Jacques “Tha GIM” Guidry was born in Fresno, Ca. to his late Seventh Day Adventist mother Gladys Guidry and the late Al Guidry, who both moved from the south to Fresno’s West side. After his father’s self inflicted death Jacques moved around many places with his mother and two brothers seeing and learning a lot about life at a young age. It was age 11 when Jacques started writing lyrics and poetry. Unfortunately he later adopted the criminal mind and found his closest friends to be thugs and dealers, but used his talent to become a regional underground hip hop pioneer in the secular arena. Although Jacques attended Fresno West side’s Seventh Day Adventist church as a child with his mother and had brief stints of church attendance, it was at the mark of the new millennium that Jacques, a single 21 year old father, found himself back at church and gave his life to Christ whole heartedly. After 3 years of discipleship, praying, fasting, learning and seeking the Lord, Jacques made his choice to use his God given talent of rhyming as a vehicle for the gospel, used to edify the body of Christ and outreach to the lost generation of hip hop. Tha GIM, which stands for the-God-In-Me, was born. - “Tha GIM may soon find himself carrying the torch and leading this uprising with his head held high. A master lyricist, that even (and maybe especially) the unconverted hip hop heads won't be able to ignore” - CDBABY.COM - Embarked on national tour with legendary hip hop pioneer, Kurtis Blow. - Has opened up for gospel heavy hitters Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Tye Tribbet, Martha Munizzi, Point of Grace and more. Has also been billed along with well known Christian hip hop acts such as T-Bone, Lecrae and Crossmovement artists including Flame. - Performed 2 years at the Winter Music Confrence in Miami along with hip hop pioneers DJ Kool Herc, Grand Wizard Theadore, Grand Master Caz of Cold Crush, Pharoh Monch and Buckshot (Boot Camp). - The single "Freedom Song" from his 2008 national debut put into rotation on L.A.'s KJLH "Gospel Mix Show" by DJ El Vee, along with other nationally syndicated stations. - Video for "Freedom Song" put into rotation on Gospel Music Channel's "Hype & Glory" and "Represent" video shows, as well as BET's "Video Gospel" show. - In 2007 recieved a national "Holy Hip Hop" achievement award in Atlanta, GA. - Has been featured on two major releases by EMI Gospel, "Holy Hip Hop Vol. 4" and "Kurtis Blow Presents". Tha GIM is a kingdon minded, unique talent from west coast, California, who has become known internationally for his brand of hip hop gospel and continues to push for greater success in the music industry, as well as in the kingdom of God. Tha GIM (pronounced; the jim) is an acronym for “the God In Me” and represents the rap persona and ministry of Fresno, California born Jacques Guidry. In the midst of being consumed by the street life while also making a name for himself in California's underground rap scene under another alias, Jacques found himself surrendering his life to the call God at the end of the year 1999. It was in 2003 when he made his choice to pick up the mic again professionally and re-emerged as "Tha G.I.M.", meaning "the God In Me", with a focus to use his God given talent of rhyming as a vehicle for the gospel, used to edify the body of Christ and to outreach to the world in the form of entertainment. Tha GIM was born. Tha GIM dropped his first full length album debut Art Of War and then in 2005 released Antidote 4 Destruction, which spawned the infectious single and catchy phrase “Kingdom Affiliate”, garnering rave reviews by both secular and Christian hip hop outlets, with three of Antidote’s tracks being picked up by EMI Gospel for two major releases. 2008 marked Tha GIM’s first nationally distributed This Iz My Life via Infinity/ Central South Distribution with the liberating lead single “Freedom Song”, with its music video being put into rotation on Gospel Music Channel, BET and MTV network television channels. Later in 2009 Tha GIM released Eternal Sonshine: The Prequel EP as a free download and followed up with Hybrid: Mixtape Sessions Vol.1 . Tha GIM has toured nationally and has shared stages with hip hop legends such as DJ Kool Herc and Minister Kurtis Blow to gospel legends such as Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary, as well as with some of Christian hip hop’s biggest names like Lecrae and T Bone, earning a national Honoree Award in Atlanta, GA in 2007. The name "Tha GIM" represents more than one person, it represents the multitude of Gods people, the body of Christ. The name points solely to the glory of God himself and not Jacques Guidry, who see's himself merely a spokes person and tool created for Gods purpose. Tha GIM has been able to embody all the personal and musical elements that make up his life and now stands in a position where good music meets real life and points a lost generation to a real God. This is The God In Me. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.