Jeph is the stage name of Jean-Philippe Vauthier. He grows up in Baltimore City, Maryland, and is the youngest son of a West African father and a White American mother. This family background shapes his early reluctance to show his artistic interests openly, as he fears being stereotyped or misunderstood by his peers.

He develops an interest in hip-hop after hearing albums by artists including Wyclef and Eminem. From there, he begins writing and beatboxing. The name Jeph comes from Jeffrey and is intended to represent artistic work that comes from Jeff, suggesting that his outward appearance and his sound express the same person.

Jeph is associated with Christian music and hip-hop, and he continues to develop his work with an emphasis on quality, sincerity, and music for the next generation of hip-hop listeners.