San Diego-based hip-hop artist and ministry leader Dontae Ralston has officially announced his forthcoming album Came Up, slated for release this October. The highly personal project will feature notable appearances from Sevin and IV Conerly of HOG MOB Ministries, along with legendary West Coast rapper Mitchy Slick.
Described by Dontae as a “powerful” body of work, Came Up chronicles his harrowing yet redemptive journey from addiction and incarceration to faith and restoration. “It’s my testimony, in sound,” Dontae shared. “It’s not just music, it’s my life, transformed.”
A Story Rooted in Redemption
Before stepping into ministry, Dontae’s life was shaped by deep personal struggles. Raised amid poverty and cycles of addiction, he spent time behind bars before encountering what he calls a spiritual turning point. That transformation led him to HOG MOB (Hooked on God, Ministry Over Business), a national Christian hip-hop collective and outreach movement focused on bringing the gospel to prisons, recovery programs, and underserved neighborhoods.
Through HOG MOB, Dontae forged strong bonds with leaders like Sevin, IV Conerly, and Zaydok, brothers in faith and purpose. Their work extends beyond music, incorporating street ministry, discipleship, and social support for individuals navigating post-incarceration life.
From the Studio to the Streets
In addition to finalizing Came Up, Dontae is developing a collaborative track with the San Diego Football Club, a new Major League Soccer team. The song will be part of a forthcoming compilation project celebrating the city’s diverse cultural roots and resilience. Production is set to begin this summer, with a release expected before the year’s end.
“I’m not just dropping a personal single,” Dontae said. “This is a partnership. We’re telling the story of the city and its people through this project.”
Touring Prisons, Reaching Souls
This fall, Dontae will hit the road with fellow HOG MOB members on a national prison tour, performing and ministering at several major institutions including:
- San Quentin State Prison (California)
- Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola
- Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (San Diego)
- Ironwood State Prison (California)
The tour aligns with HOG MOB’s mission to serve those society often forgets. “We go where the church doesn’t always go,” Dontae said. “We reach those who feel unreachable.”
Building Beyond Bars: Project West Expands
Beyond the music and tours, Dontae’s nonprofit, Project West, continues to make an impact. Founded to support justice-involved individuals, those battling addiction, and people transitioning from homelessness, the organization provides transitional housing, life skills training, and mentorship. Expansion efforts are already underway, with new chapters planned in multiple cities across the West Coast later this year.
Music With a Mission
For Dontae Ralston, music has never been about fame. It’s about faith. Each lyric, collaboration, and performance is part of a larger purpose: to reflect the struggles of the streets while offering a message of hope and healing.
“Everything I do, from the booth to the block, is about being real,” he said. “People don’t need perfection. They need something honest, something that speaks to where they’ve been and where they’re going.”
With Came Up on the horizon and multiple initiatives in motion, Dontae Ralston is proving that hip-hop, when fused with mission, can spark real change, one soul, one story, and one song at a time.
