Remember when Mali Music “left” gospel music? Many of us thought he was never coming back, but his message never changed though he was an R&B artist. His last album “Mali Is” featured a bevy of songs that never quite deviated to “secular” though his opportunities and notoriety certainly did.
Gospel music listeners were disappointed that he left the scene but because Mali was more of an enigma than artists, his baffling exit at what many perceived to be his breaking through kept them curious. How curious? So curious that his music has found a way into our cars, onto our streaming platforms and into their personal libraries, regardless of the imprint on which it was released.
“It’s Been a Long Time…”
On the 2000 release “Try Again” by Aaliyah, super producer Timbaland said: “it’s been a long time, we shouldn’t have left you without a dope beat to step to…” and two artists come to mind in gospel music when I hear this. Tonex/B-Slade and Mali Music. Both of them left gospel music due to their frustration with the genre and have given premium art to other genres. B-Slade continues to produce gospel and secular artists and displayed his iconic brilliance on Snoop Dogg’s “Bible of Love” (also released on RCA Inspiration). With Mali Music’s return to gospel music, hopefully his qualms about the gospel industry and the plateau he bemoaned years ago are a thing of the past. For B-Slade, a prolific preacher and performer, the door remains propped open for the prodigal who was more than excited to share what little he could in an interview with The SMG Report on the red carpet at the Stellar Awards in 2017.
Mali Music was also featured on “Bible of Love” and his song “New Wave” was another slept on deep cut.
Today, Billboard released an exclusive interview with the artist detailing his return to a gospel music roster, RCA Inspiration. According to Billboard, Mali will record via a partnership between RCAI and his imprint, K Approved Enterprises. The first single from the partnership is “Let Go” which video premieres today (January 30) and releases on tomorrow!
Though he never quite left gospel music or the message, it’s quite fair to say that Mali Music has expanded his audience. The music somewhat exclusively endeared to believers had gone mainstream. Seeing Mali Music on the red carpet in the conversation for leading GRAMMY nominations created more questions than they answered. Surprisingly, Mali successfully packaged clean wholesome messages in secular products.
This happened mainly because he was the same artist, in a different space. He was as musical and thought provoking on songs like “Beautiful“, “Heavy Love“, “Fight For You“, and “The Transition of Mali” as he was on songs like “I Hate You” and his ever popular “Yahweh“. Understandably, not everyone will be ready to embrace a return to gospel music, but it’s Mali Music…it shouldn’t be hard to let go of any hard feelings! Here’s to new great music from Mali!
Though she should be known as one of the most powerful
voices in gospel music, Le’Andria Johnson can’t seem to escape the moniker of
“The Bad Girl of Gospel”. The gospel community has a robust roster of well-known
artists, creatives and their respective personalities, but Johnson is the most
polarizing-good or bad. Since her win on BET’s Sunday Best, she has remained
troubled, in the spotlight.
Alcoholism has been her crutch and her varying points of
both sobriety and addiction have marked her career. Johnson is a decorated
artist, notching numerous award wins and record sales. She has never however
been able to shake her most visible crutch, alcoholism. Last summer, Johnson
took to social media to lambaste the gospel community and the church for what
she called being fake. Her expletive laced rant caught immediate fire and swept
through the gospel industry and church community. Many defended the singer
while for others, this was the last straw.
As to be expected, Johnson lost many dates due to her rant,
but support from many others remained steadfast. Churchgoers, and fans could
identify with Johnson’s frustration and fanned the flames of her disdain. Last
month, Johnson found herself in the news again when a video surfaced of her
speaking in between songs at a concert. In the clip that also went viral,
Johnson confessed to a brief jail sentence and terms that included an ankle
monitor.
Weeks later, she was live on social media again, this time
checking into a rehabilitation facility for treatment of an alcohol addiction.
For many keeping tabs on Johnson, there was a burning question regarding her
decision to once again shut off the voices of reason in her life. She was
headed down a path of an unforgiving path of self-destruction. This time would
be worse, and everyone could see it.
Thankfully, Johnson checked into the rehabilitation facility and is seeking treatment for this long-battled addiction. Before she checked into rehab, she had already recorded a two-part episode of “Iyanla, Fix My Life” on the OWN Network. The first part airs today, March 16th at 9 ET/8CT and next Saturday March 23rd at the same time.
As perhaps the perfect precursor to this situation with Johnson facing her struggles head on, her feature with Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers “Deliver Me” has become an instant hit with listeners everywhere. Hopefully, Johnson’s plea is heard and she takes the journey seriously enough to press past her difficult past to finally see the “Better Days” we all long to see. We wish Le’Andria Johnson all the best going forward. She is a once in a generation gift and as we know all too well, with a great gifting comes a great struggle! We’ll be tuned in, watch with us and share your reactions online.
With the October 2017 release of her second album “The Beautiful Project”, Tasha Page-Lockhart is on display as a vocal powerhouse. She has matured musically and spiritually and though sometimes the process is without aesthetics, the result is as Page-Lockhart encapsulates it in this album, “Beautiful”. The album is great, do you have your copy? I’ll share a few of my favorites from the album!
The album kicks off with “You Are Good” which is bolstered by a mix of zydeco driven pop. She follows it up with an instant classic: “I Got Joy”. The song is an immediate favorite when you hear it. It’s soft, smooth and really relaxing. It’s also catchy, very singable, lighthearted and fun. One listen and you’ll be singing this all day long! It’s an early indication of the creative breadth of the album, as the song picks up some gospel heft in the vamp! If you’re anywhere near Tasha Page-Lockhart singing this song, you won’t be the same!
“He has made everything beautiful in its time…” Ecclesiastes 3:11
The album theme track “Beautiful” describes the process in which God re-shapes and restores our lives…the end result is something beautiful. She says of the creative process that gave us this project: “This record is basically saying all that I went through, I’m still beautiful. With my scars, with my pain, with my past…everything that I’ve gone through, everything that I’ve seen…it doesn’t matter, we’re still beautiful because that’s how He created you. But guess what? You’re the project, you gotta keep working on you! A lot of times, we put the pressure on God but He’s asking us what we’re gonna do! How are we going to participate in our own deliverance, what part are you going to play? So that’s where we are with this project. Every song is uplifting, it’s encouraging and every song is pushing you to that next level in God.”
“Thank you Lord, you make us beautiful!” The first single from the album “Over & Over” hit the airwaves with a wave of other retro inspired jams. This gospel spin on the Shirley Murdock hit “Go On Without You” written by Terry and Roger Troutman not only feels and sounds good, it is good! What a testament of the unending love of Christ, it continues even though we fall short over and over again! This ballad is an ode to God’s grace that brings out some of Lockhart’s signature style and phrasing. The vamp…Oh Lord, that vamp! Don’t be surprised if you put this one on repeat. It’s another one you’re sure to love on this great album. Kudos to Zeke Listenbee and Myron Butler for crafting this gem this modern gem!
Tasha takes us straight to church on “When I Think” and says what many of us do: “When I begin to think, I begin to thank!” Melding together a few classic hymns, this one is what I like to call a church banger! It’s a praise party on wheels and you just may find yourself singing out your car window along with Lockhart: “I’m so glad I’m saved!”
The urban anthem “Help Us” features newcomer Izze Williams and is another favorite from this modern marvel. The album closes with rising artist and producer Bryan Popin who wrote and produced the final cut on the album: Beautiful Savior”.
Tasha Page Lockhart’s “The Beautiful Project” is refreshing and a really beautiful work of art! The album was released on Kirk Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul Recordings under the RCA Inspiration, Provident Distribution and Sony Music family.
Travis Greene continues to cement his place as a top Gospel artist by securing three Billboard Music Award nominations across all Gospel categories, as announced live this morning on NBC’s “Today” show. Travis is nominated for “Top Gospel Artist,” “Top Gospel Song” and “Top Gospel Album” for his chart-topping album titled CROSSOVER: LIVE FROM MUSIC CITY. The 2018 Billboard Music Awards will air on NBC live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Greene won “Top Gospel Song” at last year’s 2017 Billboard Music Awards with his No. 1 hit single, “Made A Way.” With today’s announcement, Greene has now received eight career Billboard Music Award nominations.
Says Travis, “I am overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God and the support of so many people. I had an inclination that some cool things would happen in my life, but never in a million years could I have fathomed this. Thank you so much Billboard for the recognition and love. Big shouts to my family, RCA Inspiration, Greenelight Music, Forward City Church, all radio stations, and everyone who chooses to embrace my heart through music. We’re just getting started! #engageculture.”
Travis started 2018 with a bang — with a GRAMMY® nomination and sold-out first leg of his much-anticipated “Crossover Live Tour,” in support of CROSSOVER: LIVE FROM MUSIC CITY. Keeping up the momentum, Greene announced a second leg of the tour titled “Crossover Live Tour Vol. 2”, which kicked-off on March 2, making April and May stops in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. For a full list of tour dates, please visit: http://travisgreene.tv/
In addition to the 2017 Billboard win and eight Billboard Award career nominations, Greene has also been nominated for three GRAMMY® Awards,one49thNAACP Image Awards nomination; 13 Stellar Awards, three Dove Awards and one Soul Train Award. Travis Greene was awarded four Stellar Awards for the 2018 ceremony that took place in March, taking home the honors for “Artist of the Year,” “Male Vocalist of the Year,” “Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year” and “Producer of the Year,” with a total of seven Stellar wins.
He’s been a Dogg, a Lion and to some in the Christian community, a big bad wolf. A wolf in Snoop Dogg‘s clothing…a pied piper, even has encroached the sacred space of gospel music. He has long been an outsider, but no stranger, at all! His mother is a minister and he promised his grandmother that he would make a gospel album which brings us to where we are, today. His album currently sits atop the charts, and almost immediately after its March 16th release, “Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love” shot to the top of the gospel music charts, rivaled only by Jonathan McReynolds’ “Make Room” and rightfully so. The musicality matches a budget that seemingly spared no expense. The rapper’s use of household names in gospel music isn’t what makes the project special, it actually sounds good and is put together well.
After much consideration, I too agree that Snoop Dogg’s entry into the gospel music marketplace, should actually be welcomed. Initially, I too sought to keep Snoop out, but some things deserve more consideration than others. I wasn’t alone in my derision of the rapper and his album and this irrational fear nearly kept me from experiencing a musical marvel and modern-day marketing masterpiece. For starters, as Maeve McDermott of USA Today put it, Snoop Dogg’s role on the album is actually more of “curator” and not necessarily featured artist (alas “Snoop Dogg Presents…”, only guesting on a few of the double cd’s 32 tracks.
Some things only a fool would debate. However, music production, song choice and even song writing are not up for debate on “Snoop Dogg Presents: Bible of Love”. You can debate a number of things pertaining to this project, but those three elements are beyond debate. What is debatable and open to interpretation is Snoop’s cold-turkey conversion. Suffice it to be said that many inside the gospel and secular music industry are skeptical, when considering Snoop Dogg as a believer.
Many who have been in his presence as of late recount a different, calmer side to the rapper whose last album was an effort to “Make America Crip Again”. What are the odds that on the heels of an offering like that, Snoop Dogg has answered the call to make gospel music, without fanfare…without a Lebron James-like announcement that he’s taking his talents to church? It’s not uncommon for country and pop artists to turn to their roots. It regularly happens and Reba McEntire is the latest to enjoy critical acclaim for her religious project, winning Dove and Grammy Awards for her “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope” album. Jazz giant John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” has been known to elicit varying stages of spirituality for listeners and remains an open-ended ode to spirituality in general, though Coltrane only referenced God and not other deities.
In Mark 5:1-20, the bible tells us of a demoniac who was uncontrollable, naked, hurt himself, lived in the graveyard and had to be bound by chains until he met Jesus! As was the case with most people, Jesus changed his life and he was never the same! The bible records that when people saw him- that he was clothed and his right mind, they were afraid (Mark 5:15). Yes, they were afraid, so afraid that they ran Jesus out of town (v17). The man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay and instead go tell everybody what he had done for him (vv19-20).
The former demoniac was on his own to tell everyone not only about his deliverance, but to convince them that it was not fake news! In my opinion, this is where Snoop Dogg finds himself now that his album has been released! While detractors remain, only time will tell exactly what impact this work has had on his life. Some in the Christian community believe and are rejoicing, some are apprehensive with a ‘wait and see’ attitude, and other are still protesting everything about the album and his persona.
It comes as no surprise that some of Snoop ‘s hip hop fans feel betrayed and alienated. They have been as critical as the gospel community, labeling him a sellout, a traitor and much worse. The gospel community isn’t alone in its cynicism, the Rastafarian response to the rapper’s short-lived time as “Snoop Lion” was also hotly derided. Perhaps they are more discerning that Christians, or maybe a confession of Christ is easier than ascribing to the Rasta principles. Rastafarians were much harsher on the rapper and much bolder in their rejection of his Rasta rhymes and reasoning. There was trouble before the album and documentary hit shelves and the screen. Bunny Wailer and even the Ethio-Africa Diaspora Union Millennium Council lobbied some hefty allegations against the rapper who they felt used their religion and lifestyle only for commercial gain.
Let’s face it, it’s hard to hate Snoop Dogg! His 25 plus years in music have endeared him as one you either love or love to hate. Christian rejection to the album has been re-branded as unloving to the unlovable. Snoop Dogg hasn’t done much talking about the album, but did speak about directly to cynics in a recorded clip during this year’s Stellar Gospel Music Awards saying: “…if you finding (sic) somebody trying to find their way back home, the natural thing to do is to be welcoming, open your arms and say brother we accept you for who you are…” In the same clip, Snoop speaks directly to the critics and cynics showing that the conversion may not have been as sudden as we assumed! That’s the beauty of following Christ; we are all a work in progress (Philippians 1:6), it’s the touch of the Master’s hand however that makes the ultimate difference!
Snoop Dogg as a Christian is a frightful idea. I think many fear for Snoop, who will be forced to leave behind gangsta-rap, marijuana and pornography enterprises and think this turn toward a pure life will be short lived. Some fear that this may only a pit stop and that Snoop Dogg’s success will prop the door open for other ‘one and done’ gospel experiments. It’s my opinion that the fear goes deeper than that: many are hoping against the success of the album out of fear that in some weird way that he will be successful in his efforts to open the door to those the church has been patently unsuccessful reaching.
The bible makes clear what we are to do with fear…love! “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18)
Love is powerful…the Apostle Paul said that love “seeketh not her own” (I Corinthians 13:5) meaning that love doesn’t seek to have its own way. In this context, this means that churches, gospel music artists and fans can’t clamor for the expansion of the Kingdom to be only one-sided, achieved by one method or one group. For those “Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love” will send to church and to other gospel music artists and their ministries, shouldn’t we be ready to with open arms, embrace them and lead them to Christ, the greatest love of all?
