Lost & Found

Signs of Life

2010-02-19T13:58:00.002-05:00

Living in the path of the recent snowstorms, and finding time in February winding down, I can't help but think to the spring.

One sure sign of spring on its way that I remember from growing up is a cluster of small, white flowers, tinged with green, that emerged in my parent's backyard each year.

These flowers, known as snowdrops, brave whatever winter is giving us to unexpectedly thrust themselves through the ground--through snow; through cold, hard earth; through a matted tangle of decaying leaves from the last days of fall. They offer hope of longer days and warmer temperatures when many of us are well within the grasp of a seemingly unending case of cabin fever.

Cold temperatures and a harsh climate would make it seem like these flowers have the worst timing for blooming. But, nevertheless, when things look dreary to our eyes, here they come, imparting a sliver of color to the winter landscape--and a sliver of hope to our frozen hearts.

Sometimes our faith can be as stagnant as the hard, cold, packed earth of the winter months. During such a time, verdant periods of growth in our relationship with God may seem like a distant memory. But by stepping back from our stress and our fears, and reconnecting with the Lord, we can witness signs of life return to our spirit--even if the joy that manifests starts as small as the brave snowdrop.

An appropriate verse from the Bible to illustrate how spirit-filling it is to stop everything and seek God is this one: "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalms 34:4) The deliverance--the spiritual growth in our lives--only comes when we seek God and place our worries and sadness in His hands.

We are reminded by the snowdrop flower that winter will be over sooner than we think. We are reminded by God that time in His presence can break through the layers of ice that encase our hearts, cast aside the piles of negative history that smother our contentment, and even penetrate dense layers of doubt with the clarifying light of love. And as sure as the snowdrop comes back every year, God's grace is available perennially as well.

Rising to the Occasion

2010-01-30T06:39:00.004-05:00

Esther had a good life. Though she had been an orphan, raised by her cousin, she was chosen to be King Xerxes' leading lady, after he dismissed his previous wife, Vashti. Esther was pampered with precious oils, beautiful clothes, special food, the best room in Xerxes' harem, and handmaidens to come to her aid as needed. The king even declared a holiday in his dominion following his union with Esther. In short, she had arrived.

But Esther had one big secret: Her nationality. Esther was Jewish, and Jews were not looked upon kindly in the kingdom, due to cultural differences. Esther's identity became a problem when Haman, an esteemed noble in the king's court, decreed the death of all Jewish men, women and children, after Mordecai refused to idolize King Xerxes by bowing to him.

Mordecai sent an urgent message to Esther, asking her to approach the king on behalf of the Jews in the region, to spare their lives. Esther faltered, fearing for her own life, but was quickly reminded by Mordecai that there was no guarantee she would be spared if she was found out. And then Mordecai delivered the kicker: "Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14, NLT)

This passage echoes where I hope a lot of Christians find themselves these days. God has blessed us in many ways. We may have always lived blessed lives, if we look back to our lost time with an honest eye, or we may have found favor in God after breaking free from a difficult past. Either way, as God's children, we are blessed. With those blessings come resources, whether financial, physical, or emotional, in the form of empathy and compassion.

The fruit of our blessings are needed. I believe, in the words of Mordecai, that we were given them for a time like this. 2010 was immediately marked with the worst kind of humanitarian crisis imaginable, a massive earthquake, followed by countless lesser, but similarly damaging, aftershocks. This natural event, with its epicenter just outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, has left an estimated tens of thousands dead and an even larger number homeless.

We are needed to extend our grace to our Haitian brothers and sisters, to save their lives, heal their injuries and help them rebuild their cities and nation. Even if it's just $5 or $10, as many mobile phone charity campaigns have made possible, or a small shipment of clothes, baby formula, or water bottles, there is something we can do to be God's grace to a population in need.

I sincerely hope that, in addition to your prayers, you have contributed in some way to this unexpected, devastating emergency in Haiti. If you have, I hope your heart has been stretched to do more. Haiti, a country that was already in dire straits, is guaranteed to have long-term needs following this disaster. And, of course, our families and our own communities have needs as well.

As I alluded to in my review of DJ Official's "Entermission" recently for Da South, we are living in trying times. Families are financially ravaged, following the prolonged recession. Individuals are empty inside, due to the kinds of hurt we read about on the news, as well as the kind of hurt that the devil tries to instill into our hearts, encouraging our souls to fester. Many people are lost and hurt these days, and feel there is no cure-all for their pain.

I feel strongly in my own life that God wants His children to extend His love and compassion in a way that pushes past our comfort zones. We were made small-scale kings and queens in His greater kingdom for a time like this. Give God glory by giving of your wallet, your heart, your time, your sweat, your ear to listen, your knees in prayer. With our intervention, we can save lives--both in the physical, as Esther had the power to, or in the spiritual, by nudging the lost toward everlasting life.

A Belated Birthday

2009-12-29T06:21:00.005-05:00

Gotta wish S.O. a belated birthday (Dec. 5 was the actual day) and thank him for sharing a track he whipped up to celebrate his born day.

Think of it as a late Christmas present from me... Wow, I stay losing with the celebrations this month!

Seriously, though, "Makings of Me" is a nice, laid back track. S.O., the UK Christian rapper who brought you "Love Is" earlier this year, jacks the beat from a Jahaziel track, also called "Makings of Me," to give love to some of the people in his life in six minutes and some change.

Enjoy.

And, if you don't already, follow the kid on Twitter: @SdotThekid

Also, check his Myspace page for more tracks.

Building Through Brokenness

2009-12-13T08:37:00.008-05:00

I have come to appreciate the moments when God has whispered a Bible chapter or verse to read that has brought me clarity. I had such a moment this morning.

Flipping through the Bible to get to 1 Corinthians for a Bible study on Jehovah Nissi, I found myself in Nehemiah, staring at chapter 4. I was called to read it.

The chapter deals with repairing the walls of Jerusalem out of rubble. It deals with individuals and ethnic groups despising the efforts of the Jews to rebuild the wall, first with mocking words ("Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned as they are?"), and then with threats of violence, once these groups realized at the halfway point of the rebuilding project that the work was going well.

How did the Jews respond to the negativity that began to swarm around them? They prayed to God and ultimately posted a guard at the wall.

But, after hearing from Jews who were privy to the conversations of the foreign enemies, they came to realize one guard wouldn't be enough to squash the antagonistic desires of Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod, who became even more bold with their threats.

A decision was made to devote half the Jewish men to protecting the work efforts, and the other half to doing the actual building. However, those who carried materials took to having a weapon at the ready in one hand. Even the builders wore swords. All men stayed within Jerusalem, to serve as watchmen at night.

Additionally, a trumpeter was on call to sound out an alarm in the event of an impending attack. In case a need to fight arose, those who were working on the massive project could regroup and be prepared to defend their rebuilding efforts. "Our God will fight for us," Nehemiah said of what would happen after any necessary trumpet call.

The words that kept them going were these: "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

I found this to be a powerful passage. And I also later realized that God can be seen in the light of Jehovah Nissi, "the Lord is my banner," through this passage, keeping in line with my initial Bible study focus. No actions concerning God are ever wasted!

What struck me most about this chapter is that the city was literally in a state of brokenness--its former walls a heap of shattered stones. Its inhabitants needed to fight hard, harder than anticipated, to keep moving forward on fortifying the city limits.

This parallels common internal strife we face. We often find ourselves crawling tenaciously out of a period of brokenness, sitting in a pile of rubble, yet holding a remnant of faith that things will get better. We look to God to pull us through, and often challenges may seem to build even as we grow in the strength with which God has blessed us.

That is when we have to fight even more, to not give up, but to figuratively rebuild our spirits with one hand and fight with the other. But we have to fight smarter, by ensuring that our strategy to advance and overcome is truly rooted in God, and not in our own limited power. Let God be the banner in our fight for wholeness and peace, the actual and symbolic sign of victory over nagging internal struggles.

Ultimately, the wall was rebuilt, and the enemies' ambitions were deflated. Nehemiah 6:15-16 reads: "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God."

What we can take away from the passage is that to prevail in an internal struggle, it may take splitting focus on work and protection. It may take being on guard for your spirit overnight--when we are often most vulnerable to attacks of doubt and fear from the enemy--to begin the hard work of rebuilding again in the morning. It may take more than a day. But, victory is at hand. Under the banner of God, fight for your peace and wholeness. When the trumpet of alarm sounds, run to Him, and let Him lead the way. The enemy can't help but lose confidence when faced with a work of God in you.

Music Brief: Willie Will's Redemption Mixtape

2009-11-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

We argue about whether Christian rappers should rhyme over secular beats, but Willie Will's mixtape, "Redemption," shuts down this debate for now.

It's a mighty work for the Lord in reaching nonbelievers, taking some of the grimiest hip-hop tracks (including "We Gonna Make It," by Jadakiss; "C.R.E.A.M.," by Wu-Tang Clan; "Ambitionz az a Ridah," by 2Pac; and "Shook Ones Pt. II" by Mobb Deep) and claiming them for God. Not only does he jack beats, but he also swagger jacks to further capture the essence of the original songs, stylistically stepping into Raekwon's two-tone Wallabees on his remake of "C.R.E.A.M.," for example.

These 32 songs are now fortified with the Holy Ghost and Willie Will's dense, intelligent lyrics. Classic tracks in the hands of a talented lyricist is always a win, and this one is a big win for God.

My Top Tracks: There wasn't a track list provided with the mixtape as far as I can tell, so I'll have to title by the names of the original songs and list track numbers. Without further ado...

Track 4, "Big Poppa" remake: Stop being a baby, baby.
Track 5, "Shook Ones Pt. II" remake: Be shook if not saved.
Track 11, "New York State of Mind" remake: Start the revoloution. God=solution.
Track 12, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" remake: Praise for the real Hov.
Track 13, "We Gonna Make It" remake: Amped lyrics and amped music.
Track 15, "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" remake: Christ's story, Pete Rock heatrock.
Track 16, "It Was a Good Day" remake: A humorous praise song.
Track 21, "The People" remake: Will's flow > Common's. Trust.

Where do you cop this one from? DaSouth.com. Join the site and access this mixtape, and many other free downloads.

Video: Sean Slaughter: "Flesh Killa" (Feat. J.R.)

2009-11-08T11:06:00.003-05:00

Another dope song and video. I'm putting Sean Slaughter on my late pass list as we speak. Gotta check for more stuff from him!

Video: Eshon Burgundy, "A Note for the Hopeless"

2009-11-07T05:23:00.006-05:00

Philly may have (sadly) lost the World Series recently, but man we been winnin' lately with the CHH music! If you haven't already, drop everything and cop R-Swift's "Anthem." Fantastic album. Read my five-star review of it here.

Here, we have Eshon Burgundy, dropping 100 bars on "A Note for the Hopeless."

I've been behind on my Internet travails (You may have noticed me M.I.A. from this blog and my Twitter account lately...Tryna get back on it now...), but props to my fellow DaSouth.com writer Kellus Hill for putting me on to brother Burgundy a few weeks back. He goes Sugar Ray Leonard on this one. Don't be surprised by the lightness of his delivery (a whispery flow completely devoid of menacing attitude) and his relaxed composure; he verbally sticks, moves and delivers a TKO on the soul sample. My fave line: "Lucifer? I don't know you... Huh? Oh yeah, I'm acting brand new."

I hear he's working on a new release. I'll be lining up for it, like going to Pat's or Geno's for cheesesteaks.

For more info on the man, check out his Myspace, here. There's a treasure trove of music to be found here--three mixtapes! (Note: copy and paste the links into your browser to get at the free downloads.)

New S.O. Song: "Around My Life"

2009-11-02T19:51:00.005-05:00

Another dope song from the brother across the pond. This one is about being filled with, and surrounded by, God's grace and love.

UPDATE: The song is down now, for some re-tooling. Look for a version with a revamped chorus to come soon.

Video: Da' T.R.U.T.H.: Lost

2009-10-04T06:48:00.004-04:00

Like the song, like the video. Well done! And a nice shout-out to P4CM, who make the "Ex-" shirts that were featured in the video.

First-Class Citizens, All

2009-10-02T06:09:00.002-04:00

When reading through the Bible last night, I came across a passage in Philippians that hit me:

“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:2-3, NLT)

What touched my soul most about this passage is the exhortation to think more highly of others. This sounded like a good statement for me to focus on in my journey toward being more openly loving to others. (I don't necessarily harbor a lot of hatred, though, like anyone else, I have had my share of dislikes when it comes to people. My biggest problem is being an introverted person, with baggage rooted in fear, and struggling to get beyond myself to establishing meaningful connections with others.)

Think about it: If we are honest with ourselves, the people we gossip about, scream at in our minds (or aloud), and otherwise harbor negative feelings toward are ones to whom we have assigned second-class human status. We are not considering them on our level (of intelligence, compassion, whatever), and we are certainly not loving them. We may not even call them by their names in conversation, instead resorting to “that woman,” “him,” or something worse that we'd never want to escape from our mouths.

How would your attitude change toward someone if you upgraded your perception of them? Someone with whom I face a struggle currently immediately came to mind for me. If you consider your “problem person” the same as you, or better, it becomes impossible to think about them the same light as before.

There are many areas of life that can be challenging, but the hardest has to be doling out love unconditionally, in the spirit that Jesus intended. I thank God for the ways He has changed my spirit so far, and I look forward to more work!

Music Brief: Jas Knight's "The Psalter"

2009-09-24T07:07:00.003-04:00

The best albums, secular or Christian, are ones that you can play all the way through and use for all occasions. Everyone has that one album they can go to for dinner when company's over, driving on a sunny day, cleaning the house and vibing to in an introspective moment. Jas Knight just offered you another of those releases to keep on hand, with "The Psalter."

Knight presents this jazzy, neosoul offering as a contemplation of the Psalms. A Psalter is a collection of the Psalms for worshipers in olden times; Jas' Knight's Psalter covers several Psalms, repeating key verses that can be meditated on, with the mellow music serving as a willing vehicle for the uplifting reminders. "This is soul music," Da' T.R.U.T.H. aptly announces on "Psalm 91." Other guests include shai linne and R-Swift.

My Top Tracks:

Psalm 100: Smooth sound, but joyful regardless.
Psalm 136a: Enduring love, midtempo groove.
Psalm 91: Bouncy encouragement for the faithful.
Psalm 29: Dramatic rendering of God's power.
Psalm 37:A funky faith proclamation.

New Sho Baraka Song

2009-09-23T22:27:00.003-04:00

Sho Baraka dropped a song called "Word" yesterday. It may ring a bell with those of you who attended the Don't Waste Your Life concert.

"Word" will be on Sho's full-length release next year, titled "Lions and Liars." (For more on the release, and more on Sho, check out my recent interview with him for DaSouth, here.)

The song features a minimalist 808 and soul-clap beat. On the song, Sho sometimes clothes his words in a Jamaican-style accent, which coordinates with the woman on the chorus with an exotic dialect. "I walk with boldness like Revenge of the Nerds," Sho says of the strength he gets from the Word of God.

He also gives a shout-out to the Bible for shaping his life for better--encouraging him to serve wifey with breakfast, give to the poor, and to repent when he realizes he's been doing wrong.

Sho is keeping tight wraps on "Lions and Liars," but if this song is any indication, the album should attention grabbing and thought-provoking.

Until then, "Word" is available on iTunes and Amazon. There are also special promotions for the song on the Reach Records site. Get it for free by telling five friends, or if you want to pay, Reach allows you to name your price.

Late Pass Music Brief: Jade Harrell's "Class Reject"

2009-09-23T06:36:00.003-04:00

I gotta admit that sometimes I judge by the cover. In a positive way. A close examination of wording and images has often led me to thoroughly enjoyable entertainment that I would've never known about if I hadn't been nosy.

Jade Harrell's "Class Reject," released this summer, is the latest Exhibit A for me in this line of thinking. Her CD caught my eye in the urban section of my local Christian bookstore. Her punky hair, Day-Glo clothing and the title's defiant nod to not fitting into the norm stood out with panache.

I was not disappointed by dropping my cash on her album. "Class Reject" is a light-hearted, pop-leaning concoction of dance and rock, with reggae and even a retro R&B moment. Harrell's willingness to bend genres to her versatile alto is enjoyable.

My Top Tracks:

Into the Music: Futuristic escapism at its best.
Me and My Radio: Worship: No club, DJ needed.
Who Are You: Empowerment celebrated, with Ayiesha Woods.
The Unseen: Stay faithful; don't line-walk.
Don't Leave: Praise clothed in 60's soul.
You and I: Crazy in love with Christ.

Jin in the Light Club

2009-09-19T05:41:00.022-04:00

You have probably heard by now that Jin, a secular rapper who, in the last decade, had a lot of buzz from winning freestyle battles on BET and ultimately being signed to Rough Ryders, recently released a Christian hip-hop song, "Welcome to the Light Club," on his Myspace page and his YouTube page.

The song, rhymed over Kanye West's "Amazing," starts out with Jin reading Matthew 5:14-16, with the words posted on the screen. With this nearly three-minute audio clip, Jin shines light on his new life as a growing Christian to the urban masses. "Jesus is the truth; with Him, freedom can be achieved," Jin proclaims on the song.

He lays bare his feelings on his past, of being a rising star in secular hip-hop, only to seemingly crash in a resounding, career-ending blaze after being defeated at a Fight Klub battle by Serius Jones. "Ego crushed, but it also taught me humility," Jin confessed. "I used to hear the side commentary and get upset with it/Until I realized what was said had some sense in it/No excuses for the stupid records that I made/Would I still be saying this if those records had got me paid?/I can't call it/Either way I'm trying to save/What's left of my soul and not just what's going inside my wallet."

The song begs the question, what's next for Jin? Making more hip-hop, with a positive, Christian-influenced edge has not been ruled out, he seems to say. "Common said he used to love H.E.R.; yo, she's still my baby/So it's only right I learn to treat her like a lady/You want raps about pimpin? Killin? Snitchin? Ballin?/You won't get 'em from me, nah, that's not my calling/God Almighty reached out/I mean it sincerely/He spoke to me like Morgan Freeman did to Jim Carrey," the MC states.

Following the release of the audio clip came a video, straight from Jin's kitchen in Hong Kong, and courtesy of his laptop camera. The nearly 10-minute video has answers to all of the questions that have been floating around Christian and secular hip-hop message boards for the past few weeks.

Jin notes that he has been surprised by all of the Web sites, including HolyCulture.net and AllHipHop.com, that have featured the song. With this exposure, plus that of the song being on his personal pages, Jin acknowledged that he has received a lot of e-mails and Myspace comments from people wanting to know if he's a Christian rapper now.

Jin's answer? Yes, without a doubt, he's a Christian. He still raps, albeit in Chinese lately, but he is not opposed to dropping more English tracks in the future. Is he a Christian rapper? "Hey, I'll let you call it," he says.

Though Jin basically identifies himself as a rapper who happens to be a Christian, he doesn't sidestep the issue of his faith, and the fact that he is relatively new to it. By listening to his account on the video, him giving his life to Jesus, unbeknownst to him, has been a long time in coming.

When Jin was eight years old, a beloved aunt of his, whom he has rhymed about previously, offered to have him stay with her in New York, to go to vacation Bible school. He recalls that he was not thrilled with the idea of summer school, but was amped to have a chance to see the Statue of Liberty and do all the other exciting things that his aunt, a devout Christian, had promised.

He agreed to make the trip from Miami to go to VBS. There, he made friends, but he also learned "the basic fundamentals--which is just God's love for all of us, and Jesus, and how great he was, and what a sacrifice he made." He went to VBS roughly between the ages of eight to 13, stopping when it became necessary for him to help out with his family's restaurant. "I accepted Christ at a young age. Never got baptized, but I accepted Christ as my savior."

Though the seed was planted, Jin notes that the relationship didn't grow, aside from him praying in times of personal need. But, God was working behind the scenes. "What I've learned in the last year is that God wants us to turn to Him when we're in trouble, but what makes Him even more happy is when we turn to Him when we're not in trouble, and just being grateful for what He's done for us, and what Jesus has done for us."

Jin getting back on the path to salvation became a done deal last year. Before he moved to Hong Kong, in May of 2008, he met a pastor in January of that year. He told the pastor about his past experiences with Bible school and his aunt. He doesn't divulge what else went down in that conversation, but ultimately that meeting, on a Friday, led Jin to get baptized right away, on Saturday.

"I'm still not a perfect angel now, there's still a lot of things that I'm fighting, there's still a lot of demons that I'm fighting, and a lot of personal devils that I need to overcome, but it definitely was the beginning of a new chapter in my life," he expressed.

Jin feels that God brought him to Hong Kong, where he thought he was going to explore a Cantonese hip-hop career. "As time passed, I realized that God planned all of this....I want to turn to Him now and express to him exactly how grateful I am. I've just been so blessed in the past year."

Now, "it's bigger than me," Jin said, expressing his desire to "publicly declare just how great God is." The rapper asked for us to keep him in his prayers.

He closes the video by acknowledging that he has said and done "some pretty ungodly things," but that he is certain that "the only thing that's going to...enable me to change is the grace of God and the power of God." For him, the journey is just getting started."

I was happy to hear that Jin had put out a Christian hip-hop song but, like many of you, didn't know what to make of it. Was he really a practicing, authentic Christian? Was he just trying to get shine in the CHH arena after having to bow out of the secular one? Was this a one-time deal?

Only God and Jin know what's next, but I have to commend Jin for being honest about his spiritual state of mind, and his love for Christ. I pray that his plain talking, his detailed testimony, and his willingness to confess why he loves the Lord will inspire others.

Consider this a sizable spiritual coup d'etat, even if Jin doesn't drop another obviously Christian rhyme. He still has many fans, who are potential souls for Christ, as noted by approximately 200 comments each for the "Light Club" video and the explanatory video, titled "Jin....From battle rapper to Christian rapper?!"

"yungblackcat," a commenter to the "Light Club" video post, recalled how Jin never tried to embarrass his foes in freestyle battles, but rather tried to overcome with lyrical ability. "That's what I always liked about you. And now you're saved, that's even better," he expressed. Of the testimony video, "amberannan" said, "I feel the Holy Spirit in your words. What a wonderful testimony. You inspire people like me who are living in Today's world. We can be young, modern and Christian. Thank you." "Onlywon" added: "Much love Jin. Been prayin' for you for years. A real blessing to know that God answered both of ours." Let's hope that Jin's testimony inspires others to consider a life for Christ.

One thing I've learned recently when hip-hop and Christianity have crossed paths in the news is that secular fans aren't necessarily as close-minded to Christian beliefs or as "brainwashed" by the world as some of us may think they are. I was impressed by the number of people on popular secular hip-hop site The Smoking Section who didn't fall for the okey-doke when Jay-Z released a T-shirt emblazoned with "The Return of the God," referring to himself, in promotion of his new album. Comments on that particular post called the pronouncement blasphemy, expressed displeasure at Jay-Z for equating himself to God or, at the very least, complained that the T-shirt was in bad taste. We may have good opportunities to help make a positive change in others' lives.

I would hope that hearing a story like Jin's, of secular rappers heeding God's call, will become more and more commonplace, whether those who are called continue rapping, in a Godly manner, or simply leave the secular arena to focus their personal lives on Christ. I hope that we will give these people the support that they need as new members of the body. We need to recall the struggles we faced in taking that step forward; imagine how much more challenging it must be for someone in the public eye to shed a negative identity that has given them psychological and financial worth, or to quiet the voices of industry folks and "friends" who don't have their best interests at heart, to hear God's still, small voice. Just as it has been a process for us, it is a process for people like Jin. The same goes for any fans of Jin's who want to find out more about his God. Let's show people the love that the Holy Spirit has given us--the clothes of compassion described in Colossians 3:12-13.

Kiki's Mixtape Dropping

2009-09-19T04:42:00.004-04:00

A trip to Gospelpundit.com reminded me that Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's "Kiki's Mixtape" is coming out next week as well.

Take a trip over to EJ's page to hear an exclusive, the track "Teach Me." The midtempo song has a smooth, live neosoul sound, with percolating drums framing Kiki's lush vocals. "Lord, teach me to be like you, I wanna be pleasing/I wanna trust you, I wanna be like you," she prays.

Humble Tip's "Lethan PoiSIN" Video

2009-09-19T04:36:00.003-04:00

Up this morning surfing the Web, and I saw this one over at Sketch the Journalist's page. Pretty cool video, featuring Grammar.

The song is a single from "About Business," which drops next week!

Music Brief: Papa San's "Higher Heights"

2009-09-18T06:14:00.004-04:00

World-famous reggae veteran Papa San, having come to Christ more than 10 years ago, has released another Christian offering, "Higher Heights." The 16-tracks don't skimp on the "style and fashion" that fans of the former secular toaster, an annual performer at Jamaica's legendary Sting concert, according to a Wikipedia page, came to love from him.

Papa San, dubbed "Marathon Man" for regularly offering a barrage of popular songs at once, has done it again. All of the songs on "Higher Heights" are enjoyable, for different reasons. Styles range from organic, rootsy tracks to dancehall-flavored ones. Topics range from praising God to church goings-on, to uplifting city dwellers.

Secular reggae interestingly mixes "spiritual" fare into its popular music without anyone protesting, though many of the songs are Rastafarian in nature. Its refreshing to hear quality Christian riddims from Papa San.

My Top Tracks:

Fa Sure: Jesus has the cure.
Higher Heights: Call 'pon the flock's Shepherd.
Ina the Ghetto: Hope for the concrete jungle.
Disaster: Easygoing percussion under convicting lyrics.
Church House: Whosoever will may come.
Let Burn: More fiyah--God's anointing.
Hell Broke Loose: Energetic, horn-punctuated beat.

Music Brief: Shachah, "Let the Light in"

2009-09-12T07:53:00.006-04:00

Psalms says to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord," but it essentially gives us carte blanche on the "how" of it. Thankfully, there are many flavors of praise music for our many moods and needs.

Shachah, “four dudes from So.Cal,” defies staying in one lane on their latest, "Let the Light in." Rock, pop, and reggae (with Jahaziel dropping in on ragga toasting duties) moments are all present. The group hit my ears lovely with the collabo they did with John Wells (aka The Tonic), "Deliver Us," a rousing rap-rock hybrid. Hip-hop shows up elsewhere, thanks to Brenden Mcpeek from the group, as well as The Tonic and Phanatik.

Shachah is Hebrew for "worship," and the guys definitely bring the noise. If you want to diversify your praise experience, this album will do nicely.

My Top Tracks:

None Foresaken: Jammin' reminder of God's promises.
Deliver Us: No more entertainment bottom-feeding.
Lord Speak: A servant standing with hope.
The Harvest: Lyrics of fury, hype track
Revive Me: Roots vibe and staccato flow.

"Can't Break Us" Remix

2009-09-12T05:55:00.004-04:00

Man, I should've been at my computer on Labor Day! I read the Tweets via phone about this song, featuring the Frontlynaz, J.R., Eddie Nigma, J. Johnson and Viktory, but just listened to it today.

That's what I get for sleeping. This is straight heat, from the MCs going in, to J.R.'s impassioned chorus, to Wit's sonic alchemy--a little bit of the original G-Styles beat, a little nod to the old school (I'm hearing the flavor of Eric B. & Rakim's "Paid in Full" and Boogie Down Productions' "The Bridge Is Over," I believe?) and a smattering of futuristic keyboarding.

Song is available for download at Da South. It needs to be in your iPod, stat.

"Love Is," by S.O.

2009-09-04T05:13:00.027-04:00

I heard this song on the DJ Wade-O Radio Show a few weeks back but didn't get to check the playlist to see who the personnel was. A Web crawl for new music solved the mystery for me!

The artist is S.O., which is an abbreviation of his name, Seun Otukpe. S.O. hails from Durham, UK by way of Nigeria. He began his hip-hop ministry in 2006, according to his Myspace page, and has been on tracks with UK CHH gospel acts including Jahaziel and Four Kornerz.

If you haven't already, feast your ears on "Love Is:

The song, produced by Battle Axe, has a classic hip-hop sound, with a sparse boom-bap beat embellished with a light touch of piano. On it, S.O. gives praise for God's love, the realest there is. "True love is found in the Gospel," he reminds us.

Want more from S.O.? He is currently hard at work on writing and recording for a future EP, to be called "Bridgin' the Gap." Battle Axe will be producing all the EP tracks.

Music Brief: Knine's "Robots Have Feelings, Too"

2009-09-02T04:32:00.004-04:00

Confession time: As a new CHH fan (going back to late last year), this is my first listen to veteran MC Knine. But it's not my last!
The "Robots Have Feelings, Too" theme reinforces that Christians are not the blind, following "robots" of stereotypes, but rather multidimensional, caring people who have found the true solution for the pain and fear of life.
Knine also skillfully shows we have style and flava, too. With a relaxed flow, the sometimes humorous, sometimes profound lyrics cover everything from the 10 Commandments to how fans should cope when he dies.
Sonically, no secular artist is safe. Beat jacking victims include Ciara, Notorious B.I.G. and ODB. Even the annoying DJ Cannon mix tape drop gets ethered.
At 27 tracks, this mix tape is a generous, filling appetizer until The Dogg's next album drops.

My Top Tracks

Thank the Lord: A laundry list of reasons why.
Breathe: US and UK flows? Brilliant!
But He Said: Believe the Lord's report.
It's Not a Game: Tons of clever sports metaphors.
The 10 Commandments: Rundown translated for hip-hop generation.
Everything: Clever sample use for praise.
On top of the World: Where God's mercy places you.

Shachah Video, Album Release

2009-08-30T08:26:00.002-04:00

Shachah's sophomore effort, "Let the Light In," came out on Tuesday this past week. Coinciding with the release was the debut of a video for "Deliver Us," the song the group cut with John Wells, aka The Tonic.

I'm excited to hear this release! Shachah churns out a tasty mix of hip-hop, rock and funk, a nice departure from straight-ahead HHH. Just downloaded it today. I'll be posting a Music Brief on it soon.

Music Brief: Teddy P: Word & Deed

2009-08-05T04:43:00.003-04:00

An emcee can be as fresh as he wants to be, but when rhyming on an uninspired beat, the results will never reach their full potential.

That's why producer-led albums are usually an ear-pleasing win-win. With one gifted person behind the boards and a stable of hand-selected, talented rappers, you have the makings of a textbook-proper hip-hop set, when many folks are on a death watch for the genre.

Teddy P's "Word & Deed," featuring Eddie Nigma, Rhema Soul, Nina Del, Wonder Brown, Braille, Young Joshua, Phien-X Zekarayah, EKO, Ackdavis, J. Griff, Conviction, Believin’ Stephen, Average Joe, and B. Morr, proves hip-hop is not dead, and that God is alive. The cerebral, jazz- and soul-fueled beats push the emcees to dopeness. This is "Soundbombing," a la Rawkus Records or, better yet, soul bombing--napalming the devil's lies with ether lyrics.

My Top Tracks:

Long Way to Go: Giving thanks for growing pains.
Grace: Bringing beauty out of ruins.
Love: Vintage beat and everlasting grace.
The Gospel: Bold bars for Christ.
Ride: Lifting Son up 'til sundown.
Free Write: All souls need an extension.
Set Free: Romans 9: The release papers.

Music Brief: Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s The Big Picture

2009-07-30T06:01:00.003-04:00

The "big picture" premise of Philly rapper Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s latest release encourages Christians and nonbelievers alike to not sweat the small stuff and focus in on the grace of God that enables us to transcend the slavery of self-sufficiency and worldly notions. It also reminds us of the other important big picture premise, that life on Earth should not be our primary focus, but rather ensuring our eternal life with God when the time comes.

Da' T.R.U.T.H. refocuses our attention with songs that bring the Bible to life (by recounting creation, the fall of Adam & Eve, and the end times), and through songs meant to convict us through discussion on challenges that people face today. Track styles range from street rhymes to electronica, rock, and traditional gospel.

My Top Songs:

Legend: A glimpse of creation? Priceless.
Intermission: God's answer's always on time.
Lost: Trunk rattler and soul stirrer.
Fantasy: Identity adjustment, with J.R.'s help.
Pain: Futuristic beat for universal problem.
Suitcase: Posse cut--pilgrims passing through.

Lesson in Love

2009-07-27T05:49:00.003-04:00

I tried out a different church yesterday, and God absolutely showed himself there.

I arrived a bit late and worked my way to the middle of the church, where I could nab the first aisle seat I saw. I had arrived during the time for musical worship. The congregation was singing songs playing from a concert video being projected onto one side of the front wall, accompanied by the lyrics being projected onto the other side of the wall.

I soon learned I was standing beside one of the liveliest members of the congregation. While others sang the words serenely, or stood with arms outstretched in silent praise, the woman next to me sang the songs with fervor, punctuated with words and shouts of praise when she felt the urge.

I always find it amazing and heart-warming to see someone so fully thankful for a relationship with the Lord, and for what the Lord has done in his or her life. But that wasn't the end of my lesson for the day.

When fellowship time came, she greeted me with a hug and introduced herself. I returned the favor. She then told me that she didn't have any short-term memory, a preemptive warning that my name would be forgotten.

This is what blew me away. The woman would never be able to remember mundane details of anything or anyone new in her life, but she clearly had her memories of her God firmly planted into her long-term memory. God had revealed himself to her at some point in her life, and He was with her always, never to take on a blurred edge in the murky depths of her subconscious.

What a blessing that those memories were not taken from her! And what a comfort to know that God offers the same indelible presence to us. Once the introduction is made, we have a bond for life, as long as we choose not to turn our backs on Jehovah. He will never leave us, nor forsake us, as laid out in Hebrews 13:5.

Sure, we have heard this line before, but I'm sure all of us have times when we feel distant from God. Those new to Christianity, especially those who have struggled with earthly relationships, may not be able to fully grasp the fact that, in the words of Andre 3000, our relationship with God is forever-ever. We cannot get God to love us more, and He will never love us less. But he will love us forever, as long as we have come to Him through Christ.

I've read recently that Christians are most effective at reaching out to others when they feel secure in their relationship with God. For those who are secure in the depths of God's love, let the notion of the vastness of this love stretch you to extend love to others in a bolder way. If you are still learning to experience the fullness of God's love, meditate on the fact of this eternal love and ask God to clear the negativity from your heart and mind so you can begin to partake in the unmeasurable grace He offers.

Canton Jones' "Kingdom Business" Video

2009-07-26T14:44:00.005-04:00

And here's another one from Cajo's "Kingdom Business" album--the title track:

A remix of the song, the "Bawse Mix," appears on the recently released "It's Official: Hip-Hop Remixed" album from Arrow Records.

Music Brief: Mali Music, "The 2econd Coming"

2009-07-23T09:56:00.007-04:00

The singer/songwriter/producer from Savannah, GA has absorbed the eclectic, artistic essence of his city and pours it out for the Lord. Influences include straight-ahead gospel, African rhythms, drum & bass/jungle, reggae, rock, R&B, and more. You often hear more than one influence on the same song! If you're looking for something that worships God outside of the lines, yet still has undeniable quality, this is where you want to be. The 17-song set of songs rocks, wails, falsettos, glorifies the Lord and condemns the devil without mincing words. Mali Music's voice, which ranges from a resonant tenor to a gravelly rasp, complements the workings of his fantastic band. Yep, all this, and live music, too.

My Top Tracks:

The Light: Soul clap and funky drums.
Nothing Too Hard: Hands down, my favorite track.
Impulses: Slaying temptation, in a rock package.
I Hate You: Verbal smackdown of evil one.
Heart's Song: Street festival drums, loving lyrics.
Higher: Boom-bap beat, inspiring lyrics.
Avaylable: Chorus: Good God-centered mantra.

This is the first review I'm doing in a new format, rather than doing an in-depth analysis of hundreds of words. For more on the format, click here.

Twitter-Worthy Reviews

2009-07-23T08:08:00.005-04:00

Hey all,

The good news in urban Christian music is that there are a lot of fantastic releases coming out. The bad news for me personally (and maybe you too?) is that it's hard to keep up with everything. It's even harder for me to write about everything to the extent that I'm accustomed to when I need to work, want to maximize my family time, and have to pursue a stronger relationship with my Father.

So, in the spirit of the Twitterverse, where brevity rules, I'm going to try something new with reviews: A 140-words-or-less overview (yeah, I'm cheating a bit, but have you seen what you get for 140 characters???) and a bullet list of my fave tracks, with a description of 5 words or less, a nod to the acceptance speech requirement for the Webby Awards. Most reviews will be of new songs and albums, but I may also do "late pass" reviews, where I focus in on something not so new that I loved. I typically focus on the albums and songs that I like when I post about them, so the reviews will literally be short and sweet.

I should be posting my first Music Brief later today, on Mali Music's recent release, "The 2econd Coming."

Late Pass: Canton Jones' "G.O.D." Video

2009-07-21T12:51:00.004-04:00

Been hearing this song on the DJ Wade-O Radio Show. Didn't know there was a video! Here it is.

Shout-out to D-Turn over at Turned Out. He had the video posted there!

Shachah Video to Come

2009-07-21T08:11:00.002-04:00

Shachah announced today that a video is on the way for "Deliver Us," the song on which they collaborated with John Wells, a.k.a. "The Tonic." No debut date, but it is currently in the editing stages.

The group also announced that their upcoming release, "Let the Light In," now carries an official release date of Aug. 25. "It actually will work out as a blessing as more of a buzz will be created by the time the date comes around," the group said.

For more information about the album, and a link for listening, click here.

A Life-Changing Exercise

2009-07-21T07:12:00.003-04:00

I have to continue to give God thanks for the time I've had to reflect on my life and my issues in the past two months. I feel like I am slowly getting what I was looking for: A closer relationship with the Lord.

I have been working my way through several Christian books during this time, but one that has been particularly helpful has been a LifeGuide Bible study on Christian Beliefs, by Stephen Eyre. In addition to leading readers through topics like "God in the World & in the Word," "The Holy Spirit" and "Our Identity and Dignity," some chapters culminate with mental exercises that are meant to open dialogue between you and God.

A particularly powerful exercise closed out the chapter on "Our Identity & Depravity." The exercise was to:

"Invite God to take a tour of your inner life for the purpose of cleaning it out. Keep in mind that the purpose of this tour is not to condemn you but to cleanse you. As God walks through the corridors of your heart, let him see your self-centeredness, envy, anger, jealousy, bitterness and whatever else that God calls sin. Ask God to cleanse each sin with his transforming holiness and grace. After you have spend some time with God on this tour, make a note about how it affected you."

A few weeks before doing this exercise, I had an epiphany about particularly troublesome areas in my life, that there comes a point when human will alone is not enough, when we have to invite God in to take over. (I have been a self-focused person bent on controlling my life, so this was a big win for me.) After doing the exercise, I felt a lot lighter mentally. I no longer have to rely on my imperfect abilities to transform my life. I no longer have to fear that I will never be able to change myself for better. I simply have to believe that God is working his infinite power on my weaknesses, and I will begin to see signs of changes when I remove the clutter of negativity and inhibiting self-talk from my head and heart.

I encourage anyone who feels broken, anyone who feels stuck, to try this exercise. Be honest with yourself about the unclean parts of your soul, and give God a chance to wash you whiter than snow.

Good Book, Good Poem

2009-07-19T09:23:00.006-04:00

One book that has been keeping me engaged in the last few days is The Power of Desperation: Breakthroughs in Our Brokenness, by Michael Catt, the executive producer of the movie Fireproof. It shows, in stories from the Bible, and in stories from people in Catt's life, how God places us in challenging periods to pull us through and make us stronger.

As I navigate career and personal issues, a poem Catt published in the book really spoke to me. I'm posting it here, in case anyone else needs to hear the words.

This poem comes from Thomas Merton, from his book Thoughts in Solitude (New York: Dell, 1961)...

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain
where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think
that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are with me,
and will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

In Need of He Time

2009-07-19T09:04:00.002-04:00

A Twitter Follow Fridays note from one of my Tweeps, Reporter4651, led me to an interesting blog, Reflections From a Christian Mommy Writer. The sister who runs this blog recently had a post titled "God as an Inconvenience?"

As someone who, for a month, had been struggling with work/life balance in the midst of a period of change, this post hit me hard. I had been experimenting with making regular time to focus on fellowship with God. And I didn't find too much success at it.

My problem? A long commute, plus long work hours was a recipe for exhaustion. I was missing the regularity of my life before being laid off, missing being able to spend more quality time with my family, missing there being more to life than driving, working, eating and sleeping. That period is over right now, as I am in between contracting positions and still searching for a permanent job. But I feel like I need to learn how to handle myself if a similar situation arises.

During that wilderness time, I wanted desperately to be able to say that 6 a.m. or 9 p.m. every day worked perfectly for reading and studying the Bible or engaging in prayer, but I couldn't. The best thing I could do was to ensure I was weeding out as many unnecessary distractions as possible, to focus. That meant putting down Twitter and picking up Thessalonians, trading in complicated meal recipes for simpler ones, and turning off the TV for quiet time. I often found this hard to do, though, as I felt like I was always playing catch-up with everything in my life and didn't want to miss a thing. Clearly I chose to chase the wrong pursuits.

Last week, I realized I needed a change. I backed away from the BlackBerry, and I even turned it off when I needed to really stop myself from wasting time. (However, one useful thing with my phone is that I now have the Bible downloaded to it, so I can review verses any time, anywhere.) I spent more time in prayer, any time I felt the need. I made a point to carve out some family time and be fully present for it, then to move on to other things that needed to be done.

As I said, my schedule is wide open at the moment, so time will tell if this works when I find myself beyond busy again. I'm praying that it does. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the downtime. I've purchased several books from my local Christian book store to feed my spirit. I am also making an effort to work through some emotional issues that have been blocking me from a deeper relationship with God. Prayer and reading these books and working through the exercises that come with them have been helpful in the past few days of freedom.

I want to learn from others, though, because I know this period of career hibernation will not last forever. How do you ensure you are making adequate time for God? You may be doing something else that I'll find helpful. I'm all ears!

In the meantime, this song on the topic has been on my mind lately: “Pause,” by Lisa McClendon. Check out the video, if you haven't already. And thanks for any advice or pertinent scriptures you have!

New Shachah Songs Up

2009-06-30T07:06:00.003-04:00

In preparation for the release of "Let the Light in," on July 28, Shachah has posted nine songs from this album to their Web site, along with lyrics. You can check out "Deliver Us," the banger that also appears on The Tonic's latest release, "The Dash." There is also a reggae song featuring Jahaziel, called "Revive Me."

On the release, Shachah said, "We appreciate all your prayers and support through this process. May God do His awesome will with this project and may many souls be added to His kingdom through the message in the Music!"

The sounds range from dub to blues to funk, and all points in between. Enjoy!

Michael Jackson, Dead at 50

2009-06-25T19:51:00.010-04:00

I tried to sort out conflicting news reports and Tweets for a couple of hours, but it's been official for a while now, according to several news sources: Michael Jackson, aka "The King of Pop," has died at the UCLA Medical Center, in Los Angeles.

According to a Los Angeles Times story, Jackson, 50, was not breathing when paramedics responded to a call at his home at about 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. The LA Times account says paramedics performed CPR and then took Jackson to the medical facility. He was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. His death comes before he was to kick off a 50-concert run in London. It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest at his home; at the hospital, he was in a deep coma, according to the LA Times.

Michael Jackson was known for selling hundreds of millions of albums in his lifetime to fiercely loyal fans and affecting a few generations--and more than a few artists--with his music. This goes for secular and Christian artists alike--after the news became certain, Richie Righteous acknowledged via Twitter that he had been influenced by the late pop singer. And the influence of the Gloved One was pretty clear to me on Deitrick Haddon's 2008 release, "Revealed," down to the ensemble Haddon wore of the cover of the album.

From the kid with the Afro and the high-pitched voice, to the man with the constantly changing visage, there are many Michaels to remember, and many moments to savor. Though those memories were marred for many in recent years by charges of molestation against Jackson, his influence in the global lexicon of music, in style, and in swagger (Motown 25, anyone?) remain. He will be greatly missed.

On a spiritual level, there are many lessons for us all to learn from Jackson's death. One, similar to my recent editorial on Jay-Z, is that we should watch ourselves and others for idolatry of Jackson, who was the epitome of superstardom and many times more successful than the Brooklyn MC. As has been voiced by several Christian Twitterers, to counter this, now is a good time to reach out to those who have been greatly affected by the news of Jackson's passing to share the news of the one King who never dies.

Others prayed that Jackson knew the Lord before his passing. Dwayne Tryumf Tweeted that Steve Harvey took Jackson to church and shared with him the Good News of Jesus Christ. We can all hope that the information made an impact on Jackson, and that he was saved. Let us also pray for his family at this time.

Lastly, I hope Christian artists continue to take heed to how much power music has to change people's lives. If any one urban Christian artist, or any group of them, can have even a fraction of the success that Jackson achieved at penetrating public consciousness, think of all the lives that would be saved and reinforced. Let's keep grinding!

Video: "Dey Don't Know," by Platinum Souls

2009-06-24T00:41:00.004-04:00

I'm liking this song. I thank Da South for the late pass!

Here's the video.

Reggae in the summertime? Lovely! Summer begs for reggae, IMO. I still remember hearing "Electric Avenue" in the summer when I was a wee shorty.

Pack a 'Matic on Your iPod!

2009-06-20T04:26:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned a few days ago on Twitter, Rapper Dwayne Tryumf, from across the pond, is giving away "I Don't Pack a Matic" when you sign up for his mailing list. Visit his Myspace page to get the goodness!

The rap/ragga hybrid with the heavy beat and reflective lyrics was inspired by a friend of Dwayne Tryumf's being shot and killed in 2007, as well as the news of other high-profile murders of youth in England. It's a reminder that you "don't need to walk with a gun. Walk with the Lord, walk with faith, walk with your Bible, and learn the scripture," Tryumf said in a YouTube interview on the making of the "I Don't Pack a Matic" video for the British TV show "UPRISE" (part of the UK Christian TV network OHTV). "Let's put down the guns and let's pick up the word of God, and change our lives that way."

DT said he chose to shoot the video in the Brixton section of London, in a rough "estate" (the equivalent of a housing project community in the U.S.). Brixton is a high-crime region of the city, a prime target for the message of "I Don't Pack a Matic."

Here's the video:

And here's footage of DT speaking out against violence in the city on the news:

Be on the lookout for Dwayne Tryumf's upcoming EP, "777 The Mark of the Peace" for more uplifting sounds.

Braille "Skepticold" Video

2009-06-20T04:10:00.002-04:00

Great song. Check it out!

Leaving the Church of Hov

2009-06-09T21:31:00.007-04:00

By now, you've probably heard of the new Jay-Z song, "Death of Autotune," that dropped on New York's Hot 97 on Friday last week. Everyone had an opinion on this song, evidenced by the near monopoly of Twitter discussion on "DOA" that night. (At one point, half of the Top 10 hot topics on Twitter pertained to the new release from the Roc's finest.)

Before I get any further, I want to make two disclaimers: First, I happen to generally not be bothered by Auto-Tune. True, some use it better than others. Mark J's "Enmity" and Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak come to mind as great uses of the technology. (As much as I scratched my head at "808s" last year, I gotta give Mr. West props now. Yeah, I said it.) And you can't deny Cher's "Believe," the godmother of the sound. But exaggerated use of Auto-Tune (it's supposed to be undetectable when used normally) is not worse than any other gimmick co-opted en masse by rappers and singers, like Snoop Dogg's "izzle" speech, which still pops up today.

Second, I've never been a hardcore Jay-Z fan or "stan." Until recently, my household was like the James Carville/Mary Matalin of hip-hop: My husband, a staunch Jay-Z supporter, vs. me, riding for Nas. (Proud to say my Mr. favors Mr. Jones now.)

With that said, I listened to the song, which was available just about everywhere instantaneously. And? Well, that was basically my reaction: And? As some Twitterers noted, the next song played on Hot 97 after Jay-Z's jazzy diatribe on Auto-Tune was... a song using Auto-Tune. Not really shaking up the world.

I'm interested to see if fans and MCs really heed this call to arms against the great vocal equalizer. Jay-Z has had a reputation for being an all-powerful force in the world of hip-hop for quite some time, even calling himself "Jay-Hova," a play on Jehovah.

I think more than Auto-Tune, or the criticism of it, what bothered me most about the whole event was how many of the man's fans have bought into the whole Hov thing. Jay-Z does have talent (though he's been pretty lazy the last few years, IMO), and he's proven himself to be a successful businessman (and business, man), but does that really warrant the amount of rapt attention he received? Much like Tedashii called out in several places on Identity Crisis, this obsessive focus is a form of idolatry.

Do we do this with Christian hip-hop artists? I saw a reminder from someone recently on Twitter (sorry, the name escapes me) encouraging us to avoid this level of artist worship in our own backyards. Unlike the worshippers at the Church of Hov, those of us who listen to CHH have to be careful not to worship at the Church of Lecrae, or the Church of Viktory, or anyone else. Yes, there are many, many dope Christ-centered artists, but the message in CHH, and what we can get out of it to move us ever closer to God, is what's important.

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this, as Jay-Z does have an upcoming album to promote. If he must make pronouncements, let's hope he chooses other more relevant topics, like the aftereffects of the recession on his inner-city and suburban fans alike, or the violence in Darfur, a la Mark J.

A DJ Saved My Life

2009-06-03T21:23:00.002-04:00

This a.m., a DJ saved my life, to flip the words of an old secular song.

OK, maybe I'm being melodramatic, but Episode 111 of The DJ Wade-O Radio Show, the "Get Right for the Summer Mix," did keep me alert, refreshed, and in the spirit during my hour-long commute.

This is no small feat, I tell you. I drive on two stretches of highway that are prone to accidents, and when there are no accidents or gaper delays, you better believe the volume of traffic stays at high. This is a major shock to my system, after a 30-minute, straight-shot kind of a drive to my last job, followed by a month of not really needing to be anywhere.

Honestly, I have been frustrated with the long commute and have been trying to focus on getting something better, along with my prayers for a full-time job. But after I started grabbing the Wade-O Show podcasts to play in my car as my weekly soundtrack, I have been able to make the commute with much less grumbling.

What is particularly fantastic about Episode 111 is that it is two hours of banging God-centered music. Just what the doctor ordered! Holy hip-hop, R&P, Christian reggae and Christian Baltimore club-style music--it's all there.

This is a perfect summertime mix, for driving with the sunroof open or the top down, or if you're live at the barbecue. You could also try rocking it at the beach, or "down the shore," in local parlance. (South Jersey stand up!!!) Wherever you're playing this mix, I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Download Episode 111 and view its track playlist here.

Catch up on old episodes of the DJ Wade-O Radio Show here.

Catching Up on Videos

2009-05-29T04:32:00.004-04:00

Saw these over at HipeHope Urban Gospel...

Deitrick Haddon, "I Need Your Help"

Young Joshua, "It's Cold"

Thanks to Exotic Mommie for the late pass!

UPDATE: Here's another one, "Heavy Laden," by N.I.F.T.Y., from the T-Dot. Late pass for this is courtesy of the Dope Artist of the Week column, written by Moeski of Da South.

There are more songs and a couple of releases to buy on his MySpace page.

Review: Tedashii's "Identity Crisis"

2009-05-28T18:28:00.010-04:00

One pattern you'll often see in the lives of many unbelievers is a never-ending search for meaning in their lives. People may dabble in astrology in hopes of seeing a picture of who they are, sent from the cosmos. Or, they may amass a small library's worth of self-help books to discern their true nature and how to live properly according to it. Others take a more destructive path to self-knowledge, using drugs and alcohol in the same way Clark Kent used any available phone booth--as a gateway to becoming what they perceive to be a more dynamic, more special person.

It seems like these strategies don't really work for most people, as the emptiness persists and the search continues. Ask a Christian about fulfillment, though, and you'll get a different answer. With Jesus Christ comes both meaning and purpose, bringing the constant searching to a halt.

Tedashii's latest, "Identity Crisis," speaks to that struggle, and the good that can be found on the other side of it, after God enters the picture.

Whether it's in searching for identity in material things ("26's"), worldly vices ("Hollywood"), or in people-pleasing ("Work"), Tedashii rightly points out that all three of these behaviors represent idolatry and result in wasted time and emotion.

The antidote for such poisoned thinking can be found in "Gotta Believe." On the serene, live instrument-backed track featuring Diamone, Tedashii's relaxed rhymes and the subtle vocals on the chorus ask sinners to try God for the peace that can be found in Him.

"Fresh," a totally danceable anthem, brings home the happiness and strength that can be obtained through a relationship with the Lord. As detailed in the song, the "I'm fresh" proclamation gives the boast to God, rather than having Tedashii talk about himself. "All I Need," featuring Chris Davis, is a soothing head-nodder that also proclaims the goodness of the Lord. "The more I get to know you, the more I get to know truth/And from You, I see who I am/My identity revealed as You show me how to live through examples of the Godhead," Tedashii says with gratitude, bringing the album full circle.

One thing that makes "Identity Crisis" so enjoyable is Tedashii's candor. Whether loudly sounding the trumpet for action against himself on "Make War" or spending quiet quality time with the Lord elsewhere on the release, Tedashii makes it seem like anyone who wants a relationship with God can have one. Unlike the "gurus" in the secular world who seem to guard the secrets of existence, releasing them only for monetary gain, Tedashii is more than willing to let all listeners in on the true secret to wholeness and peace.

Additional standout track: "Identity 2: Adoption"

Lessons Learned in the Garden

2009-05-23T10:27:00.003-04:00

I'm in my second year of having a vegetable garden, and something that never ceases to amaze me is how the pea plants help each other to thrive.

Starting out as a small melange of leaves, pea plants grow into tall, fragile vines. These vines can flop over to the ground if they are not supported with stakes.

Though the vines do need a stronger support, they also attempt to help each other out. The vines have tiny tendrils that stream from the stems. Tendrils on several plants often intertwine to give each other a tenuous form of support.

When I think of the pea plants, I think of how we try to remedy problems in our lives without the Lord. We look for support in different places--we talk with friends and family on the positive tip, but people also attempt to cope negatively with drugs, sex and food, to name a few destructive strategies.

Ultimately, however, the strongest support we can obtain is from God. One of the first--and best--comforting Bible passages I've found comes from Isaiah 40 (verses 28-31, ) and illustrates the effectiveness of God's support quite clearly:

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Unlike our friends, God never tires. Unlike the sad reality for those who abuse intoxicating substances in an attempt to find peace, God's ability to heal never diminishes. In fact, not only can God heal us, but he can also strengthen us.

I thank God for placing me in meditation on the fragile pea plant. I now have a great image for ensuring I always consider the Lord first for help. Like the dowels in my garden, there's no one better for strong support.

Humble Tip Gets Secular Shine

2009-05-22T10:24:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, gossip columnist Illseed from AllHipHop.com posted the video for Humble Tip's "Can't Give In" to his column. [If you click on the link, please note that this is for a secular Web site.]

"Check out this rapper and his message," Illseed writes. One commenter to Illseed's post commented positively on the video.

Here's the video:

This follows Illseed's recent coverage of Viktory's "On Fire" video. Props to Illlseed for sharing holy hip-hop with the masses!

Video: Zion Feat. Mali Music

2009-05-18T18:10:00.004-04:00

Saw this from DJ Wade-O. Song is called "Trouble."

The song is now available on iTunes. Check Zion out at his Myspace page for more info.

Thoughts on the Ambassador Situation

2009-05-16T02:03:00.003-04:00

The Christian blogosphere was lively yesterday with news of Cross Movement Records' statement on The Ambassador's "marital compromise." (Read the official word from CMR president/CEO John Wells here.)

This is truly sad news. My 2 cents is that I hope Ambassador and his family are shutting out the rest of the world and taking the time they need to sort through everything.

Marriage is no joke. The challenges are real when it comes to funneling the unique thoughts of two individuals into one course of action and straining out unproductive personal wants in the process. I had my fifth anniversary last year and, though I'm blessed to say that there is no physical or verbal abuse going on in my union, my husband and I do have issues from time to time, like any married couple.

The thing I'm most proud of with my marriage is the fact that we don't give up on talking. There may be things I'm hesitant to share (and I'm sure the same goes for hubby), but I do eventually share everything with my husband, good and bad, because I know it makes us stronger as a couple and as individuals. And I know I couldn't really hide something important from someone I love as much as him.

I don't know the situation in Ambassador's marriage, and I won't begin to speculate. I don't think it's our business to know the gory details anyway. But what I would say to any couple with issues as big as infidelity or as small as which way the toilet paper should hang on the spool is to keep on talking.

If you haven't had an open dialogue before now, try to find a way to start. Don't rule out counseling by your pastor or a professional; counselors are excellent moderators in times of marital strife. Their neutrality could bring you and your spouse to new depths of understanding.

CMR may not be actively promoting Ambassador at this time, but I don't think we should drop him and his family from our hearts and minds. Put your prayers out there for the clan.

A final thought: When I heard the news, one of the things that popped into my mind was the song "Baby U Don't Luv Me," by Mark J. He gives a lot of encouragement for couples to find a way to work things out, even sharing strife he had in his own marriage, comparing tense times to an Ali/Frazier fight (but not on a physical level). If you haven't already heard this song, take a listen on his MySpace page. (But really, if you don't have the album, pick it up! The whole thing's fuego. Take my word for it.) Also, share the song with anyone you know who's going through it right now.

It's Friday, You Ain't Got No Job...

2009-05-15T16:33:00.001-04:00

I came a realization today as I was driving home from time at the career center and a trip to the mall: I didn't have any need to rush. To paraphrase the clean 2/3 of one of Chris Tucker's lines from the movie "Friday," "It's Friday, I ain't got no job..." Why not take it slow? And why not take it slow beyond Friday?

I have been a lead-footed lady up until now. I love to drive, and I loved to drive fast. But really, what's the point? I was always putting myself on a timer when I had a 9-to-5, even when I didn't need to go to work. But really, my only true responsibility now is picking up my son from daycare. So, to repeat, no need to rush.

Today this seemed like an area in my life in which I needed to really let go and let God. Maybe it made me feel in control to go zipping down the left-hand lane, like I had some say in when I was going to get to my destination. But ultimately, it's not my doing. To turn around a popular bumper sticker, I am God's co-pilot in that car, albeit a super-junior co-pilot with a teeny, tiny set of inconsequential tasks.

And you know what? Shifting to the middle lane felt good. I felt less tense, less angry. I came across the scripture from the first chapter of James instructing believers to keep their emotions in check ("Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires"), and I think I finally understand one component of this.

It may sound strange to say it, but I have found a lot of blessings in being laid off. I thank God for revealing this message to me.

Michelle Bonilla Shares a Sneak Peek

2009-05-14T12:19:00.005-04:00

She tweeted about this one.

Underneath her talking about what she's been up to (keep your head up through graduation next year, MB!), you can hear "Give It Up," which will be on her sophomore release, "In Spite of Me." She thanks the fans for their continued support and prayers and asks y'all to keep it up.

Can't wait that long? She's currently preparing for the Knotts Berry Farm Gospel Fest, on this Saturday, May 16.

Issachar Concert Hits Philly in June

2009-05-14T04:33:00.008-04:00

Just saw this on Da South. I think I'll have to convince hubby to go with me!

The Issachar Live concert is presented by Cross Movement Records, hosted by Ron Jacob, and features John Wells--The Tonic, R-Swift and Everyday Process, with special guests k-Drama, J.A.Z, "and many more."

The concert goes down on Saturday, June 13, at the World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. [No info. on the time; I'll get back to you on that.] Tickets are just $12, but you can also make a donation to go along with the ticket price. Donations go to Chosen 300 Ministries, Inc., an organization that feeds the homeless and provides other services to this population, offers re-release classes for people who were in jail, and also hosts programs of value for inner city youth.

At the end of my workday I used to drive by one of the places where Chosen 300 feeds people (1116 Spring Garden St.), and I know they are putting in work, with folks lining up at the door. If you can't go to the concert, you can still donate here.

UPDATE: I learned from Cross Movement Records that the concert starts at 6 p.m.

Encouragement for Tough Times

2009-05-14T03:59:00.002-04:00

This was a great Twitter post I saw from HolyRidaz yesterday:

"Swine flu, bad economy plenty of things to worry bout right? Read & Meditate on Psalms 91, Thank Him and the Rest in Him!"

Check out the passage for yourself here, in NIV.

How comforting is it to remember that "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." If you have been downsized, deselected, or any polite synonym of "fired" that your company has created, a reminder that through God's mercy "You will not fear the terror of the night" is reassuring. This particularly hit home for me--my sleeping habits did change after my layoff. I found myself unable to stay asleep, with all kinds of thoughts running wildly through my mind.

If you find yourself in this bad place, just stop everything and pray. "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him," the passage reminds us. How's that for a sleeping pill?

New Song From Viktory

2009-05-13T20:41:00.003-04:00

As leaked on Da South... It's called "Don't Think They Know."

Check it out here.

For more on Vik, check him out here. The site is very comprehensive, and Vik seems to have a lot of interesting conversations going. He also promises exclusives if you register there.

Nice Track

2009-05-13T16:34:00.004-04:00

A lil' somethin' somethin' posted by Mr. J Medeiros on his Twitter account, Mr. J vs. the legendary Mr. Marvin Gaye. Track is produced by Stro the 89th Key.

It's a peppy soul track sampling some of the same Marvin that Erick Sermon used on "Music." (Anyone know the name of the original Marvin Gaye song, BTW???)

Download for free here.

Mr. J says he has more free music here.

UPDATE: I changed the pic, because I was informed that the original pic I posted was not a pic of Mr. J. My bad! Sorry for engaging in some Nick Cannon vs. Marlon Wayans.

Pigs Must Be Flying Today...

2009-05-13T16:18:00.005-04:00

I just did something I vowed I'd never do...

I signed up for Twitter last night. (I'm @dcangah.)

I heard of Twitter a while back and wrote it off as just another time-trap on the Internet. I like keeping up with technology, but I have my limits. (Case in point: Still no Internet on my Blackberry. And no iPhone, either. Tell Apple to holla at me when they come up with an 80-gig or better iPhone to replace my iPod.) My husband knows I can be a grumpy old-timer over this stuff, like Redman's old man alter ego Uncle Quilly.

What happened? Friends and other folks I've met through recent networking have lured me over to what I heretofore called the Dark Side. The person who finally convinced me was ya boy Sketch the Journalist.

You know what? I am going to have to hold myself back from spending a lot of time on Twitter, but it is useful. I have learned about what different artists (and publications covering them) are up to, and I've heard some good music. (Will post one thing in a minute.) Twitter has a love-it-or-hate-it reputation, and right now I gotta get my Justin Timberlake on and say I'm lovin' it. Never saw that one coming.

New Hotness

2009-05-12T17:01:00.002-04:00

This is "The Measure," by Mr. J. Medeiros. Heard this on the Wade-O Radio Show, episode 107. Definitely my cup of tea!

The Measure feat. Jonathan Korsyzk - Mr.J.Medeiros

Mark J "An Everyday World" Review

2009-05-11T06:07:00.007-04:00

Mark J is a rapping force of nature, period. He thunders on many of the tracks on "An Everyday World" using the sheer urgency in his vocals and his vivid lyrics to grab your soul for the Lord. He is not afraid to take on challenging topics, such as the atrocities in Darfur or the horrors of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His storytelling ability puts you on the front lines of these events and makes you want to take action.

Pairing many of these tracks with techno/electronica beats normally uncommon in mainstream Christian or secular hip-hop gives these songs a strong, hypnotic feel. The best way I can describe this album is that it must reflect what it feels like for the character Chuck of the NBC TV show of the same name to "flash" on the secrets of the Intersect. (For those who don't watch Chuck, his brain was implanted with a collection of digitized U.S. government secrets known as the Intersect that he involuntarily accesses through "flashing," which happens when he sees something that triggers a flood of these secrets to be unleashed in his mind.) Only in the case of Mark J's latest work, we are getting glimpses of the lives of sinners, the lives of saints, where we have been both sinner and saint in our own lives, and how to transcend sin.

The title track is especially spiritually evocative. Leading the album, it sets the tone that Mark J will not merely tolerate you listening to his album; he wants to get you moving for Christ, whether it's in bettering yourself as a person or bettering the world. He implores you to ponder what goes through the minds of suicide bombers, Ugandans killing people "at a generational rate," prostitutes and absentee parents, among others. He concludes by asking "What goes through the mind of a Christian who hears all this and does nothing, not even pray?"

"Apathy" makes use of AutoTune vocals with a chaotic blend of rock and electronica to jolt us out of feelings of spiritual indifference. "Let It Go," which speaks on forgiveness, is a great marriage of electro-rock and hip-hop made more compelling by Mark J's stream-of-consciousness lyricism on this song, which is reminiscent of secular hipster rapper Theophilus London.

"Merge," the lead track, and "Hold This Line" are more traditional hip-hop songs that still convey Mark J's passion for change in our lives. "I'm a soldier, ain't got time for silly games," he says on "Merge," with a chorus that simply loudly states "merge how you live and what you believe." The battle imagery continues on "Hold the Line": "Too many saints retreatin', left speechless/Lord Jesus we need more soldiers in the breeches," Mark J proclaims.

As mentioned earlier, Mark J also channels energy toward improving conditions in Darfur. In "Darfur Dreams," he begs for action against the regime in this country that has caused so much death and pain. "This is not just a song, this is my heart and soul," he confesses. He drops names of three organizations for us to check out for getting involved: EvangelicalsforDarfur.com, SaveDarfur.com, and StandNow.org.

Though the bulk of the songs are frenetic calls to action, Mark J proves he can also speak softly and carry a big stick. "Baby U Don't Love Me," which employs the sped-up soul sample sound of early Kanye West, encourages troubled married couples to stay together. Mark J recalls turbulence in his own union to show that problems can be overcome: "Muhammad vs. Frazier, it was major in the ring--not physically, but verbally." "Vanity Fair" urbanizes elevator music and pairs it with a woman speaking in French from Ecclesiastes 1 to steer people away from lives of materialism. (Shout-out to my husband, who reps French-speaking Ivory Coast, for the translation!) And "Love Thing," which Mark J describes as a "summertime joint," is a beautiful love letter to God.

Mark J is, in many ways, the Christian version of Chuck D. Mark J knows we're living in the Terrordome, with sin all around to pull us off our paths. Like the powerful Public Enemy frontman at his peak in the 80s and early 90s, Mark J uses brash music and vocals to get his message across. His ultimate goal is to build his own Bomb Squad of energized Christians to wreak havoc on the devil.

Other notable tracks: "Enmity," "Dating or Married," "Ride Out," "Look to the Sky"

Sho Baraka "Barakaology" Review

2009-05-10T15:41:00.008-04:00

The self-righteous MC who brings extreme seriousness to his craft, to the point of looking down his nose at others, is someone who continually gets lambasted in secular hip-hop. But, as Sho Baraka implies in the "Serious Rapper Skit" on his mixtape, "Barakaology," Christian rappers may easily find themselves in this rut when trying to bring the Word to others and to simultaneously rein in worldliness in themselves. Sho Baraka's release is meant to remind Christians and Christian rappers not "to become the religious stiff-necks of our day." He urges Christians to avoid living lives of double standards like Pharisees and instead to "love God, with all our heart, mind, body and soul and love the brothers; to honor the king; to show respect to all men and to preach with passion."

After putting his exhortation out for his rapper peers and fans in the "Barakaology" intro track, the short offering of songs that follow exalt God ("Glorious" and "Jesus," which uses the beat from Ambassador's song of the same name), give inspiration for stamping out sin ("Great Day to Die" and "My Testimony"), and feature Sho mixing these topics with relaxed wordplay for head-nodders with more pure entertainment value.

In this last category is "Kobe Bryant on 'Em," which features this punchline: "My God's something like Kobe--crazy and amazing on 'em/yours is always hurt, yeah--Tracy McGrady on 'em." (Sho tickles himself with this line, but later apologizes to McGrady's fans and wishes God's grace upon the baller himself.)

Musically, the tracks on the mixtape reflect Sho Baraka's globetrotting life. "Get You Open," which almost has a freestyle feel, finds Sho, who was born in Canada, taking on a vaguely Jamaican accent, and "Great Day to Die" morphs into a mellow reggae cut, with a reggae singer on the chorus adding world-weary vocals. "Glorious" and "Kobe Bryant on 'Em" have the Texas transplant rhyming over Southern tracks.

Though it's true that Christians are supposed to die to the ways of the flesh, this doesn't mean that they need to stop enjoying life, as Sho Baraka points out on "Barakaology." It's clear that Sho will never stop enjoying life as a Christian, or as a rapper, and that we can always look to him for edification and entertainment alike.

Viktory: Big-Ups in the Secular Realm

2009-04-28T11:48:00.008-04:00

I just read a great news item on the Holy Culture Web site. Rapper Viktory has gained attention on popular secular hip-hop sites All Hip-Hop.com and SOHH.com, for his new song, "On Fire."

According to Da South, which also reported on the news a few weeks ago, All Hip-Hop gossip columnist Illseed featured the video for Viktory's new song as an "epic win" for the day. Word from Da South is that Wit from the Frontlynaz gave Viktory the scoop on the good news.

A quick search of SOHH.com showed that the video was just posted there. Comments on the video were positive. "This video is HOT!!!!!!! Music I bob my head to and hear a great message. Good look Vik. We need this out here," said one poster. Others said they liked the song, especially because it brought something different to the game.

Here's the video, below. It reminds me of Johnny Blaze from "Ghost Rider," in a way. The gist of the plot is that sinners are seeing the holy fire in Viktory, and being in his presence makes them change their minds about embarking on various sins. Even Vik's E-class leaves a trail of flames behind when he rides off. Vik as a holy ghost rider is a cool concept.

Extra: A Viktory YouTube channel has clips on the making of this breakthrough video...
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Atheists Getting More Shine

2009-04-28T08:56:00.004-04:00

There's an article on The New York Times Web site right now, about the growing popularity of disbelief in God. Groups such as the Secular Coalition for America, an umbrella group for 10 atheist organizations, are finding their memberships growing exponentially. There are also college campus groups, such as the Secular Student Alliance, which has nearly 150 chapters. And as you're driving down your closest highway, don't be surprised if you see adopt-a-highway signs for atheiest groups--the article says the groups are putting themselves in the public eye by volunteering at food pantries and cleaning trash from the roadsides to gain notoriety.
"They liken their strategy to that of the gay-rights movement, which lifted off when closeted members of a scorned minority decided to go public," the article states. The atheists' strategy of showing their faces appears to be working, as the New York Times article states that among findings on the recently published American Religious Identification Survey, the group of those saying they have no religion is the only one that has increased in all U.S. states in nearly 20 years.
The article says that athiests are not necessarily looking to strip others of their belief in God, but rather that they are attempting to put a more positive spin on athiesim and to shatter stereotypes about athiests.
Atheists are embracing the world and attempting to reach people of today in ways that are meaningful to them. Are we, as Christians, always doing this? Or are we using strategies that worked for the Americans of the 20th century, who were already primed to respect Christianity? We were preaching to the choir in a way back then. Are we still trying to preach to the choir, without realizing the pews are empty?
I hate to be a broken record, but I think we are. I think more Christian groups need to come up with more effective strategies for reaching a public that is looking for more in life. For example, I heard an older Christian woman recently express doubt about starting a blog by saying that the Internet is a dangerous place because it can bring Christians too close to contact with the negative things of the world. Sure, I understand that there are places where you can find pornography, images of graphic violence, and other terrible things, but there are people out there in less sinful places who are hurting and in need of encouragement from the Good News. To me, it makes sense to make outreach in these areas, and not to fear being "in the world" or be disgusted to the point of social paralysis by placing yourself there.
Jesus looked for people to be "fishers of men" in his day. Today, I'd argue that we need to be "Web catchers," drawing people in to our corners of the Internet. There is an audience of millions out there online. Through positive entertainment, encouraging stories, and insightful commentary on scripture as it applies to our daily lives, we can do more to reach them in ways that will appeal to them.

Sho Baraka Mixtape

2009-04-26T10:55:00.004-04:00

Haven't listened to it yet, and I'm not sure if this is something else I need a late pass for, but I saw a link for the mixtape, Barakology, on the One21 Web site. Enjoy!

Download here...

A Heavy Learning Experience

2009-04-26T06:34:00.002-04:00

I haven't mentioned, but I found out on April 8 that I'm getting laid off from my job. My last day in the office is Thursday this coming week. I wasn't really surprised that this happened, for a variety of reasons, but the news was still surprising.

Though this is not the best news, I have seen God move firsthand in what has happened after that announcement. Most notably is the amount of support I've received from my soon-to-be former coworkers.

I am not an extroverted person by any means, and when I go to work, my cubicle is just about like a fortress of solitude. I go in at 8:30, do my work, grab some lunch to eat at my desk, and leave at 4:00. Because of this loner tendency of mine, I have not had a great wealth of meaningful interaction with my coworkers on a social level.

But despite this, many people have approached me to offer condolences for the loss of the job, as well as to put out feelers for me for work. Others have offered to serve as references for me as I need them. Others still have pledged to connect to me on the business social networking site, LinkedIn. I never imagined that so much help and love was out there for me!

I have thanked each individual, but I want to say another big THANK YOU on this page. God's mercy and love has truly been acted out through my coworkers.

I realize now that I've missed out on a lot by walling myself off away from others. I pray that I will gain more comfort in reaching out to others, so I can begin to repay some of what God has shown me in the past few weeks.

And the Winners Are...

2009-04-24T18:43:00.005-04:00

Here are the winners of the urban-leaning Gospel Music Awards last night:

Urban Recorded Song of the Year: Mary Mary, "Get Up"
Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year: KJ-52, "Do Yo Thang"
Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year: Group 1 Crew, Ordinary Dreamers
Urban Album of the Year: Kirk Franklin, The Fight of My Life

I don't have cable, so I didn't see the actual show. How was it? Do tell!

My 2 cents, from just looking at the nominees and winners, is that I would've pulled for Lecrae and J.R. to win, for Rebel and "Not a Slave," respectively. Lemme show them some respect here on my page...

Here's one of many faves I have from Rebel, "Identity."

Identity (feat. Da Truth, Jr) - Lecrae

Here's the video for "Not a Slave."

I liked that Life by Stereo pushed the boundaries on R&B. Hope to hear more from J.R. soon!

As a bonus, another favorite J.R. song of mine is "Tonight." Blame 808s & Heartbreak and those hipster rappers--these days, I'm a sucker for songs with some electronic spice to them.

Late Pass: Trip Lee's "Real Vision" Video

2009-04-22T16:15:00.005-04:00

Since I'm easing back into blogging, there are some things I've missed out on sharing. Check out this video, which I saw on the Dat Other Hip Hop Web site. (BTW, thanks for the add to the blog roll, guys!) Tedashii is also featured on the song.

Show and Prove: Works Without Words

2009-04-22T14:49:00.004-04:00

I just read an interesting article on the Relevant magazine Web site, on "Silent Evangelism." (Shout-out to D-Turn for getting me hooked on Relevant!) The author riffed on a quote she read from Dieter Zander, which basically said that the works of the church are behind the words we use to try to reach others.

One particularly compelling passage from the article appears below:

"In the West (meaning the U.S. and Europe), the problem isn't that the Gospel hasn't been communicated—it’s that the Gospel hasn't been lived. As Christians, we have a lot to account for in our past: racism, religious wars, discrimination—all in the name of God. We tell people they need God but we don't necessarily feel a need to be Christ to them. I’m talking about a lack of incarnational witness. It is much easier to talk about being a Christian than it is to live like one. I firmly believe that this generation needs to see Jesus and not just hear about Him. They need to see us caring for the poor, treating others as more important and pursing spiritual life over material wealth. They need to witness our concern for injustice, racism and the shoddy way we have of taking care of God's creation."

I agree with this article. I am a Gen Xer, and I also have been part of the hip-hop culture since the late 80's. I know many people who don't follow Christianity--or any religion--think there is much hypocrisy in our religion. Case in point: Many people of my age group probably remember the downfall of several televangelists in our formative years. These people may have been projected directly into our homes via the TV set, to speak on the merits of Christianity, only to have their images (and that of the religion overall) tarnished by their criminal and/or immoral actions. I could definitely see how a non-believer or a sometimes-believer would be more readily drawn to Christ by someone who is a Big Brother or Big Sister, or cooks in a soup kitchen, or pays for groceries for a friend who has been laid off, or any kind of regular activity that shows the love and grace that Christ asked us to show to others. It can be hard to give of ourselves in this way, but I believe that in the current climate of the world, our actions will open the doors that will enable us to begin dialogue on the Word.

Ragga Stylee From Jahaziel

2009-04-20T16:58:00.003-04:00

Saw this one, from the brother across the pond, on HolyCulture.net. More fiyah!

Lecrae "Don't Waste Your Life" Video

2009-04-20T16:52:00.005-04:00

A powerful video for a great song.

Canton Jones on Chris Brown/Rihanna Situation

2009-04-20T13:56:00.004-04:00

Canton Jones recently shared his personal thoughts on the reports of singer Rihanna being physically abused by singer Chris Brown. Here is a snippet:

"I am not afraid to say, without any hesitation, whatsoever, that violence of any sort has no place in a relationship.
What they are going through is no different than what happens to James and Barbara in southwest Atlanta or Richard and Stacey in Brooklyn, New York, or Alex and Rita in Compton, California. What they are going through is the same nightmare that thousands of people live with every day: a man who takes out his aggression, anger, frustration, or other weaknesses on a woman, and a woman who allows herself to become a man's punching bag, all in the name of love. Underneath it all lies a sickness--on both parts. It's no different than an addiction to crack or cigarettes or alcohol. Abuse becomes a vicious cycle that usually doesn't end until someone finally musters up enough strength and dignity to seek help. Sometimes, though, it doesn't end until someone ends up dead."

Jones goes on to urge people to stop turning a blind eye to abuse. He asks his fans, and the public at large, to talk with abusers and victims to encourage both groups to seek help.

I agree that the unfortunate situation between these two popular R&B singers, or anyone else in an abusive relationship, should not continue. There is help. For example, there is a national hotline that can be called for help and advice. If you or anyone you know is in a domestic violence situation, call 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-787-3224 is the TTY number for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing).

Web resources include:

DomesticViolence.org, http://www.domesticviolence.org/
National Domestic Violence Hotline, http://www.ndvh.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, http://www.ncadv.org/
Domestic Violence Information Center, http://feminist.org/other/dv/dvhome.html
Online Domestice Violence Survival Kit, http://www.dvguide.com/

New Shachah Album in July

2009-04-20T13:46:00.003-04:00

Just got a quick note in my e-mail about this. No title mentioned, but recording is done and tracks are being mixed. Special guests will be weaved into the songs, no names mentioned. Release date is July 28.

A Big Day for Anniversaries

2009-04-20T09:49:00.017-04:00

I didn't realize until this morning, but today is the anniversary of two major events. Sadly, not happy ones, though positive outcomes have arisen from both. The two events I'm speaking of are the rape of the "Central Park jogger" and the killings at Columbine High School.

Both of these events were discussed on the "Today" show this morning. Twenty years ago today, Trisha Meili was jogging at night in New York City's Central Park when she was raped and assaulted to near death. In addition to the sexual attack, she also sustained a head injury and, following a loss of 75 percent of the blood in her body, ended up in a coma for 12 days.

These days, Meili is an author (after revealing her identity as the victim of the brutal attack in 2003) and a motivational speaker. She still endures minor physical ailments and, due to her head injury, she has no recollection of the events surrounding her attack. She admitted to "Today" anchor Meredith Vierra that she often feels frustrated that she doesn't remember what transpired, but that she doesn't have nightmares or flashbacks and feels blessed for that.

She also noted that she has learned about healing from the attack. What helped her to heal emotionally during the initial days was cards and well-wishes in the thousands that came in to the hospital, from the city and from around the world. "The power of that loving care and support was stronger than the power of the violence that night," Meili said this morning.

Through her motivational speeches, she encourages people to reach out to others in distress in any way that's comfortable for them, because it does make a difference. The other message she gives is that "whatever challenge you're facing, you can do so much more than you ever felt possible. Don't get caught up in a past you can't change, or the future."

The shooting spree carried out by two teens at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado 10 years ago resulted in the deaths of 12 students and one teacher, the suicides of the two shooters, and 24 others injured, according to "Today."

The show focused on a few of the victims. Craig Scott lost his sister, Rachel, on that tragic day; she was the first person killed. Craig, who was also at the school that day, is currently a filmmaker and does outreach through a nonprofit organization that his parents started in honor of their lost daughter. Craig said that today he strives to treat those in his life better than he did 10 years ago; his last memories of time with his sister include arguments and fighting.

Patrick Ireland, known as "the boy in the window" from a photo of his rescue after being found hanging out of a library window, had been shot twice in the head and once in the knee during the incident, according to an account on the Web site for "Today ." The "Today" telecast noted that Ireland spent 7 months in rehab where, among other things, he re-learned how to talk. Ultimately, he graduated the school as valedictorian. Like Meili, due to his injury, he has no remembrance of the shootings.

Shawn Graves, who saw the shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, loading what he thought were paint guns in the school parking lot, was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot six times during the attack. Today, he is physically mobile--he hasn't used a wheelchair since his graduation from Columbine High, in 2002, according to his bio on the Christopher and Dana
Reeve Foundation Web site. Graves serves as an ambassador for the organization.

I got several things from seeing both of these stories. First, the mercy of God to have removed terrible memories of the events from the minds of some, and inability to walk, or even talk, for others. The second thing is how these people (and others mentioned) went on to not only survive, but thrive. It seems that God really used these people as a testament to the power of love, as Meili, for example, cited the love she felt as a factor in regaining a sense of normalcy in her life. The third thing is that, unlike many stories that populate the news during these increasingly celebrity-obsessed times, these people were average Joes like the rest of us. They could've been working in an investment firm alongside us, like Meili's occupaation before her attack, or a friend of a son or daughter who copped rides in the back of our cars. We come into contact with all kinds of people every day, and we never know what kind of turmoil they are going through, or what struggles are to come. By extending love now and not diminishing love if troubles arise in a person's life, we are truly enacting Jesus' greatest commandment.

Review: Andale's Voice of Reason

2009-03-28T07:17:00.003-04:00

Andale’s newly released mixtape, Voice of Reason, provides a late pass to those who may not be familiar with the Tennessee-area MC. The mixtape is essentially a highly entertaining electronic press release, a melange of 9 earlier works of Andale’s and snippets of interview time with Trig from Holy Culture’s Corelink Radio mix show. Through songs that range from Dirty South bangers brimming with Twista-fast rhyme cadences, to more introspective fare, the songs show the versatility of Andale. The interview clips take us into the mind of this Christ-minded rapper.

Andale comes to holy hip-hop after choosing not to embark on a secular rapping career at literally the last minute--in the recording booth. The secular world’s loss is our gain, as Andale proves himself to be engaging, either by using the aforementioned rapid-fire flow or through compelling storytelling. A good example of the latter is “Fly Away.” The song jacks the beat from Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick, Push” and, like that song’s theme of escapism, Andale raps about people in several vignettes wanting to escape hardships by wrapping themselves in the word of God through good Christian music.

“Ride Out” has Andale discussing challenges God’s male representatives face with women who are not saved. Juxtaposed against the interview footage where Andale says women have been responsible for the downfall of powerful men throughout history, it’s comforting, as a woman, to hear Andale encouraging men to take more responsibility for their behavior in avoiding sin in the song.

Like “Ride Out,” there are many tough messages for many different groups. But the biggest message has to be for fans of holy hip-hop: watch out for the White Flag, anticipated to drop in May.

Other Standout Tracks: "Change Gone Come," "Trouble Don't Last Always"

Download Voice of Reason here.

From CEO to Pizza Delivery

2009-03-28T05:13:00.003-04:00

I saw this story last week, and it made me think of how fleeting material things really are.

The man interviewed in the clip, at his highest salary, made $750,000 a year. Four years after embarking on an unsuccessful entreprenurial stint as a hedge fund manager, and after two years of looking for suitable work, he realized the need to take any job and ended up delivering pizza, for $7.29 an hour, plus tips. The man and his family has run through their savings and retirement funds during this period and, at the same time, they have to contend with $100,000 in credit card debt.

Before his financial fall, the Florida family embarked on luxurious Christmas trips and found other ways to spend substantial amounts of money. They since have been forced to change their lifestyle dramatically. After failure to pay for their mortgage for two years, the family is about to be foreclosed upon. And, but for some generous, anonymous soul who is paying private school tuition for their two children, they would have had to move on from there.

The man was mocked for not being able to avoid his financial hardship on the Web site where I initially saw the story, but the truth is that although his story is extreme, it is not unusual during this challenging time of recession. People of all income brackets are careening into dire straits for a variety of reasons. It seems that God is focusing some of His people away from things and on to Him. For those of us who believe in the Lord, consider that we are being called upon to suspend judgement and extend grace.

Andale Mixtape Is Here

2009-03-18T19:28:00.002-04:00

The Andale mixtape, Voice of Reason, recently hit the Internet, and I'm giving it a spin now. Me likey! I'll have a review for you this weekend.

In the meantime, if you haven't already, you can visit the ChristLike Entertainment Web site and get the mixtape here.

Works of the Flesh Vs. Fruit of the Spirit

2009-03-16T18:09:00.008-04:00

The Bus Shop has an interesting series in its devotional section, on ways to identify the works of the flesh vs. the fruits of the spirit. (See the entries for March 6 and March 13, 2009.) Gaining an understanding of these issues helps Christians to ensure they are aligned with God.

The author takes the text on the works of the flesh from Galatians 5:19-21. These works are adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murder, drunkenness and reveling. These are said to be negative behaviors that are works of the flesh because they are solely created by man.

The author lists the fruit of the spirit as gifts that come from the Holy Spirit. These are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.

One sentence sums up nicely the internal struggle we face as Christians: "The problem of the Christian life is based on the fact that so long as the Christian lives in this world he is, so to speak, two trees: the old tree of the flesh and the new tree of the divine nature implanted by the new birth. The challenge is keeping barren the old tree and making fruitful the new tree." A challenge is left for the reader to contemplate which traits, positive or negative, he or she possesses.

I thought this was a great exercise. I would encourage you to read the series and consider the challenge. (Additionally, check out the great music for sale at the main site!) I should be carrying both lists with me to read on the regular... :o)

Hot Music From Young Joshua

2009-03-15T09:36:00.003-04:00

Saw this on Holyculture.net... It's a freestyle called "eTher Sunday."

"eTher Sunday" - Freestyle Video from 317 MEDIA on Vimeo.

GI Album Coming out in April

2009-03-15T08:38:00.004-04:00

The album God's Image will be available in stores and online on April 7.

In the meantime, check out the video for their song, "Get Up," below. Also, they will be on BET's 106 & Gospel on March 29.

GI - New Music - More Music Videos

New Tedashii Song

2009-03-15T07:47:00.003-04:00

It's called "26's" and comes from the upcoming album, Identity Crisis. Listen up!

26s ft. Lecrae - Tedashii

The song calls out obsession with big, chromed-out rims and candy paint as idolatry--excessive focus on anything that takes your attention away from God. "Peep these people feenin' to be seen as kings and leanin' in their chromed-out cars...they're blind to the prison and the image that they're livin' in, all this sin from Adam's vice," Tedashii observes. Lecrae, who's along for the ride, also encourages this set to refocus their attention toward Christ. An urgent beat bursting with synth and drum machines is sure to pull people in to hear the message.

Identity Crisis drops on May 19, and I'm sure it will come with additional jewels. Gearing up for the release, Reach Records will have the official album release party in Nashville at BB King's during GMA week, on April 22, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Click here for a map.
Special guests will be Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, Lecrae, Flame and J.R.

An Inspiring Sermon

2009-02-21T03:43:00.004-05:00

I actually didn't get approval to post the audio to the sermon I mentioned recently, but I'll tell you the gist of what I heard...

Titled "I Can't Leave You Alone," my pastor, Rev. Glenn Shepherd, of First African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Sharon Hill, PA, breaks down Mark 1:21-28.

The passage looks in on a man with an unclean spirit protesting Jesus' teaching at a synagogue, demanding that Jesus leave the crowd alone. Rev. Shepherd encouraged the congregation to not be influenced by those with unclean spirits who might want to pull us away from God's message--within the church and out. Instead, he urges us to tell those people to "leave us alone" so we can be privy to all that God has to offer. He also encourages us to search our own lives for signs of an unclean spirit, to cast out that negativity in us. "When we start thinking about what we're doing, pondering what we're doing, then we can say, 'You know, Lord, I may not have done this the way that you would want me to do it.' And when we understand that, that's when God starts to work in our lives."

Be prepared that it is not an easy task to shake free of an unclean spirit. As the pastor pointed out from the story, the unclean spirit struggled and shook through the man as it was torn away. Nevertheless, "when Jesus speaks with power and authority, it gotta come out." Choose to enable Jesus to work through your life and your spirit ultimately will be cleansed and renewed.

Choice is the important thing to remember: Though it seems hard, we do have to choice to wallow in sin or to rise above it. As the sermon alludes to, communicating the positive choice to the Lord will help us to stay on the right path.

In the music world, one song that really makes me think of this internal struggle and gives me what I need to press on is "Desperate," by Lecrae. As the chorus pleads for, we do need to ask God to create clean hearts in us to counter the negative thoughts about ourselves and others that plague us.

Check out the song right here:

Desperate Ft. Cam - Lecrae

No Need for a Milk Carton Campaign...

2009-02-16T23:10:00.005-05:00

Hi all,

I know you haven't heard from me in a while. I abandoned this blog for a bit after having some spiritual conflicts. More specifically, I noticed people who called themselves Christians doing negative things in the last days of the recent presidential election--Sarah Palin, at rallies, turning a deaf ear to people screaming about harming then-Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and also Elizabeth Dole incorrectly calling out her opponent, a longtime church-goer and Sunday school teacher, as being "Godless" in an attack ad of the same name. (The mudslinging ad ultimately caused Dole to lose the election.) My spirit did not sit well with such actions and got me questioning what it means to be a Christian.

I do feel more encouraged now, having developed a more prayerful relationship with God. I also had a good talk last week with my pastor that helped me to put things into perspective. He shared with me a recording of a recent Sunday sermon that had a timely message for me; once I check with him for permission (and figure out how to post the thing!) I will provide the audio.

So, no, no glamorous reason for going missing. No alien abduction, didn't win the Powerball and move to the south of France, didn't assume another identity in a CIA operation. I just let my struggles get the better of me. I thank God for setting me straight.

Holy Hip-Hop for the People, by the People

2008-10-29T23:29:00.002-04:00

EMI Gospel released Holy Hip-Hop, Vol. 6: Street Gospel 101: Taking the Gospel to the Streets, on Tuesday. This compilation features artists chosen by the holy hip-hop community via the Internet back in June from a group of 75. It is billed as the only album of its kind with selections coming from "the global community, seeking diverse, quality music tracks."

DJ Device, of RhythmandGospel.net was the producer on this project. Featured artists are K-Love, Chosen, Jesus or Bust, Blessed, Verbal Contact, Fresh Mann, Daril, JCS, N'aeem, TwinSaintz, Shamel Shiloh, and Tru-in-Deed.

Christlike Entertainment Roundup, Pt. 2

2008-10-29T23:06:00.002-04:00

More info. on the Nov. 6 release of The Blackout (including early purchase opportunities) and the album release party, on Oct. 31:

Additionally, take a sneak peek of some Blackout songs here.

And lastly, the Andale White Flag Mixtape was pushed back until next year, but CLE promises more heat from him in the meantime.

Go Phillies!!!

2008-10-29T22:29:00.006-04:00

[pic from New York Times--Philly news pics were a bit too big to fit the posting space. : (]

Going off on a tangent...Our Phils just won the World Series! If you're familiar with the Philly area, you may know of the mythical sports "curse" (when the statue of Benjamin Franklin on City Hall ceased to be the tallest object in the skyline, in 1987). Looks like it's a wrap for all that!

Reach Records: Lecrae's Rebel Saves a Life

2008-10-29T21:48:00.002-04:00

Reach Records recently sent out a press release recounting the testimony of someone who listened to Lecrae's acclaimed album, Rebel, and decided to give his life another chance. The communication appears below in its entirety:

Hey Lecrae,

I dont know if you check this or not. But I just heard your new album front to back. Im not gonna lie to you. Im kinda drunk right now. Ive been battling with the existence of God, and with trying to fill my life with things of this world and they werent getting the job done that I wanted them too. So I began to give up. I had thoughts of Suicide. I didnt want to be alive.

I started drinking after a year break from it. Tonight or soon to come was the time I was gonna end me. I guess I hadnt done it yet because I had a gut feeling that there is something missing that I havent tried yet to fill me with.

I heard 'Indwelling Sin' and it saved me. It straight up saved my life. I heard the song as you having a conversation with Sin. I dont know if thats how you wrote it. But after hearing you shut down sin in that song, and rebelling against it, gave me a spark of hope. I felt dirty all over, like I was covered in mud. I got in the shower (but you cant wash off alcohol sadly enough) and for the 40 min I was in there I just let the water hit me as I thought. And I found a comfort place in my heart to make the decisions I need to to be happy and live a better full life.

Thank you again bro....You are a savior to me....but you have helped me get one step closer to opening up to the true savior...again.

Much love

God is truly moving!!! Don't keep this inspirational album to yourself. Share it out with your friends who don't know or don't listen to holy hip-hop.

Holy Hip-Hop Hits the Airwaves!

2008-10-29T20:47:00.004-04:00

First the secular charts with Lecrae, now the airspace on the regular! Illspot.net reports that DJ Wade-O is getting a syndicated show, in the New York City/New Jersey metropolitan area, "The Wade-O Radio Show." It starts on Saturday, Nov. 1, on WRDR The Bridge.

According to Illspot, Wade-O's show could reach 6.5 million ears in the broadcast area, not to mention folks listening in online, at www.bridgefm.org. The Bridge, a Christian radio station, focuses on Bible study and worship music.

The show will air from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, promising "news, commentary and giveaways, without the drama," according to a message on Wade-O's MySpace page. Sounds like guests also will pop up from time to time.

Congrats to DJ Wade-O! If you're in that neck of the woods, here are the frequencies where you can hear the show:

103.1 FM: NYC/Northern NJ
89.7 FM: Monmouth/Ocean Counties, NJ
99.7 FM: Sullivan County, NY
94.3 FM: Pomona, NY
98.9 FM: Poughkeepsie, NY

In the meantime, Wade-O's latest MySpace broadcast, Episode 80, is up. It discusses recently announced Stellar Awards nominees, saying that Da' T.R.U.T.H. will be performing during the ceremony (that interview will air in a couple of weeks, Wade-O says). Wade-O also weighs in on secular rapper David Banner's appearance on the new Mary Mary album, The Sound, and allows Cy to speak on the T-Pain "swagger jacker" situation.

Sphere of Hip-Hop Fund Drive

2008-10-21T19:20:00.002-04:00

I saw on Dturn's blog that Sphere of Hip-Hop is having a fund drive to enable them to keep doing what they do extremely well.

I was impressed to find out on Sphere's site that they have donated thousands upon thousands of CDs and volunteered loads of time to organizations that reach out to hip-hop heads. "We really need your support to not only maintain what is happening with Sphere of Hip-Hop but to also continue these other projects. A little financial help goes a long way."

To donate, visit here. While you're in the neighborhood, check out the Sphere store and available podcast.

Interesting Post: Where Do You Hide God?

2008-10-21T18:48:00.003-04:00

Saw this on GODSurfer. Nathan, writer for the blog Living Kingdom, asks us to consider whether we are being forthcoming about being followers of Christ and, if not, why we think this is:

"Why do a lot of Christians hide in the shadows? I do believe that we need to be cautious because we don't want to turn people away from us by being loud and obnoxious in our faith. We don't want to be condemning of other peoples lifestyles or choices. God loves all of us no matter where we're at on the journey to eternity. Here's the thing, if there are other Christians that work in my office, I don't know them for being believers; just as they don't know me as being a believer. Like I said earlier, I don't deny my Christ directly; however I do deny him through omission; and to quote my wife, "a lie by omission is still a lie." When the subject of church or religion comes up I may say something cliche but then I quickly and uncomfortably change the subject. It seems ok for me to admit that I go to church but anything beyond that is taboo." (Check out his blog for the rest of the article.)

This is good food for thought. I can say for myself that I'm typically an introverted person and don't share much about myself willingly, so going into great detail about my faith, solicited or not, would feel awkward. I am, at something less than a snail's pace, shedding some of the shyness I have by adhering to "let go and let God," but there's still work to be done. Is something holding you back, too? Take a moment to consider what it would take for you to come out of the shadows for Jesus. And let's pray that we can become as bold as God needs us to be.

2009 Stellar Award Nominations Announced

2008-10-21T17:46:00.004-04:00

I saw on Gospelflava.com (official media sponsors of the event) that the nominees were announced today in Nashville. The Stellar Awards recognizes and honors African American gospel artists and is produced by Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc.

On the urban front, nominees for Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year are:

Da' T.R.U.T.H.: Open Book
Flame: Our World Redeemed
Frontlynaz: Game Over
Sho Baraka: Turn My Life Up
Trip Lee: 20/20

Urban/Inspirational Single/Performance of the Year nominees are:

Canton Jones: "My Day"
CeCe Winans: "Waging War"
Deitrick Haddon feat. Ruben Studdard and Mary Mary: "Love Him Like I Do"
Jonathan Nelson feat. Purpose: "My Name Is Victory"
Kirk Franklin: "Declaration (This Is It)"

This year's awards show will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Grand Ole Opry House, in Nashville, according to the Stellar Awards Web site. Hosts will be Kirk Franklin, CeCeWinans and Byron Cage.

9th Annual Fla.vor Fest Coming in November

2008-10-18T18:20:00.004-04:00

From Nov. 6-Nov. 9, the ninth annual Fla.vor Fest conference and music festival will take place in Tampa, FL, at Crossover Church.

This year's theme will be "Focus: Adjusting Our Lenses on the Creator." The event will be hosted by Urban D and the Crossover family. There will be general sessions and more than 20 workshops in 5 tracks (Emerging Urban Church, Hip-Hop Youth Ministry, The Artist in Ministry and industry, Outreach Track, and Worship Track.) Phillip Rood, of Rapzilla; Tommy "Urban D" Kyllonen and Sho Baraka will be among the speakers.

There will be concerts on 2 different nights, featuring more than 40 artists (national and underground) on 2 separate stages.

British Holy Hip-Hopper Jahaziel Wins MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act

2008-10-18T17:18:00.005-04:00

Rapper Jahaziel won a Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award for Best Gospel Act on October 15. Others nominated in the Best Gospel Act category included Tye Tribbett and Kirk Franklin, according to Illspot.net.

The MOBO Awards ceremony, which has been around since 1996, is held every year in the United Kingdom. The awards are given to artists around the world (of any race or ethnicity) who perform music that originated amongst the African diaspora, such as hip-hop, R&B, gospel, reggae, and British-grown genres like garage and grime, "black music born out of adversity that has evolved into mainstream popular culture--urban," as explained on the MOBO Awards Web site.

Jahaziel's first album, Ready to Live, has received critical acclaim. He will release his first video next month. Additionally, he is back in the studio preparing a new album for release next year.

For more on the brother from across the pond, check out this video, where he shares his testimony on God and his desire to rap for God:

News Roundup From Christlike Entertainment Crew

2008-10-15T22:49:00.004-04:00

October 17: Andale's White Flag Mixtape drops for FREE.

UPDATE: Andale's Web page is saying the mixtape is "coming soon."

October 20: Kingston's mixtape Kingston & Fam drops for purchase on iTunes and CD Baby.
October 31: Album release party for The Blackout, at Deliverance Outreach, 851 Garretsburg Road, in Clarksville, TN. In addition to Pro, the "family event" will feature Andale, Brothatone, Doc Watson, and others. Free candy, T-shirts and CDs will be given away.
November 6: Pro's album, The Blackout drops.

Additionally, check out some video clips from Pro about The Blackout:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Thanks for the shout-out!!!

The Ambassador Shooting "Gimme Dat" Video Next Week

2008-10-15T22:09:00.004-04:00

The shoot will start at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 20. No further details on Ambassador's MySpace page right now, but try checking there later.

New Video From Urban D

2008-10-15T22:08:00.000-04:00

It's called "Peter."

Review: Lecrae's Rebel

2008-10-15T05:55:00.002-04:00

One of the things that’s most attention-grabbing about Lecrae’s new release, Rebel, is the amount of passion he puts into each song. The love he has for Christ and the urgency he has in getting out the Lord’s message bathes the album in an emotional tone that makes it hard to resist. This rebel, who has recently succeeded in topping various Christian and secular charts and has pushed holy hip-hop further into public consciousness, is literally compelled to ride or die: “Lord, kill me if I don’t preach the gospel/I’m still in my 20’s but I’ll die if I got to,” he proclaims on “Go Hard.”

“Breathin’ to Death,” with its haunting mélange of mournful singers, strings and piano, stirringly captures the desperation felt by a believer who can’t stop sinning. Lecrae’s voice ebbs and flows from a whisper to a roar as the subject of this song suffers through an internal struggle of good vs. evil. “Still I refuse to let your truths make me better/I'd rather eat flies and maggots instead of bread/and its killing me slow but I can’t get it through my head/You were stabbed, You were murdered/and for me is why You bled/but I spit on your bloody face as if I never cared,” he laments. “Desperate,” with an attention-grabbing chorus sung by Cam, similarly is laden with tangible sorrow. Both songs do not leave the protagonists wandering in desperation, however; they culminate with a desire to reconnect with God. “Desperate” ends with an acknowledgement that “even when I feel lost I know in You I am found.”

Other songs on the album defiantly speak of contentment with love for God and the goodness that He can offer. “Don’t Want Waste Your Life,” featuring Dwayne Triumph and Cam, with super rapid-fire lyrics, relays that true living can not be found in a spouse, a house, 2.5 kids and a 401(k), but rather in Christ. (Lyrics can be found for this song and all the others on the album at ReachRecords.com (choose Lyrics and filter by artist). “Identity,” with a driving, futuristic beat, declares “you can’t define my worth/by nothing found on God’s green earth/My identity is found in Christ/found in Christ.” “Got Paper” is an indictment of materialistic, secular hip-hop. When the chorus begins with a sampled brag of “I got money, I got paper,” the response is, “So what, who cares? I got Jesus, baby.”

The word “rebel” on the album art is styled like a dictionary pronunciation, implying that if you look up “rebel” in the dictionary, you’ll find Lecrae there. But the take-home message is that by listening to this album and digging deeper through prayer and Bible reading, you can embody the definition of “rebel” in these soulless, corrupt times as well.

Additional standout songs: “Truth,” “Fall Back,” “I’m a Saint”

Keep on Keepin' on

2008-10-12T04:26:00.002-04:00

dTurn at Turned Out posted a great article from Pastor Steven Furtick, of Elevation Church, in North Carolina, on winning souls during the current economic crisis. His basic message is don't back down now on whatever outreach you might be doing, because now is the perfect time to draw others to God:

"This is NOT the time for the church to huddle up in the bunker and wait for the end of the world. In Joshua 3, God led His people across the Jordan during the flood stage. Practically speaking, it was the worst possible time for them to cross over. But from the standpoint of faith, why not cross over during flood season? Flood season and harvest time go hand in hand. And the higher the waters, the greater the opportunity for God to show off when He brings us through.

...

We can’t back down. It’s harvest time! People are more ripe than ever to embrace the certainty of Christ, as the earthly things that seemed so certain are shaking and quaking. And God will resource us to reach them with the Gospel as we keep our eyes on Him."

I may sound naïve. But I’d rather be naïve than faithless. God’s faithless children are confined to wandering in the wilderness of intimidation.
Those who look to Him in times of scarcity and press ahead will see His provision, His favor, and His miraculous, abundant supply.
Don’t back down!"

I agree with the pastor that now is the time to feel encouraged about leading others to the Lord. People are losing large sums of money from retirement accounts and other money stashes that rely on the stock market. Others may be facing reposessions or having to sell off valuables to pay bills or just to get by. As material things begin to disappear, there will be many a person looking for substance, for meaning in life, floating roughly in rapids of confusion without any kind of boat or life preserver. We need to let them know that Jesus is an A-rated life vest for overcoming the seemingly unsurmountable challenges that life will always throw at us.

Please take a moment to read Pastor Furtick's article if you have been feeling down about the economy, and pass on to anyone else who might need to hear this positive message. And pray for the artists we enjoy and others who are bringing The Word to the people.

For additional words of encouragement, check out dTurn's thoughts on what he learned during a recent blog fast here, here and here.

Lecrae's Rebel Makes Holy Hip-Hop History!

2008-10-11T14:52:00.004-04:00

Pencil Lecrae's latest, Rebel, into the history books as the first holy hip-hop album to top the Billboard Top Gospel chart. The album is also #3 on iTunes hip-hop albums list, and #60 on Billboard's Top 200 of all music, besting secular acts like Tina Turner, LL Cool J, and Raphael Saadiq, according to Gospelflava.com. Congrats to Lecrae! Check back in a few days for my review of this album.

UPDATE: Lecrae's response to the love Rebel is receiving, from his MySpace page:

"Sup yall! The album dropped and I must say that I'm blown away at the response. I find it very encouraging that we didn't take the route of trying to minimize and cover up the message of the Gospel, but instead made it very blunt and plain and still God did more than we could have imagined in the first week."

He's asking listeners to comment on what they have gotten from the album--"Not 'I like the beats' or 'I love that song' but how are you encouraged, challenged, edified, or convicted."

Ambassador The Chop Chop Review

2008-10-10T15:58:00.003-04:00

I’m going to try to keep these reviews shorter and sweeter so I can crank 'em out faster…

Chopping it up. Politicking. Building. Communication with your people not only strengthens your bonds with them, but also enables everyone in your group to learn something new. This is what The Ambassador provides with his latest release, The Chop Chop: From Milk to Meat, and what God wants us to do for all His people. The songs on this album, largely drenched in many a rugged “kick and a snare that’ll cave your chest in,” are meant to be dialogues with various groups who need a message from God.

“Jesus,” with its epic, string-laden beat, is a perfect introduction to who The Lord is and what He can do in the life of a sinner. “Talk a Lot” asks for the conversation to continue. “I’m hoping you listen/this is nutrition/you and God, how’s that for a new vision?” he pleads to around-the-way girls and guys. The aptly titled “Listen Up,” a certified head-nodder, replete with flashy organs and a recurring drumroll, discusses being on point for God, Christians successfully fighting sin and death, and reaching the unschooled in the streets, or wherever they may be: “Please let me reintroduce myself/I’m nobody/trying to tell everybody/about a Somebody who can save anybody/in the lobby/in the store or at the mall,” he explains, placing his focus back on the Lord. Ambassador, who holds bible and theology degrees and serves as a co-pastor at Epiphany Fellowship, in Philadelphia, delivers his thought-provoking rhymes in a way that enables you to clearly hear the valuable message.

Additional standout tracks: Gimme Dat, The Cost, Love & Grace

Everyday People: Pro Puts His Life on Mixtape, Album to Teach and Inspire

2008-10-09T05:34:00.003-04:00

“Life is not just a big sermon,” said double-threat Pro. Via telephone, the rapper/producer related that his vision of Christianity is of a “regular person” who has Christ at the center of his life. His music is for the common man who needs God-focused encouragement and entertainment.

Pro is a soldier for Christ, with hip-hop as the main weapon in his arsenal. Having been raised by a preacher mother in the church, “I always knew about God,” he said. His faith strengthened following a time during college when he strayed from the spiritual things he knew. The message that he got from God during this wilderness period was, “If you do right by my people, I’ll do right by you.”

One way he strives to do right by his people is by warning them of the negatives of drug culture, as several songs from his recent mixtape, My Name Is Pro, do. Growing up with a father and stepfather who were addicted to drugs, he knows that “it’s a terrible end from both perspectives,” dealers and users alike.

“A lot of cats think they’re just selling a product,” he noted. “You’re ruining people’s lives.” Plus, there’s no retirement package, as he pointed out, either death or incarceration. “That should be motivation for anyone to change their life.”

Users fare no better. He recalled his stepfather pawning furniture and stealing cars to support his addiction, trapped in a vicious cycle of pain. But there is a way out—through the Lord, Pro stated. “I want to give solutions. If you try to move forward, God will move you forward and increase what you lack.”

For those wary of giving their lives to the Lord, Pro’s simple advice is to just try it. “Most likely, you know you’re not happy. Just go to church and follow the principles of God and see if your life changes,” he said. As is often said, insanity is trying the same thing over and over again, expecting to see different results. Non-Christians may keep trying drugs, alcohol, sexual relationships, excessive shopping and other diversions to find solace, with none ever found. “Try something different,” Pro encouraged.

Though it’s certainly life altering to give Jesus a chance, discipline is required for the transformation, he said. “You have to say you really want to [change]; you can’t relapse every time things go bad.”

Pro is saying the same thing with his music and his life that a Christian gospel singer or rocker would say, but there are those who see no value in using hip-hop to uplift the downtrodden. “Your opinion doesn’t matter,” he says to those with an axe to grind against holy hip-hop. “God is the ultimate creator. Whether you like it or not, he created hip-hop. You can’t argue with the results. People are getting saved [through holy hip-hop]; people’s lives are changing.”

He realizes some feel that gospel music is the genre God prefers to use to save souls, but Pro points out that like hip-hop, gospel did not exist at the time of Christ. If anyone denounces hip-hop for not being authentic praise music, they must also take the same approach with any modern-day genre of worship music. “Hip-hop is the music of today,” Pro concluded, “the only music that touches everyone. We’d be stupid not to use it.”

He compared denying the value of holy hip-hop to someone digging a ditch that stubbornly decides to use his bare hands rather than a shovel someone has offered. God has given holy rappers a gift in the form of a genre that is readily intriguing to a large number of people who need to hear His message.

Holy rappers can attract ears and souls through a musical style that’s familiar to sinners and the saved alike, but they still have an uphill battle, as do rank-and-file Christians. When asked why, as Kanye West once famously complained, “you can rap about anything except for Jesus,” Pro thought this reflected apprehension toward Christianity in urban communities. “We set the wrong expectations. People mean well, but they set up a false image of what Christianity is.” He observed that nonbelievers often think Christianity is about being perfect, a goal they may feel they can’t attain. Then, they feel vindicated when they see some Christians sinning. “They see problems when [Christians] fall, and say, ‘Christianity ain’t about nothing.’”

Rather than present an all-perfect, all the time image, he recommends that Christians strive to be Christ-like, but admit that though the rewards are excellent, there are challenges to living holy.

This is where Pro’s everyday people vision comes in, and why his messages resonate. On My Name Is Pro, among the songs that implore people to turn away from sin and find solace in the Lord, he raps about almost being hindered in working on a beat because his roommate didn’t pay the electric bill on “Turn out the Lights,” and also asks fans to “Pray for Me.”

“Hip-hop in general has been watered down by fantasy,” Pro said, opting to offer a dose of realism in his music. “What made hip-hop effective in the beginning was it was a voice of the people. If you want to move forward, you have to focus on community.” He plans to focus on moving people forward with The Blackout, scheduled for release on November 6. He describes the album as “a big gumbo pot,” with music to take you through the whole range of emotions. Among things he will discuss include love from a Christian perspective. “I’m just like you. I get real personal on the album.” His primary message on The Blackout is, “As long as you focus on the center, which is Christ, everything will be fine.” A simple message for everyday people.

Last Chance to Win $500 from Deleon

2008-10-06T19:32:00.003-04:00

An essay contest following the recent release of Deleon's Here in Me is in the final stages. $500 prizes will be given to American students at least 16 years of age who submit an essay of 500 words or less on the "INSIDE POWER that lies within you."

The contest was inspired by the current state of the world, where:

"we are left either hopeless or hopeful. We should remember that God has instilled in each of us an inside power. A power that fuels us to go on when we want to give up. ... We have come in touch with our inner power when we are convicted by our beliefs and our passions. At that time we are armed and protected by His grace, mercy and blessings."

Deleon's Web site doesn't give a deadline date, so good luck! E-mail your essay to essay@deleonmusic.com.

Prizes will be given out to lucky listeners in 10 markets across the country, plus 2 winners from XM Satellite Radio.

CeCe Winans' Thy Kingdom Come Tour Begins

2008-10-05T05:50:00.002-04:00

According to Gospelflava.com, CeCe Winans has launched an international tour to promote Thy Kingdom Come, released in April.

The tour, (for which attendance will be FREE) has already completed dates in Atlanta, at Elizabeth Baptist Church and Word of Faith Family Worship Center. Two dates in South Africa will also feature BeBe Winans. The tour wraps on Dec. 21.

Remaining tour dates include:

Oct. 5, 11:30 a.m. (TODAY!!!): Shermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville
Oct. 7: Lenexa Christian Center, Lenexa, KS
Oct. 11: Genesis Convention Center, Gary, IN
Oct. 12: Rhinehart Music Center, Fort Wayne, IN
Oct. 14: Taping at TBN Studios, Decatur GA
Oct. 23: Victory Christian Ministries International, Suitland, MD
Nov. 5: Christian Faith Center, Federal Way, WA
Nov. 12: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Nov. 14: Cathedral International, Perth Amboy, NJ
Dec. 5: Coca Cola Dome, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dec. 7: ICC, Durban, South Africa
Dec. 11: Richard E. Berry Center, Cypress, TX
Dec. 12: Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR
Dec. 18-19: St. Louis Symphony, St. Louis, MO
Dec. 20: Viking Hall Civic Center, Bristol, TN
Dec. 31: Word of Faith International Christian Center, Southfield, MI

For more information on the tour dates, visit CeCe Winans' Web site.

The LIGHT at Brookhaven, a luxury condominium complex in Atlanta, is a co-sponsor of the event. Winans is currently serving as a spokesperson for The LIGHT on behalf of Buckhead 26 Holdings, the organization operating the complex. She will work with the holding company to jump-start a foundation that will help first-time home owners receive down payment assistance.

After the tour, Winans also will be participating in a New Year's Eve service, at Word of Faith International Christian Center, in Southfield, Michigan. Details on that event are available on her Web site.

Sean Simmonds Interview Series

2008-10-02T06:26:00.001-04:00

On his new album, It's Over...

Part I

Part 2:

Striving for Perfection or Keeping It Real?

2008-10-02T04:50:00.002-04:00

I had an interesting conversation with Pro recently, among other things, on why, as Kanye West once famously said, "you can rap about anything except for Jesus" in the secular world. An examination of secular hip-hop shows that these rappers follow a variety of things other than Christianity, like the Five Percenters/Nation of Gods and Earths, Rastafarianism, or even ancient Egyptian spirituality. Pro's thought was that Christianity isn't as popular among rappers, or among others who can relate to urban culture, because Christianity might feel like a closed door to them. (Check back next week for an article on my interview with Pro.)

Specifically, he noted that some Christians may be presenting themselves as never slipping, always perfect in their lives and relationships with the Lord--a goal people outside of the church may think they can never reach, so why bother trying?

This sentiment was also expressed by The Ambassador on his recent appearance on Day7.tv, which I wrote about this week. During that mini-concert, he confessed that he once felt he had to make a major transformation in his life, to become a "certain kind of person" to be able to be a Christian. And I have to admit that I have been frustrated in my own faith from time to time, upset that I could not bring my life to the perfection that I thought I was witnessing in others' lives.

Though clearly there are changes one undergoes to follow God, realistically, we are the same people making some of the same mistakes. In other words, not perfect. We may not be killing anyone or having affairs, but we are not saints who sleep on clouds at night. Some of us may still be gossipping about others at work; or telling "little white lies" to avoid spending time with certain people; or a little too in love with a new car, plasma screen TV, or iPod, or any of a number of things that are not appropriate behaviors under God's watchful eyes. I'm not saying that we enjoy doing these things on the regular, but we may catch ourselves being out of order from time to time, and realize that we are doing something wrong that needs to be fixed.

Ecclesiastes 11:4, which discusses the uncertainties of life, captures the problem of perfection: "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." (New Living Translation) If we are busy striving for perfection, rather than reaching out to others where we are right now, we miss countless opportunities to harvest souls for the Lord.

Are we letting others curious about Christianity know that we are not perfect, and that we are indebted to the Lord for redemption from the sins, no matter how small, that we still sometimes commit? Are we keeping it real, or are we striving for pefection, to the detriment of glorifying the Lord in a way that others can access? Perfection in humans is a prideful state. Keeping it real when you talk about your life and your relationship with God humbles you and enables God to do his work through you.

Minority Participants Needed for Breast Cancer Study

2008-10-01T18:07:00.005-04:00

I'm going to go off topic for a minute...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and minority women have some of the highest rates of breast cancer. In fact, the disease is the No. 1 cancer killer of African-American and Hispanic women, according to the American Cancer Society.

Historically, women of color tend not to be represented in large numbers in scientific studies. This can impact results on final research reports, which are used to make treatment decisions. One study pertaining to breast cancer, The Sister Study, being run by the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services, is hoping to recruit minority women to make findings more indicative of a variety of ethnic groups. This study will focus on envirionmental and genetic risk factors for breast cancer.

African-American, Latina, Asian, and Pacific Islander women are eligible to join the study if:

They have a blood sister who has had breast cancer.
They are between the ages of 35 and 74.
They have never had breast cancer themselves.
They are living in the United States or Puerto Rico.

The study is also looking for Caucasian women age 65-74 who meet the same criteria mentioned above.

Please pass this info. along to anyone you know who might be interested.