From gangsta to gospel

Mason Betha

Aka: Ma$e.

Betha, popular moneymaker for Sean "Diddy" Combs' hip-hop label Bad Boy Records, was known for his slow, easygoing rap style in the '90s. Ma$e topped music charts with hit singles "Feel So Good" and "What You Want."

In 1999, he announced his retirement from rap to focus on his Christian ministry. But in 2004, he returned to the game with the family-friendly album "Welcome Back."

However, Ma$e, who still claims to be a pastor, has appeared on several tracks produced by 50 Cent's thug-rap label, G-Unit Records.

Cheryl James

Aka: Salt.

As one-third of the raunchy female rap group, Salt-N-Pepa, James reached hip-hop stardom in the '90s with hits such as "Push It" and "Let's Talk About Sex."

In 2002, the group disbanded, and James began to put distance between her previous persona and her image as a born-again Christian.

She was featured on several gospel hip-hop artists' tracks, and her own album, "Salt Unrapped," described as "urban inspirational," was released earlier this year.

She can be seen on VH1's "The Salt-N-Pepa Show" where she and Sandra "Pepa" Denton are trying to figure out how to reunite musically despite their conflicting opinions.

Delmar Lawrence

Aka: Mr. Del.

Lawrence was once part of the controversial Academy Award-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia, known for horrorcore and satanic rap lyrics.

Now he's a pastor who turned over a new leaf in 2000 and coined the phrase "Holy South," an alternative to so-called "dirty South" hip-hop. Lawrence pumped out some hard-hitting music in his 2006 compilation of Christian rap and rhythm & praise music, "Holy South: World Wide."

In an interview on gospelflava.com, Lawrence spoke about his commitment to ministry: "Holy South is about building a kingdom. [Jesus] told us to go into the entire world and compel men to come to Christ."

Curtis Walker

Aka: Kurtis Blow.

Walker, a leading hip-hop pioneer with his "disco rap" style, was the first rapper to be signed to a major record label. Walker, also the first hip-hop millionaire and among the first rappers to develop an acting career, helped legitimize the genre.

Now a pastor, Walker launched hiphopministry.com, an online hub where artists can submit music for consideration for future gospel hip-hop albums. On the site, he says he dedicates his time to "helping redeem hip-hop."