Mashundae Pearman has had a speech impediment since the age of four — but as soon as the gospel rapper gets on stage, all that vanishes.“I stutter, but it’s like when I get on stage and rap I don’t stutter at all,” she said.“It’s so weird. I don’t understand why when I rap everything [that comes out of my mouth] is so clear and perfect. I wonder what happens when I am on stage ... I think it could be using another part of the brain or something.”The 26-year-old is preparing to release her first single, ‘Higher Level’.“Rapping is just a freedom that I have. When I am up there to rap and being able to speak fluently in the word of God it’s just awesome,” she said.Ms Pearman, who goes by stage name Dae, started memorising song lyrics when she was a child.She started writing her own lyrics as a teenager, to help cope with everyday issues. She was performing with a singing group at the First Church of God on North Shore at the time.She got her first break in April 2009 when local artist Wesley ‘Big Snipes’ Hall featured her on a track for his album, ‘Buffet Style’. The duo then performed at venues across the Island.“That was my very first performance. I remember the first time I recorded anything I was so nervous and I was standing at the mic and just shaking, but after a few practices I was fine.“I was horrified at first but now I have gotten better and my confidence is up a lot more so it’s no problem to record anything.”Though Ms Pearman got her bachelor’s degree in business, she wants to develop a career in music.She hopes her songs and lyrics provide encouragement and inspiration to the Island’s youth.‘Higher Level’ was produced by Jason Burrows, of Christsyde International Productions.It speaks about taking life to a new level not going with the status quo or settling for less.“The message is you can have the best [through God] basically,” said Ms Pearman.The track took nearly a month-and-a-half to complete. The first attempt wasn’t to the standard she expected, so she went back to the drawing board, working with background vocalist Samantha Smith.“When I heard the final copy I said, ‘That is it. It’s perfect. Leave it just like that’.”Developing a career as a rapper takes “a lot of work”, but Ms Pearman hopes she can help ease people’s troubles.“That’s when I’ll know I have done my job,” she said.“I wouldn’t say what I have to do is a burden, but I really want to see change in Bermuda because it seems [some] young people are doing a pack of ignorance and there has got to be a better way to live.”She said young Christians were often seen as being ‘uncool’ when they stepped aside from the pack and served God.Many feel they have to hide their love for God just to fit in, Ms Pearman believes.“People also think the church is all old people, but that is not the case. You can still be young, have fun and listen to rap music, but try and be a youth and serve God and live right and listen to an alternative that glorifies God and not man.”Another tune, ‘Insecure’, chronicles a 13-year-old who goes through bouts of low confidence and self-doubt.“The song is trying to let you know you do not have to be that way. You can value yourself. With my music I try to touch on every area that young people go through,” she explained.‘Higher Level’ is available for $3 at Heritage Book Store and First Church of God Book Store.