Carlos Zamora: Hip-hop with the Grace of God
Carlos Zamora
Prayer to Saint Jude Thaddeus
Carlos Zamora was in third grade when he heard hip-hop for the first time. His older brother brought home an album by Run-D.M.C., a group from New York City that helped bring hip hop into the musical and cultural mainstream. Carlos was instantly hooked on the strong, rhythmic beats. From that moment, hip-hop music was the only thing on his mind.
It was the 1980s, and hip hop was beginning to dominate the radio charts.
Prayer to Saint Jude Thaddeus
“I remember listening to it and being drawn to it right away, loving this music. Almost immediately, I started writing my own lyrics,” says Carlos.
Without realizing it, Carlos’ musical talent was beginning to manifest. Initially, he created simple compositions that he performed at parties with friends. There was a period when he ventured into gangsta rap, a genre of hip-hop with lyrics portraying the culture of urban gangs, but after a profound conversion, he became a Catholic rapper dedicated to the evangelization of young people.
Carlos is a Mexican American born and was raised in a Catholic family in Fort Worth, Texas. However, he grew up during a time when the city was experiencing high levels of gang violence. He spent his adolescence in this environment and, like many young people of his generation, became involved with gangs and drugs at the age of 12.
Over time, the Mexican artist began performing under the stage name C2Six. He continued to compose and sing as a professional musician, drawing inspiration from growing up around gangs. "I started writing and recording gangsta rap until I sold more than 100,000 albums and shared the stage with well-known groups," he says.
Despite his success as a Mexican rapper, deep inside, Carlos always questioned his actions. He felt that something wasn’t quite right. This feeling came to a head one day during a concert when he saw that his audience was made up of 1,500 high school students. He was struck by the realization of the potential impact his songs could have on these young people.
After expressing his frustration to the organizers for booking him for such a young audience, Carlos cried backstage. It was at that exact moment he began his encounter with God and felt the conviction to leave gangsta rap behind.
He embarked on a journey back to Catholicism and decided to use his talent to bring the word of God to young people. His renewed faith led to a powerful new artistic expression that resonates with many today.
Drawing on his experiences as a young man and his hip-hop background, Carlos now works with at-risk young people, gang members and other marginalized communities as a volunteer in organizations that support them. He also serves as a keynote speaker and Catholic musician.
Carlos believes that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, is precious in the eyes of the Creator.
“We may stray from our faith at times, but we are never out of God’s reach. No one is a lost cause and God is always there, patiently waiting for us with open arms,” he says.
Carlos' musical journey has led him to perform at two of Pope Francis’ World Youth Days: Brazil in 2013 and the monumental event in Panama in 2019. At the Panama concert, he delivered his hip-hop message to a massive audience of about 650,000 young people, rivalling iconic concerts like Woodstock and Rock in Rio.
Carlos recognizes the constant presence of divine grace throughout this journey, particularly during challenging times. Today, he channels this same grace into his music, creating lyrics and beats that inspire hope in the hearts of young listeners.
