Gospel artiste Brian Juma alias Redemption Musiq has spoken about growing up in a violent environment as a child after his mother got married early.

Speaking exclusively to , he said

'My life growing up wasn't easy, my childhood was sad, My mum gave berth to me when she was only 17 years old.

When she got married she only did so because she had a child (me) and was living with her sister At the time she conceived.

She could not stay with her siblings as they would be chased away.'

Thus Redemption and his mum moved to Kayole to try and make ends meet.

'She moved to Kayole and that is where she got engaged to my step-dad. 

They used to fight a lot because of me.

At some point, my mum sent me to her sister as my step-dad hated me.

Every time I went to visit my mum my step-dad would beat me so badly and ask me why I was coming to his house uninvited.

When I started school, I started living with my mum and they would fight every day of the year.'

The only time their was peace in the house was when the step father wasn't around.

'I was only 6 and I would intervene and I was almost killed during their fights.'

Redemption added that he had to start hustling as a child selling sugar cane and jaggery (sukari ngutu), mandazi among other things.

'It was so hard but I persevered.

When I was about to do my class eight exams I came back to Nairobi and the fighting between my parents continued.

Sometimes I would go and sleep with friends, and that is when I joined the music industry.'

Further adding,

'I have never thought of singing secular songs.

Growing up as a child I was a catholic and I would attend masses and was an altar boy at some point.

In school, I joined CU and that propelled my singing career.

I have been in the music industry since 2013. So far I have worked with artists like Guardian Angel.'

Below is a video of one of his songs.