Andy Mineo, whose real name is Andrew Mineo, is an American Christian rapper born in 1988 in Syracuse, New York. A founding member of the 116 Clique alongside Lecrae, he made his mark on Christian rap with albums like Uncomfortable before leaving Reach Records in 2025 to go independent.
Andrew Aaron Mineo was born on April 17, 1988, in Syracuse, New York, and grew up in a single parent household. He started producing music in high school and formed the group Fat Camp, signed to the college label Marshall Street Records. After moving to New York City, he went through a period of spiritual drift before reconnecting with his faith after hearing a song by Christian rapper Da' T.R.U.T.H., which led him to close his studio and join an urban evangelism program.
He released his first mixtape, Sin Is Wack, in 2009, then signed with Reach Records in 2011 under his own name, after dropping his former stage name C-Lite. A member of the 116 Clique alongside Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, and KB, he released his first album, Heroes for Sale, in 2013, followed by Uncomfortable in 2015. After fourteen years with Reach Records, he announced his departure in June 2025 to launch his own independent label, Miner League.
- Origin
- Syracuse, New York, USA (based in New York City)
- Style
- Christian rap / hip hop
- Active since
- 2009 (with Reach Records from 2011 to 2025)
- Good to know
- Founding member of the 116 Clique; launched his own independent label, Miner League, in 2025
How did Andy Mineo get started?
Andy Mineo grew up in Syracuse in a single parent household and turned to music production early on, before forming the group Fat Camp in high school. After moving to New York City, he drifted away for a time from the Christian faith he had grown up with.
Encountering the music of Christian rapper Da' T.R.U.T.H. drew him back to his faith: he closed his studio, joined an urban evangelism program, and released his first mixtape, Sin Is Wack, in 2009, before signing with Reach Records in 2011 under his real name.
What makes Andy Mineo stand out?
Andy Mineo is known for personal, sometimes autobiographical songwriting, as in Hear My Heart, where he talks about his guilt at never learning sign language to communicate with his deaf sister. A founding member of the 116 Clique alongside Lecrae, he helped bring Christian rap to a wider audience before going independent in 2025 with the Magic & Bird project, made alongside producer Wordsplayed.
Where should you start with Andy Mineo?
Uncomfortable (2015) remains a natural entry point into his solo work with Reach Records. To discover his more recent, independent period, the Magic & Bird project, made with Wordsplayed, offers a good look at his new musical direction.
songs
STAMINA
A track from the collaborative project Magic & Bird, made with producer Wordsplayed.
MAKE IT STOP
An energetic track from the same collaboration, showing Andy Mineo's more independent turn.
YEAR OF JUBILEE
A track whose title echoes the biblical year of jubilee, a symbol of liberation and new beginnings.
Discography
- 2025The And· First album released on his own independent label, Miner League
- 2021Never Land II· Mixtape
- 2015Uncomfortable
- 2013Heroes for Sale
- 2011Formerly Known· Mixtape
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Andy Mineo?
Andy Mineo, whose real name is Andrew Mineo, is an American Christian rapper born in 1988 in Syracuse. A founding member of the 116 Clique alongside Lecrae, he signed with Reach Records from 2011 to 2025 before launching his own independent label, Miner League.
Is Andy Mineo a Christian?
Yes, Andy Mineo is an openly Christian rapper. After a period of drifting from his faith, he recommitted through an urban evangelism program before building his entire music career around this conviction.
What is Andy Mineo's most famous song?
You Can't Sit With Us and Hear My Heart are among his most streamed tracks from his solo period. His collaboration Coming In Hot with Lecrae also found major success online, earning a digital platinum certification.
What is the Magic & Bird project?
Magic & Bird is a collaborative project by Andy Mineo with producer Wordsplayed, launched in 2017 and continued since his departure from Reach Records. It marks a freer musical direction for the artist.
Why did Andy Mineo leave Reach Records?
After fourteen years with Reach Records, Andy Mineo announced in June 2025 that he wanted to become an independent artist, so he could release his music through his own label, Miner League.
Where can you listen to Andy Mineo?
His music is available on the usual streaming platforms as well as on his official YouTube channel, where he posts music videos, audio tracks, and content related to his recent projects.