Bob

F1 DiamondPastor of the TraphouseCloud Ten Pictures (2009)http://www.f1diamond.com/By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.On the opening and title track of his album Pastor of the Traphouse, Christian hip hop artist F1 Diamond (Radontae Ashford) declares that he’s not preaching to the choir: “I ain’t stuck in church hollering bout [...]

“Lay Them Down”ASONFrom the SonnyWorld Music CD The Future is Now (2011)http://www.bigsonny.com/About his well-laid plans and dreams, gospel hip hop artist ASON (aka Sonnyman) declares, “I’m finding out that you have to be willing to lay them down…and let Him take control.” Although he can’t see the road ahead, ASON [...]

“Hold On”Monica Lisa StevensonFrom the CD Live in Atlanta (forthcoming in fall 2011)http://www.monicazmuzik.com/Traditional gospel singer Monica Lisa Stevenson channels the fiery energy of fellow Alabaman Dorothy Love Coates on “Hold On,” a churchy hand-clapper on which MLS’s background choir moves the beat like a Chicago church choir: with the force [...]

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Jeneal JohnsonNew HomeEJMJ Music Grouphttp://www.jenealfjohnson.ws/It’s no surprise Jeneal Johnson is a traditional gospel singer. She hails from deep within the quartet community, having ministered in her family’s group, the Farmer Spirituals of Summerville, Georgia; the female AMF Quintet; and later, the Israelite Travelers.Johnson’s new album, New Home, demonstrates her fealty [...]

“Yet Love”Luther Barnes and the Sunset JubilairesAIR Gospel 2011http://www.malaco.com/Luther Barnes, sporting the best groomed beard in gospel music, puts forth his softer, gentler side on “Yet Love,” a ballad about the importance of loving one’s enemies (Luke 6:27-28). Barnes even playfully coins a new noun, ‘yet love.’ It describes in [...]

PRoDying to LiveReach Records 2011http://www.reachrecords.com/By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.“Ladies and gentleman, I’d like to welcome you to the truth.”So announces Christian hip hop artist PRo on “A Life Worth Dying For,” a track from his new (and third official) CD, Dying to Live. That truth, delivered with [...]

ManifestHighest Praise Manifest Music, LLC (2011)http://www.manifestsings.com/By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Manifest calls themselves a “Christian men’s ensemble” – with fourteen members, they are technically a choir – and they bring a little bit of everything to their debut CD, Highest Praise. The fact that they are hard to [...]

“Rejoicing in Heaven”Operation Faith, feat. Rev. Harold Johnson (2011)www.cdbaby.com/cd/operationfaithBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.The way-too-serious intonation at the start of this song about joy in the afterworld is quickly (and thankfully) overcome by the song’s funky beat and more than a sampling of Memphis-style gospel soul. The gurgling [...]