Bethlehem imay be getting its next big star, as Bethlehem native and Christian hip-hop artist Joseph Capelli is about to sign with a record company.

Capelli goes by the name Gsep Music, and he is talking to Warner Brothers Records, Atlantic Records and G-Unit Records. Capelli produces positive hip-hop music.

"I try to put the candle, a light in where it's dark," Capelli said.

The name Gsep comes from what he was called as a child growing up.

"Being Italian and having an Italian household, growing up everybody called me Giuseppe, which is Joseph in Italian, so I just shrank it."

He originally became interested in hip-hop music when he left Bethlehem to attend Barry University in Miami. He said the majority of people there listened to hip-hop music, so he started listening to it, which led to him freestyling and becoming more involved in the hip-hop culture.

Upon falling into drug addictions and dealings, and becoming depressed and experiencing suicidal thoughts, he came home to Bethlehem and attended a local youth group. He said the pastor at the group spoke with him about being true to himself and allowing God to help him through his difficult times, so Capelli decided to move back home and quit doing drugs.

While home, he began to experience drug withdrawal, but chose to write instead of using drugs again. Through this, he ended up writing his first song, "Goddess Supreme," written about four years ago. He has since recorded more than 100 songs.

He decided to begin producing after writing "Goddess Supreme" because he began to love the music.

"I just started really loving everything about the music and the whole hip-hop genre, and just being able to express myself in a different manner than just talking," Capelli said. "Everybody has a certain ambition in life to be able to express their life and their journey, and I do it through my music."

Capelli writes all of his own music and produces it. His most recent single, "Ambition" is available on iTunes and was produced by Go Grizzly of Warner Brother Records.

He is currently working on a new single, along with a new album titled "Take My Word For It." The title for this plays off his most recent album titled "Just Hear Me Out," which he said allows listeners to understand him and his style of music. He said after people listen to "Just Hear Me Out" and understand what he is trying to do and his motivations, he hopes people will trust that he is being himself and telling the truth – that they will take his word for it.

He said his career is headed in the direction he wants, and he is taking baby steps but he has big plans for where he wants to go.

"I plan to change the face of hip-hop, and try to bring a positive outlook on things and not talk about money, cars and degrading women," he explained. "I just hope that the next person who hears my music sees who I am and what I'm trying to project."