(SILVER SPRING, Md.) – April 12, 2022 – TV One announced today that filming for its Marvin Sapp biopic is underway. Chaz Lamar Shepherd (“Marvel’s Luke Cage” “The Game”) will take on the lead role as Marvin Sapp. Joining Shepherd is Ambre Anderson (“Power Book II” “Manifest Evil”) who is cast as Sapp’s wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp. The film is scheduled for an August 21 release on TV One. “It is an honor to tell Marvin Sapp’s life story,” said TV One’s Executive Producer Jason Ryan. “His vast contributions to the gospel and American music are undeniable. We know this ...

“Thankful”James CuttsIndependent (released April 16, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Having recovered from the ravages of COVID-19 (his wife also contracted the virus and recovered), Pastor James Cutts sings his testimony on “Thankful,” a buoyant piece with a quiet storm R&B vibe. Though the lyrics focus mostly on generalities, the point is clear: Cutts gives a loving Jesus all the credit for saving his life in every way it can be saved. “You gave me a brand new start / When I thought it was over.” Rather than brood over the past, however, Cutts spends most of the song in ...

“Cast Your Cares” James Cutts (release date: July 10, 2020) By Bob Marovich Pastor James Cutts knows whereof he sings. Both he and his wife are on the road to recovery from COVID-19. This experience made Cutts’ new single, the bright and buoyant “Cast Your Cares,” all the more relevant. When you are struggling for breath, all you can do is turn it over to the Lord, the song goes, and “it will work out for your good.” Drawing his text from 1 Peter 5:7 (“Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you”), Cutts sings: “Don’t you ...

“Jesus Will Fix It” (remix) James Cutts feat. Floyd Mayweather Sr. Fight the Good Fight (release date: fall 2019) By Bob Marovich Not every gospel artist can claim to have a world-class boxer in his corner (see what I did there), but James Cutts can. Together, Cutts and Floyd Mayweather Sr., former welterweight boxer who loves gospel music, deliver a quartet-fired remix of their 2017 single, “Jesus Will Fix It.” Mayweather employs up-against-the-ropes fight metaphors to illustrate how Jesus can make a way out of no way. So “don’t quit—no matter how hard it gets.” Throughout, the two trade off ...

By Bob Marovich Once upon a time in Grand Rapids, Michigan, life was looking pretty good for Steven Malcolm. He and his family lived in a middle-class home. Their father, Winston, a Jamaican by birth, had a decent job at General Motors. Then when Steven was about ten years old, Winston was arrested. He had been caught selling drugs. Since Winston was not a U.S. citizen, officials deported him to Jamaica. That was the last time Steven ever saw his father. “He was a great guy, a great dad, but he decided to sell drugs,” Steven told the Journal of Gospel ...

“Even Louder” Steven Malcolm feat. Leeland From the IVAV (Word Entertainment) EP The Second City, Pt. 2 (release date: June 8, 2018) www.StevenMalcolm.com By Bob Marovich “Even Louder,” written by Steven Malcolm and Leeland Mooring, blends musical understatement with Malcolm’s declarative rap about the many wonders of salvation. Its lullaby-like melody, incessant beat, atmospheric swirl of background voices (courtesy of Christian worship band Leeland), and string-laden interlude combine to create a captivating conclusion to Malcolm’s second in a four-part EP series called The Second City. From Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steven Malcolm is part Jamaican and celebrates his roots on the EP ...