poppamanny

Racine, WI, USA

Manuel Riley A.K.A Soulbaita was born in Racine, WI to Peggy Riley. He had one brother and a younger sister who unfortunately was murdered in 1994. With no father active in his life Soulbaita took to the streets at an early age and became involved in gang activity by the age of 9 and started smoking cigarettes, weed and alcohol on a regular basis. At age 10 Soulbaita was declared an out-of-control child and removed from his mother's home and sent to a facility until the age 12. From 12 to 25 Soulbaita had spent the majority of his life behind bars. He came from a family of singers and musicians, so music is in his blood. He was taught to reverent Christ at an early age by his grandparents prior to the time he started getting in trouble. Soulbaita struggled with substance abuse most of his life and finally found help through Teen Challenge where he began his journey to spiritual growth and recovery in 2008. In 2010 he felt lead to start rapping for Christ and recorded- God Knew