{{short description|American East Coast Christian rapper (born 1974)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Shai Linne | image = Shai Linne.jpg | caption = Shai Linne performing at The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina in August 2011 | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|8|21|mf=y}} | birth_place = | origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = Christian hip hop | occupation = | instrument = | years_active = 2002–present<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lampmode.com/artists/shai-linne/ |title=Lamp Mode Recordings » shai linne |access-date=November 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131081252/http://www.lampmode.com/artists/shai-linne/ |archive-date=January 31, 2011 }}</ref> | label = Lamp Mode | associated_acts = 116 Clique | website = {{URL|http://www.lampmode.com/artists/shai-linne/}} }}
'''Shai Linne''' (born August 21, 1974)<ref name="Public Records">{{cite web |title=U.S. Public Records Index |author=Family Search |year=2009 |publisher=Family Search |id=292181095 }}</ref> is an American East Coast Christian rapper, author, and assistant pastor. Linne has been collaborating with other Christian rap artists and releasing studio albums since 2002. Linne has recorded studio albums under the Lamp Mode Records label.
==Early life== Linne was an atheist for most of his childhood and dates his conversion to 1999.<ref name=Hansen>{{cite book|last=Hansen|first=Collin|title=Young, Restless, and Reformed: A Journalist's Journey With the New Calvinists|url=https://archive.org/details/youngrestlessref00hans|url-access=limited|year=2008|publisher=Crossway Books|pages=[https://archive.org/details/youngrestlessref00hans/page/n117 117]–118|isbn=9781581349405 }}</ref> Linne is Calvinist in his soteriology (doctrine of salvation), and his 2008 album ''The Atonement'' included a song "Mission Accomplished", which defended limited atonement.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/content/pdf/110502spot_reformedrap.pdf Reformed Rap and Hip-Hop], ''Christianity Today''.</ref>
==Career== Linne has collaborated with Lecrae, Trip Lee, Timothy Brindle, Flame,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jamthehype.com/to-my-heart-flame-feat-shai-linne/|title=To My Heart – Flame feat. Shai Linne|last=Crawford|first=Terlenda|date=2013-07-21|website=Jam the Hype|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> Hazakim, and numerous other Christian rappers. He appeared on the 116 Clique album ''13 Letters''. In 2011, Linne was featured on "The Lord is a Warrior", the tenth track from Matt Papa's ''This Changes Everything''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=85831|title=The Lord Is a Warrior (feat. Shai Linne) Song Lyrics {{!}} Matt Papa Lyrics {{!}} Christian Music Song Lyrics, Christian Music {{!}} NewReleaseToday|website=www.newreleasetoday.com|access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref>
In 2013, Linne released a single called "Fal$e Teacher$", in which he criticized prosperity theology, and named false teachers, including Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, T. D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Paula White, and Joyce Meyer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Steffan |first=Melissa |title=Reformed Rapper Calls Out 12 Popular Pastors as 'False Teachers' |url=http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2013/04/reformed-rapper-shai-linne-false-teachers-joel-osteen-joyce-meyer-td-jakes.html |access-date=April 15, 2013 |newspaper=Christianity Today |date=April 11, 2013 |archive-date=April 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414024833/http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2013/04/reformed-rapper-shai-linne-false-teachers-joel-osteen-joyce-meyer-td-jakes.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lu|first=Angela|title=Rapper calls out Osteen, prosperity preachers |url=http://www.worldmag.com/2013/04/rapper_calls_out_osteen_prosperity_preachers |access-date=April 16, 2013 |newspaper=World |date=April 9, 2013}}</ref>
In addition to being recognized as a pioneer in "lyrical theology", Linne has been touted for the complexity of his rhyme schemes when rapping.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} According to a study performed by a Finnish doctoral candidate, Eric Malmi, Linne placed as the fourth as measured by rhyme density. The study took the lyrics of 94 artists and plugged 10,082 songs into an algorithm that Malmi created to detect assonance rhymes. Linne was preceded in the rankings only by Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim and Redrama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rapzilla.com/2015-02-shai-linne-ranked-4th-best-rapper-alive-by-rhyme-algorithm/|title=Shai Linne ranked 4th best rapper alive by rhyme algorithm|date=February 23, 2015|website=Rapzilla|access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mining4meaning.com/2015/02/13/raplyzer/|title=Algorithm That Counts Rap Rhymes and Scouts Mad Lines|last=Eric|date=February 13, 2015|website=Mining for Meaning|access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/2/23/8091775/best-rapper-algorithm|title=The best rapper alive, as decided by computers|last=Edwards|first=Phil|date=February 23, 2015|website=Vox|access-date=February 17, 2019}}</ref>
=== Ministry === In 2016 Linne, along with Brian Davis, planted Risen Christ Fellowship in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcfphilly.com/about/leadership|title=» Leadership|access-date=January 5, 2017|archive-date=January 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105085234/https://rcfphilly.com/about/leadership/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Linne served as an assistant pastor and elder at Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia,<ref>{{cite web|title=Shepherds|url=http://delraybaptist.org/welcome/our-leadership/shepherds|publisher=Del Ray Baptist Church|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Our Location|url=http://delraybaptist.org/welcome/our-location|publisher=Del Ray Baptist Church|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> having previously been a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.,<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 National Conference|url=http://thegospelcoalition.org/2013/speakers|publisher=The Gospel Coalition|access-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref> and Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia.<ref name="Hansen" />
Following his two-year tenure at Del Ray Baptist Church, Shai Linne took a step back from touring full-time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=shai linne {{!}} Lyrical Theology |url=https://shailinnemusic.com/#about-bio |access-date=2024-10-31 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Where To Find Me {{!}} shai linne |url=https://shailinnemusic.com/30578-2/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In May of 2024, he launched a podcast with Lamp Mode, cohosted with The Ambassador and Ben Otero, called The Halftime Podcast. Later in the year he also served as a guest preacher and speaker at various conferences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Tami |date=2024-09-30 |title=No Other Name Under Heaven |url=https://faithbibleoc.org/sermon-audio-1/72pl5pytzwwcenw-krb8c-j6rzf-fzl36-zkhba-yngx3-l5xcj-rrmmn-s3lbp?rq=shai |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Faith Bible Church |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-15 |title=Family Worship Conference with Shai and Blair Linne |url=https://www.hinsonchurch.org/upcomingevents/2024/10/9/family-worship-conference-with-shai-and-blair-linne |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Hinson Baptist Church |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CROSS |url=https://www.crosscon.com/speakers/shai-linne |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.crosscon.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Linne is married to Blair Wingo, and together they have three children.
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="5" | Peak chart positions<ref name="AMA">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shai-linne-mn0000131555/awards|title=Shai Linne Awards|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=February 13, 2015}}</ref> |- !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Chr !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Gos !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Ind !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Rap |- !scope="row"|'''''The Solus Christus Project''''' | * Released: March 10, 2005 * {{nowrap|Label: Lamp Mode}} * CD, digital download | — | — | — | — | — |- !scope="row"|'''''The Atonement''''' | * Released: February 12, 2008 * {{nowrap|Label: Lamp Mode}} * CD, digital download | — | — | — | — | — |- !scope="row"|'''''Storiez''''' | * Released: November 18, 2008 * {{nowrap|Label: Lamp Mode}} * CD, digital download | — | — | 31<ref name="BILLBOARDTWO">[http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?page=1&f%5B0%5D=ts_chart_artistname%3AShai%20Linne&f%5B1%5D=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Shai%20Linne Billboard Chart] {{dead link|date=February 2024}}</ref> | — | — |- !scope="row"|'''''The Attributes of God''''' | * Released: November 21, 2011 * {{nowrap|Label: Lamp Mode}} * CD, digital download | — | 14<ref name="BILLBOARDTWO"/> | 5<ref name="BILLBOARDTWO"/> | 32<ref name="BILLBOARDTWO"/> | 15<ref name="BILLBOARDTWO"/> |- !scope="row"|'''''Lyrical Theology, Pt. 1: Theology''''' | * Released: April 9, 2013 * {{nowrap|Label: Lamp Mode}} * CD, digital download | 136<ref name="BILLBOARDONE">[http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f%5B0%5D=ts_chart_artistname%3AShai%20Linne&f%5B1%5D=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Shai%20Linne Billboard chart] {{dead link|date=February 2024}}</ref> | 7<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> | 4<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> | 26<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> | 12<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> |- !scope="row"|'''''Lyrical Theology, Pt. 2: Doxology''''' | * Released: May 20, 2014 * {{nowrap|Label: Lamp Mode}} * CD, digital download | – | 13<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> | 6<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> | 37<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> | 17<ref name="BILLBOARDONE"/> |- !''Still Jesus'' | * Released: July 21, 2017 * Label: Lamp Mode * CD, digital download | — | 16<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278848/shai-linne/chart?f=310|title=Shai Linne - Chart history {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref> | — | 25<ref name=":0" /> | — |- !'''''Jesus Kids''''' | * Released: September 21, 2018 * Label: SDGFella Music * digital download |— |— |— |— |— |- !'''''Lyrical Theology, Pt. 3: Sociology''''' | * Release: TBA * Label: LampMode * Digital Download |— |— |— |— |— |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linne, Shai}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:American former atheists and agnostics Category:African-American former atheists and agnostics Category:African-American Christians Category:21st-century American male rappers Category:American Calvinist and Reformed Christians Category:American performers of Christian hip-hop Category:Rappers from Philadelphia Category:21st-century American rappers Category:Converts to Protestantism from atheism or agnosticism Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:21st-century African-American male rappers