Convict-turned-Christian-rapper SaulPaul returns home to perform at NAACP Convention in Houston this weekend

This Sunday, July 8, former convict-turned-Christian-rapper SaulPaul will perform at the 103rd NAACP convention held here in his hometown of Houston.

SaulPaul’s ability to make impromptu hip hop freestyles using words thrown at him by the audience have brought him notoriety and opportunities to take the stage at events like SXSW and Super Bowl XLVI.

But what is particularly special about SaulPaul is his story of reformation. Having been both a product of the Texas State Penitentiary and The University of Texas, he has gained a thorough understanding of what can be lost through incarceration and gained through positive life choices.

In 1996, after a short stint at college, SaulPaul was convicted of four felonies and sentenced to 10 years. However, after only two years of his sentence, he was released and paroled. He worked hard to get re-enrolled into The University of Texas where he was able to graduate with a degree in Radio-Television-Film.

SaulPaul has just returned from a 21 city tour where he touched thousands with his music and his message. His performance at the NAACP convention is just another chance for him to share his inspirational story. He will also be debuting a new song from his forthcoming album Dream in 3-D.

For more information on SaulPaul and his recent accomplishments, please visit his website, SaulPaul.com.

Merge Summit Showcase seeking submissions for chance at BET's Music Matters

ReRoute Records' SaulPaul is hosting the Merge Summit Showcase in Austin, Texas during SXSW 2012 where the winner of the positive/inspirational talent competition will have a chance to perform for BET's Music Matters - a program by the network that helped get Mali Music interview and performance spots on their awards and "106 & Park" shows.

Artists should send a video performance link to showcase@themergesummit.com to be considered and receive further details. The deadline to submit is this Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Acceptable genres include Neo-Soul, R&B, Contemporary Gospel, Hip-Hop/Rap and/or Spoken Word. All content must be positive and inspirational.

More details from the press release:

ReRoute Record’s Recording Artist SaulPaul will be hosting The Merge Summit Showcase taking place at the historic Victory Grill on Sunday, March 11th, 2012.

Austin’s own “Musician with a Message” has just concluded a 21 city national tour. While on tour, he was always looking for opportunities for his fellow musicians back home in Austin, Texas. Realizing he couldn’t bring his peers along on tour with him, he decided to bring the opportunities back to Texas.

The first one that he has unveiled is Sunday, March 11th, 2012 at 6pm. ReRoute Records, SaulPaul’s record label, has partnered with Relevé Entertainment and Praise Break Live to produce a showcase unlike anything Austin’s urban music scene has experienced.

The winner of this showcase gets to compete in Los Angeles alongside 11 other artists from all across the US for the chance to win a record deal as well as an all expense paid trip to New York City to participate in a BET Music Matters Showcase.

When asked about why SaulPaul does what he does, he replies that he has always been helping other people. Now through his newly formed record label, he has decided to artists live their dreams. In addition to releasing music, ReRoute Records hosts numerous workshops that educate artists on how to cultivate a career in the music industry.

The workshop ReRoute Records will host will be during the RISE Austin 2012 week on Wednesday, March 28th at Noon. This workshop will also take place at the Historic Victory Grill.

Acoustic hip hop "musician with a message" from Houston performs at official Super Bowl event

SaulPaul presents his acoustic hip hop "music with a message"

On Thursday, February 2 SaulPaul, an acoustic hip hop “musician with a message,” participated and performed at the NFL PREP: Sports Career Expo, an official Super Bowl XLVI event held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The native Houstonian shared his “Tower to Tower” story of being locked away in a state prison in Huntsville, Texas (with a view of the guard tower) to changing his life and graduating from the University of Texas (which is known for its iconic clock tower.)

The expo was part of the NFL’s community outreach program and enlists professionals from all aspects of the sports industry to inform, educate, and enlighten over 1,300 high school student athletes about a myriad of career opportunities available within the professional sports industry. James Brown, the sportscaster from CBS Sports as well as Troy Vincent, Vice President of the NFL Player Engagement Organization, were in attendance.

SaulPaul, who currently resides in Atlanta, is no stranger to the sports world having previously performed at events around Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 and by offering his daily freestyle recaps of sports new for ESPN Radio in Austin.

His next project, #ShineRightNow, will be released this spring on ReRoute Records. Watch the video below for footage from yesterday's Super Bowl event with SaulPaul.