James (Afro-Preachah) Porter iii, was born to Rev. James and Anita Porter Jr in Kansas City Mo as the oldest of three children. Afro's musical roots were given to him by his father and grandfather, both Baptist preachers, and step-father, hustler by trade. At the age of 5 he started singing in choir while going to blues and jazz clubs with his father. Sitting in his father's practices, Afro was awed at the way James Jr. would have the whole apartment complex jumping. Afro always saw his father as a music mystical shaman. Everyone in there apartment complex would come home from work and knew that the music his father played would heal them. James and Anita divorced when young Afro was 7 killing his passion for music.

Forced to deal with the poverty stricken streets of Kansas City's the south side, Afro was introduced to a hustling, slick talking pimp named Dwayne Nixon, his mother's new love interest. Introducing Afro to old school music like Curtis Mayfield's "Pusher Man" from his Super Fly album, Nixon rekindled Afro's fiery love for music, a love that was smoldered during his parents divorce. "My dad is musical genius." says Afro. "He can play 17 different instruments. He gave me a genuine love for music that will always be in my soul. When Nixon came around, he introduced me to old school soul and funk. His boy Wayne introduced me to new school rap.

Afro's hip-hop career began with many freestyle battles and poetry slams. Performing and recording with the likes of Chico from Junior M.A.F.I.A., and Nard from Do or Die, Afro has already started to make his presence in the industry known. Afro says "I love performing. I've rocked stages all over the country, and I plan to rock them all over the world.

HHC:How you doing?

A.P.: Everyday I’m hustling Pimpin, you know how it go.

HHC: Tell us what’s the story behind the name?

A.P. : That’s a good one. Well the name was a collaborative thing. I got it from my homies. I've always had and afro at some point in my life. And, my homies have always told me I sound like a preacher when I flow. My boy J.Griff can up with the final name as a joke but it just fit. So I held on to it.

HHC: Your from Kansas City Mo. What brought you to MN?

A.P. : I was a soldier in the U.S. Army. Fort Snelling was my last station. Minnesota was something different for me. Once I started finding out that this was a musical town I made my home here.

HHC: In your eyes what is the main difference between MN and Kansas City Mo?

A.P. : How much time you got! The quality of life is much better here. Like ten times better! K.C. is straight hood! In ‘91 the life span of ah black male was 15 years. I mean I was dodgin the dirty cops and gangs all the damn time. So when I got here, It was a totally different world! I didn’t know that black folks were living this well. Don’t get me wrong, there’s hood shit going on in Murderapolis too! But, bullets were like birds chirpin in the morning in KC. Every damn morning! It's “The Show Me State” for real. I'm thankful to have raised my children here.

HHC: When did you get serious about music and what influenced you?

A.P. : I got pretty serious in about 94. I was living in south Minnie across the street from "Sayers" of Rhyme Sayers and Supa Dave. My little brotha was real coo with the Abstract Pack, R.I.P. to Sess...........so going to their shows really pushed me. That cat Rastar was always my favorite emcee from that crew. I won a few emcee battles. Niggas didn't get prizes back then. LOL My biggest musical influence is my Mom and Dad, Grand pa and the whole Porter family! People say that if your last name is Porter you should be able to sing. I will say most of the men in my family can blow. My dad plays 17 instruments, so it came natural. My step dad turn me on to P'funk and his home boy Wayne was the first person I heard spit a flow as a kid. The shit was amazing to me! Hip-Hop hadn’t got to K.C. yet. We were still vibin off of Jazz, Gospel, R&B and Blues. Wayne gave me my first hip-hop tape. It was all beat up but had RUN D.M.C. on it. I popped it in my cassette player and it was over from there.

HHC: How has the church shaped you and your music?

A.P.: The church gave me the foundation to build myself as a man. Every man needs a foundation. Being a PK (Preachers Kid) , gospel was the first music I was introduce to, so I’ve been singing in front of folks and directing choir since I was young. I believe Gospel by far has shaped most of the musical genres on the planet. Even Elvis had to learn how to count beats. Gospel taught me rhythm, how to count, and project my voice over 80 people. To sing lead over a choir takes strength for real.

HHC: Describe what "sexy church music" is?

A.P.: It's a personal description of my personality. Hip-Hop, Gospel rhythms, and Funk music all in one. Since I have a deep love for all these genres I mixed them together. I really didn’t hear anyone else doing what I was doing. So I didn’t know what to label it as I just knew I wanted to be original.

HHC: How many albums do you have out?

A.P.: I have done some things on other projects. I used to be in a group and we put out projects. I’m on a few mix tapes, and I have done a lot of features. “Shake” is officially the first single I put out as Afro-Preachah.

HHC: When is your knew album dropping?

A.P.: 7 A. P. is the title of my new album and it will drop around April/May.

HHC: You were in a rap group once. What made you go solo?

A.P.: Yuh, The name of the group was Third Eyed, with my boy Dirty Brown and Terrell. I finally went solo because I really had to express myself and tell my own story. Not saying I’m the first PK to come into the game to do something. But, there are some things that have gone on in the church that need to be addressed and I don't want anyone getting blamed for what I do. Either you feel me or you don't.

HHC: Who is Tripple Sul Entertainment?

More like what is Tripple Sul Entertainment. It is the promotional/execution division of The Entertainment Companies. LLC.

HHC: What is your role in Tripple Sul Entertainment?

A.P. Founder and CEO

HHC: Who are some local and national artist you have worked with?

A.P.: National - Chico Del Vet of Junior Mafia, Nard of Do of Die, V.I.P.

Local - Big C, J.Griff, DBK, Prevos, Prozac, Protégée, Jawbreaker “JB“, Contac, Sandman, Trama, A.K., Tall Mike n Tango Ray, Tony Stiletto anybody I forget charge it to my head not my heart.

HHC: Any further information you would like to share?

A.P.: What a lot of people don't know about me is that I’m a comic book artist and a airbrush artist. I’ve been drawing since I was five. I served 5 years in the U.S. Army and I’m practitioner of Martial discipline. I've been training for 6 years. . Big up to my teacher’s Sifu Damus, Sifu Storm, Master Nathan and the Rwang Foo warriors. I’m looking to do martial films like Jim Kelly some day.

HHC: Where can people see you perform or get more info about you?

A.P.: Right now I have a song call “Gimme Some Room” featuring Protégée produced by T-Fixx, that's #3 on the radio charts in Belgium . I just featured on a mixed tape with Tony Stiletto releasing this month. I’ll be performing at the Official Tony Stiletto Mixtape release party at 7 Nightclub. Also I’m hosting The Knockout Emcee Battle with Chantel. You can also get up with me at www.afro-preachah.com, www.myspace.com/afropreachah and www.soundhustle.com/afropreachah

--HHC Staff