Trailblazing gospel artist/rapper John Cook was brought up in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. Cook fell in love with rap early on, which was easy to do growing up in the hip-hop hotbed of Flatbush, surrounded by artists who would forge the genre's future. He also grew up in love with the Bible, dedicating himself to daily reading and reflection. Though many Christians in hip-hop's infancy saw it as incompatible with the gospel message, Cook saw this new style of music as an opportunity. He had personal connections with artists like ABC (who had early hits like Aeisha and Playground) and Special Ed, who helped him to feel that there was room for different ideas in the rap world. After attempting to collaborate, Cook chose to produce his own music to ensure that his artistic vision was right for his generation, and right for the church. He was encouraged by a friend to enter a local talent contest where he would meet Dr. A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. Cook and his family not only began attending services at the massive center, but Cook was soon signed to their CCCMG label. John Cook's debut record was released on March 27, 2007. Titled Heaven's Pen debuted at number eight on Billboard's gospel charts, catching the attention of critics and gospel music fans alike. Thanks to his wildly popular debut, Cook is being called the breakthrough artist of the year, forging a new path for rap in the Christian world. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, Rovi