Meet Messiah – The Latin Trap Rapper Who Is New Face Of Sean John

Dominican Rapper Fronting Sean John’s Spring Campaign

Spanish trap rap artist Messiah said he’s thrilled to be the “Latin Face” of Sean John.

The Harlem artist, the first major Latin rapper to come out of New York City, is fronting Sean John’s spring campaign and we caught up with the “Si Ta Bien” rapper at his photo shoot in NYC recently, where he said Diddy himself chose him to front Sean John.

“To be going from taking the “1” train on 137th Street to being the Latin face of the brand – it’s a dream come true for me,” Messiah told BOSSIP.

Messiah hammed it up for the camera, at one point biting one of the several gold and diamond necklaces around his neck as a photographer snapped away.

Messiah said he’s been a fan of Sean John since he was a teenager, and liked to go to the Sean John store when it used to be on Fifth Avenue in New York City. He said he still wears Sean John for appearances and performances, because he likes to, not because he has to.

“When you already have a vibe with the brand…it’s surreal. It’s a blessing,” he said.

Messiah said he was inspired to rap in Spanglish over trap beats after growing up bridging two cultural worlds: his Dominican roots and his New York City upbringing. He said he’d listen to bachata and merengue at home, but would hear artists like Biggie and Nas in the streets.

“Rap for me was a way to narrate what I’m seeing,” he said. “I’m here talking about the clubs uptown, the girls, the chapi chapi (gold diggers).”

And Messiah brushed off comparisons to Miami rapper Pitbull, saying that while he admires the artist, he said his music is mainly in Spanish, while Pitbull raps in English.

“I speak Spanglish in my music,” he said. “The slang in my music is what we’re used to.”

Messiah also has an upcoming feature on reggaetón artist Nicky Jam’s new album, “Phoenix,” on a song called “Mi Fantasía.”

“It’s so dope to see New York embrace a Latin artist,” Messiah said. “I remember dreaming of this, I remember wanting this…I just can’t wait for what’s next.”