Clinton" Nine Up" Hopkins was born in Los Angeles California Oct 10th 1981. He is the middle child of Dolly and John Hopkins, the son of a factory worker he and His family moved a lot, and as a result he attended 11 different schools. Just as the family began to settle in Ontario Ca Clinton was hurt in a bicycle accident in which the front tire of his bike hit a curb sending him flying over the handle bars and his neck landing on a fire hydrant, with a swelling neck Clinton managed to make it all the way home. He was rushed to Kaiser Hospital in Fontana CA where doctors were able to save his life with a Tracheotomy procedure. Not knowing if he will be able to speak again. God had other plans his voice came back after several months.
In 1992 he and family moved to Moreno Valley CA were he discovered the art of music. But it wasn't until 1994 when he discovered a rap group called Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, at that moment he knew that rapping was for him. Although he knew he had talent the street life was still calling he joined a gang in 1995 (at the age of 13) where he got his name (Nine Up). In 1997 he formed a rap Group called "Really Rhyming Righteous (wasn't a Christian group) but God had bigger and better things in mind. In 1997 he met a Christian Rap group (Christsyde) at an outreach where he came up received prayer.
By 1999 the street life had started to take a toll on him. After being kicked out of school and getting locked up, Nine up was desperate for change. On Oct 15 1999 God sent Teddy "Nobody" Brooks, on a bold assignment, Teddy walked right up to Nine Up and began to share the gospel while all of his homies from his hood stood and watched. After the two shared some music (Christsyde .feat Teddy) Nine Up was interested, Seeing as he had remember the group from an outreach 2years prior. Teddy also invited Nine Up to church (Friendship Christian fellowship) where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord & Savior on Oct 17 1999.
With his new found faith and relationship with the lord, while in bible study God gave him a new meaning to the name "Nine Up"
Nine-Comes from Galatians 5:22-26, the 9 fruits of the spirit. UP - Stands for Unify People.
Nine Up joined Teddy "Nobody" Brooks to form the seminal L.A. (I.E.) Christian rap group C.L. Ryderz (Christ Life Ryderz). They quickly signed to ChristSyde Records and, in January 2004, made history by being the first Christian rap group to perform on the nationally televised show "Soul Train". God continued to move in C.L. Ryderz ministry blessing them to have shared the stage with some of Gospels biggest names such as Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Lecrae, T-Bone, P.O.D. Trinity 57, Tonex, Detrick Haddon etc… Their success continued to build, culminating in three successful albums and a progression of television/radio appearances including TBN, BET and The Word Network (which currently has their video "Do You Know" in rotation, as well as all of the major radio stations throughout Southern California). They have also seen a great deal of editorial coverage in publications like Source Magazine in 2006, the quintessential source for all things rap.
After the success of C.L. Ryderz, Nine Up took some time off from music to focus on his personal life and community. He married his longtime Girlfriend Sherice Benson in 2006. He poured his heart and passion in his local church (New Generation Church) by taking Jesus back to the streets where he came from and watching God move in the lives of the youth in Moreno Valley, CA.
As the blessing of God continue to flow Nine Up has Recorded and released several Solo Mixtape in (2007) "THiZ iZ Why I'm CoOL, (2009) "On The Block Bangin Movie Mixtape", and (2011) "WITNESS MIXTAPE VOL.1 (it's Go Hard Kingdom Music) & THE FILLIN MIXTAPE VOL.1 (it's that Kingdom Praise & Worship)".
He has release his first nationwide solo album entitled "Christ Life Or Nothin', The foundation of the album is built upon John 14:6 – Jesus' proclamation that "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".
These days Nine up can be found directing and producing music videos, music etc. He is also gearing up for his new album slated to be released in the near future.
Through it all, God has kept a steady hand on Nine Up; .He continues to seek the Lord in all that he does. With a new production company in the works, Nine up is taking something that was once just a saying, (Christ Life Or Nothin) and has turned it into a business (Christ Life Or Nothin Productions), a place where artist that stand on the same foundation as him can come and seek services needed to help better their careers. All while continuing to minister to those on the same streets he once walked on.
