was released on November 18.<ref name="CR Review Eleven">{{cite web|first=Paul S.|last=Ganney|title=Review: Among Thieves – Heath McNease |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Heath_McNease/Among_Thieves_/155046/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms|accessdate=July 28, 2015|date=July 9, 2015}}</ref> He released an extended play, ''Salem Songs'', his third EP, on October 22, 2015.<ref name="JFH Review Eleven">{{cite web|first=Christopher|last=Smith|title=Heath McNease, "Salem Songs" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com//cdreviews/SalemSongsEP.asp|accessdate=December 1, 2015|date=November 29, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CR Twelve">{{cite web|first=Philip |last=Laing |title=Review: Salem Songs – Heath McNease |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Heath_McNease/Salem_Songs/159268/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms |accessdate=December 30, 2015 |date=December 27, 2014}}</ref>
==Discography== ;Studio albums * ''The Heath McNease Fan Club Meets Tonight'' (April 24, 2007, 7Spin, hip hop) * ''Shine On'' (May 4, 2010, 7Spin, folk rock) * ''The Gun Show'' (May 4, 2010, 7Spin, hip hop) * ''The House Always Wins'' (February 22, 2011, folk rock) ;Independent albums * ''Thrift Store Jesus'' (February 28, 2012, hip hop) * ''The Weight of Glory – Songs Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis'' (August 14, 2012, folk rock<ref name="Chron Two" />) * ''The Weight of Glory: Second Edition (A Hip Hop Remix Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis)'' (January 10, 2013, hip hop<ref name="Jam the Hype Interview" />) * ''Fort Wayne'' (September 23, 2014, folk rock) * ''Among Thieves'' (November 18, 2014, hip hop) ;Mix tapes * ''Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape'' (July 3, 2011, hip hop) * ''Jesus Shuttlesworth: The Mixtape'' (December 11, 2012, hip hop) ;EPs * ''Losing Daylight'' (October 30, 2012, independent, folk rock) * ''Gold'' (September 18, 2015, Collaboration with Jetty Rae, as Pen Pals) * ''Salem Songs'' (October 22, 2015, independent, folk rock) * "Who Knows? Who Cares? (August 10, 2016, independent, hip hop)
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://heathmcneasemusic.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNease, Heath}} Category:Living people Category:American performers of Christian music Category:Musicians from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:People from Colquitt, Georgia Category:Valdosta State University alumni Category:American performers of Christian hip-hop Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Pen Pals (band) members