Episode 197: Derek Minor & Canon- The Making of Vigilante

In this thought-provoking episode of The Corelink Solution, host James “Trig” Rosseau Sr. sits down with Canon and Derek Minor to unpack the creative journey behind their long-awaited collaborative project, Vigilante. What began as a six-year odyssey of faith, art, and personal growth culminates in a cinematic album that challenges what Christian hip hop can be—and what it means to live as a “vigilante for God.”

From Confidence to Clarity

Early in the conversation, Derek Minor opens up about something that might surprise his fans: despite his commanding presence, he’s wrestled with self-confidence. What once looked like boldness, he explains, was often a mask for insecurity. “I used to make myself bigger to project confidence,” he says. “But a lot of that was insecurity I hadn’t faced.” Canon nods knowingly, calling it growth born from struggle. “He had to find that confidence through the lack of it,” he adds, noting that Derek’s evolution as an artist—and as a man—has shaped their creative partnership. The two speak candidly about brotherhood, accountability, and the emotional work it takes to sustain not just a career, but one’s peace. For Canon, the challenge has been learning to balance his giving nature. “Sometimes I do too much for others and not enough for myself,” he admits. That generosity, while rooted in love, can leave him depleted. Together, the two artists confront the tension between service and self-care—an ongoing theme woven throughout Vigilante.

The Making of Vigilante: Art Without a Box

The word vigilante often conjures images of comic book heroes or lone crusaders, and that’s intentional. Derek, a self-professed lover of comics and anime, leaned into that metaphor to build an artistic universe that felt as vast and cinematic as The Dark Knight. “I don’t like the idea that Christian art has to be small,” he says. “When I write, I envision stadiums—not for the fame, but because I believe in creating something that meets people at the human level.” That conviction shaped every detail of Vigilante. From the three-story creative space where they recorded, to the eight music videos shot in a week, Derek and Canon approached the project like world-building—layering sound, story, and theology with precision. The result is a deeply personal, yet universally resonant body of work that resists easy labels. “What makes art powerful,” Derek reflects, “is when it’s honest. You don’t have to fit it in a box. Life doesn’t fit in a box.”

Faith, Healing, and the Hard Work of Growth

The conversation turns deeply introspective when Trig asks how they maintained mental and spiritual health during the six-year process. For Canon, it came down to gratitude. “I take it one day at a time,” he says. “Some days I fail, some days I don’t read my Bible—but I wake up and try again. I start the day thanking God for what I already have.” Derek echoes that sentiment but emphasizes another layer: self-development. “A lot of us want to know more about God,” he says, “but not enough of us want to know God better.” The pandemic forced him to slow down and face buried emotional trauma he’d long avoided by overworking. “There’s no Bible verse that’s a magic bullet for healing,” he says. “You have to do the internal work.” That work—of healing, of honesty—became the heartbeat of Vigilante. “You’re not meant to save the world,” Derek says toward the end. “That’s God’s job. The best way you can help the world is by working on yourself.”

A Call to Be Vigilantes for God

At its core, Vigilante is a manifesto for faith in action. “The world tells you to chase greed and lust,” Derek explains, “but God calls you to rebel against that. Be a vigilante for righteousness.” Through the lens of superhero symbolism and scriptural truth, the album invites listeners to confront their shadows, embrace their humanity, and live courageously in purpose. “The ultimate goal isn’t to suffer for God,” Derek reminds listeners. “It’s to live for Him.” As the conversation closes, both artists express gratitude for the fans who’ve supported them and the community that’s helped bring this vision to life. “If people love this project,” Canon says, “it’s because they’ve seen six years of growth—and it’s just the beginning.” Vigilante isn’t just an album—it’s a movement, one built on patience, process, and purpose. And for Derek Minor and Canon, the mission is far from over.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome & studio setup at Holy Culture Radio
01:10 – Introduction: Derek Minor and Canon join the show
02:30 – Longevity in the game: six years of consistency
03:15 – Derek Minor opens up about struggling with self-confidence
05:30 – Canon on giving too much and learning to lead himself
08:15 – The burden of “saving everyone” and redefining success
11:20 – Loving without boundaries and the cost of empathy
13:00 – Humor and honesty: the “Angry Gnome” moment
14:00 – The birth of Vigilante: art without limits
16:45 – Why Christian art doesn’t have to be small
19:00 – Meeting people at the human level through music
21:00 – Creating Vigilante like a cinematic universe
24:00 – Turning dark seasons into art
26:00 – Mental health, gratitude, and keeping faith through change
30:00 – Derek’s pandemic awakening: confronting buried trauma
34:00 – Learning to heal and see God through love
37:00 – What listeners should take away from Vigilante
39:00 – “Be a vigilante for God,” not for the world
42:00 – The power of perspective and how fans interpret art
44:00 – When Christians create with freedom and excellence
46:00 – From the 116 Tour to now: growth, maturity, and grace
48:00 – Canon on staying humble and evolving through every season
50:00 – The hardest song to finish and why the intro mattered most
52:00 – The collaborations that shaped Vigilante
54:00 – Six years, countless lessons, and millions of streams later
56:00 – Derek’s vision for defining the “rapper who’s a Christian” lane
58:00 – The patience behind true movements and long-term legacy
1:00:00 – Gratitude for the fans, the team, and God’s timing
1:01:15 – Closing thoughts: Vigilante is only the beginning