Artist bio

Jeremiah Bligen is a Johns Island, South Carolina–born artist whose music merges biblical conviction with lived experience. Drawing inspiration from ’90s and early-2000s hip-hop, R&B, rock, gospel, and the spirituals passed down through his grandfather, Benjamin Bligen—a singer with the Moving Star Hall Singers whose work is preserved by Smithsonian Folkways—his music resists genre boundaries in favor of honesty, depth, and reflection. As a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer, Bligen creates authentically—prioritizing truth over trends and storytelling over formulas. His catalog includes Before I Wake, which earned him a spot on Rapzilla.com’s Top Freshman list for 2013, When Ravens Cry, Fighting Stance EP, the collaborative album Inventory, and his most recent release, The Flames Will Not Consume You (2024), which was nominated for Album of the Year and highlighted as one of the top albums of the year by Rapzilla. In addition to music, Jeremiah serves as a graphic designer, project manager, creative leader, and speaker—shaping and communicating vision across sound, visuals, and live spaces. His work has received multi-year recognition from Engage Art, earning top placements as both a solo artist and collaborator, including a first-place international award for the song and music video “Wake.” He now serves as an ambassador for Engage Art, continuing his commitment to cultivating creativity, excellence, and service within the arts community. Now based in North Carolina with his family, Jeremiah remains dedicated to using music, leadership, and collaboration to share faith, hope, and thoughtful engagement with life.

Title

Wake

Medium/Genre

Hip-Hop / Rap

Artist Statement

"Wake" is a single from the NFTRY's very first album, "Inventory". It is a cry from the heart of believers that want to be in line with God's word and spirit. With so many things available in today's world to distract us and deter us from focusing on the beauty of God and glory of Christ, we want to be constantly reminded to let our light shine before men so that they may glorify our Father in heaven , and if there is anything lulling us to sleep so that we aren't walking in a manner worthy - wake us.

How it fits into contest

The spiritual battle we all fight begins within ourselves, the things we battle that seek to destroy our devotion to God. This expresses that fight by asking God, the one who has already won the battle for us, to keep us and set our feet and focus on him. From there every victory that there is to be had, is had.

Credits

Shot, edited and directed by Eshon Burgundy for GDLK Films. Additional camera work done by Jeremiah Bligen.

How to Purchase this Artwork

Digitally available on all Digital Service Providers -https://smarturl.it/nftrywake

Other Goods & Services Available from this Artist

This is a single from our first album as a group - Inventory. https://smarturl.it/nftryinventoryLP

Transcript / Lyrics

NFTRY - Wake

THRE Verse:

Though my footsteps ordered, and I took steps forward to foot step water/ when I should rep For ya every footstep toward ya I look left for ya/ blinded by the sea I should wept water, my mind is out of key
I just left torture/ pick me up Lord save me cause the wind blow crazy my sin go take me I’ve been low lately, but the pen go crazy so men go praise me, and I don’t wanna be put on a pedestal/ see that pride a turn me into an animal yeah I’m fallible with some wondering eyes I need em lateral/ but ya grace is sufficient so when I say that I’m Christian I pray that it’s different, and if I sway from the mission Lord take my position await my submission

Hook:
If I don’t shift that
Will and I’m stiffed neck
Lord Shake Me
You give grace to the humble
So when pride starts to bubble,
Lord Break Me,
If I’m out here sleep walking
Hypnotized by the sweet talking -
Lord Wake Me
Set me on fire,
Let it burn here and now,
Until the day that you Take Me.
So I won’t when you raise me.

Hook

IV Conerly Verse:
Heaven eyes to earth
Great commission, got our marching orders,
They done messed up by stealing us from out our borders,
Now we in they quarters screaming in God we trust,
Impoverished theologians,
But we polished by his touch,
And if I go astray look away messing up,
You give me grace in a place where they test the love,
They might put hands on me,
They might get off a couple shots,
But understand homie,
Long as I live I wont stop

Tone Spain Verse:
A little leaven render the witness ineffective,
Pride'll seep in be in sin but we didn’t detect it,
I bought a field with a treasure so every possession,
God forbid I turn around and neglect the investment,
And its vested, 401 the benefits reap and made innocent,
Sheep remain diligent,
Christ God no king can claim synomym,
Whom he loves he keeps and whom he keeps
He disciplines.

Hook

Eshon Burgundy Verse:
 just wanna keep my torch lit/
they keep trying to make me 
want the Forbes list/
Trying to maintain my faith 
and keep it gorgeous/
Only narrow minded people 
will applaud this/
Only shallow minded people 
will avoid this/
Somewhere at the foot of 
the cross is where the choice is/
When I’m a little bit off 
I’m still anointed/
So Lord correct me when I’m wrong before I wrong this/

Jeremiah Bligen Verse:
Here I am again now on my knees knocking,
Praying I would walk well (whale) Like a sea orca,
And What I spew off the dome, it Would be water,
Boarding a plane to normal, would mean torture.
And lately I’ve been feeling stuck in a rut,
Wrestling with God, Tryna chump a construct -
In the way of my faith,To
It’s a tussle to touch,
But im Fighting Beyond this
Like Knuck if you buck

Jay Cabassa Bridge:

So many distractions in sight I pray,
The spirit that Liveth inside will take,
The mold of my mind, the holes in my heart
Desires that blind me right away
So many in line to benign our faith,
Spirit that liveth inside I pray,
Renew my mind, take root in my heart
So I can live this life here wide awake

CHRVCH Verse:
Father, do whatever you gotta,
Keep me out of the lava
Lead me back to the water
So easy just to get caught up,
Continue fighting a rival
While waiting for your arrival.
Walking right in my purpose
Not focusing on a title,
Keep my mind on your goodness
It keeps it from going idle,
In your image you sketch me if ever I get too sketchy
May your spirit come fetch me
When everything got too shaky
The devil trying to bait me,
Before the pressure can break me
Lord wake me.

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