Jaeson Ma

Ma was born in Lubbock, Texas. Ma was the youngest of three children and had a difficult childhood in San Jose, California.[2] Ma earned degrees in Bible theology, business management, and youth ministry from William Jessup University. Later, Ma earned a Master of Arts in Global Leadership and Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.[3]

Ma has advised, consulted on corporate strategy and lead capital fundraising efforts for multiple ventures.

Following his dynamic conversion, Ma served as a missionary, church planter, and author.[12] Ma ministered on various college campuses including San Jose State University and UCLA and planted over 200 campus church movements around the world.[13] Using this experience, he wrote The Blueprint: A Revolutionary Plan to Plant Missional Communities on Campus.[14][15]

In 2004, Ma was ordained as a minister under Harvest International Ministries by Pastor Che Ahn.

Ma grew up listening to all genres of music, specifically hip-hop, rock and gospel. Musical influences include Run DMC, Will Smith, MC Hammer, Mariah Carey, 2Pac, Nas, Sean Diddy Combs, Notorious B.I.G., Wu Tang Clan, Hieroglyphics, Living Legends, Pharcyde, U2, Nirvana, Lifehouse, Switchfoot, Coldplay, Delirious, Jason Upton, P.O.D., and KRS-One.[16] His music has been described as a hybrid of hip-hop and spoken word.[2]

Ma’s musical journey began in underground hip hop clubs in Northern California where Ma would compete in rap battle competitions. In 1998, he dropped his first mixtape titled “2 Sides 2 Everything.”

In 2007, he formed Christian based hip hop duo “Namesake” with Mike Whang and released the “Heartback” EP.[17][18] The album got into the hands of Plan C Management, which managed Asian American rap artists Far East Movement and MC Jin at the time. Plan C signed Ma, and his third album “GLORY” released in 2010 featured Bruno Mars on the debut single “Love,” which garnered international recognition and mainstream popularity.[19]

In 2013, Ma recorded and released independently a double album titled “Confession X Resurrection” where Ma details his experience between 2011-2012.[20][21]

In 2015, Ma teamed up with living rap legend MASE (Mason Betha) to write and record “Revival or Riot,” a full album project still in development. In 2017, Ma released the first single “Revival or Riot” (co-written and produced by MASE).[22]

Ma has been recognized for the following:

• Newsmax’s 2017 “100 Most Influential Evangelicals in America”[23]
• Christianity Today’s 2014 “33 Under 33”[24]
• Charisma’s 2010 “21 Emerging Leaders of Tomorrow’s Church”[25]

Ma is involved in the following organizations:

• Asian World Film Festival[26]
• Chinese American Film Festival

• Ma, Jaeson (Aug 2007). The Blueprint: A Revolutionary Plan to Plant Missional Communities on Campus. ISBN 978-0-8307-4408-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)