In a thought-provoking interview with WorldWide Entertainment TV, emerging artist ETANO breaks down the spiritual divide between rap and hip-hop while reflecting on his own journey from rebellion to redemption.

“Rap is a message. Hip-hop is a spirit,” ETANO explains. “It’s not just about the beat—it’s about the energy and the ideology behind it.”

ETANO believes that while rap focuses on lyrical skill and storytelling, hip-hop as a cultural force has evolved into something more complex—sometimes veering away from its righteous roots. Drawing inspiration from Tupac Shakur, DMX, and even Kanye West, he highlights how each of these artists publicly wrestled with faith, fame, and inner conflict.

“Artists like Tupac and DMX showed their battles with principalities right in front of the world,” he said. “They weren’t afraid to bring spirituality into hip-hop.”

The conversation also touched on the rise of AI in music, including digital recreations of Tupac and Michael Jackson. While technology fascinates many, ETANO cautioned against losing authenticity in an age where artificial creations blur reality.

“You can mimic the sound,” he said, “but you can’t replicate the soul.”

ETANO’s own transformation came after a personal trial—time spent in jail and a spiritual awakening that led him to refocus his music around divine purpose.

“If God was willing to meet me where I was, I had to develop myself and do better,” he shared.

As AI reshapes the soundscape of modern music, ETANO’s story serves as a reminder that true artistry still comes from the soul. His message echoes the legacies of artists like Tupac, DMX, and Kanye, who’ve all blurred the line between pain and purpose, rebellion and redemption.

Watch the full interview on WorldWide Entertainment TV Media’s YouTube Channel.