Vidz: Rawsrvnt keeps the faith vs. Omarosa

Wondering if Rawsrvnt (aka Eddy Puyol) is keeping the faith against Omarosa on that Ultimate Merger reality dating show?

Peep this clip and see what you think.



To me, if anything, the complaint would be that he's being too Christian in that he appears to be unable to talk about anything else.

Of course, this could all be editing, but from what I've seen from him on the show so far, the kid is repping well.

Any other "Ultimate Merger" watchers out there with differing opinions?

RELATED: A Reality Check for Christians: Christian Hip Hop Star to appear on Omarosa's reality show

Free DLs: "Bible Bus" by Playdough (mixed by DJ SeanP) & "The 5 Solas Mixtape" by S.O.

Two free mixtape-style projects dropped yesterday.



First up, Dallas-based MC (and deepspace5 member) Playdough with DJ SeanP offers a ride on his "Bible Bus."

Listen for him to flex over beats by made popular by the likes of Cypress Hill and even (gulp) 50 Cent.

Download your copy here.



Next, the U.K. homie S.O. fleshes out "The 5 Solas" of the Reformation with a few remixes (Sho Baraka's "Word" and Dwayne Tryumf's "Don't Pack a Matic") and fresh takes.

My favorite quip thus far: "Christ took my whips like a repo man" by Jahaziel on "Let the Trumpets Blow.")

Download your copy here.

Vidz: Country Hip Hop Dance

Admit it, when you found out I write about hip hop and live in a town named Cut-n-Shoot, Texas this is what you thought of, right?


Shout out to Rizoh at The Rap Up for the find.

Vidz: B.Reith shoots "The Comeback Kid" video in Houston - Behind the scenes with SketchtheJ

Photo by Sketch the Journalist

A few months back my man DJ Promote gave me a call with a heads up that Gotee Records artist B.Reith was bringing his hip-pop sound to Houston to film a video for "The Comeback Kid."

They needed some extras for shoots at the Prince Complex boxing gym in 5th Ward and The Serial Box near Minute Maid Park and asked if I could help get the word out. As it happened, I also got an unpaid gig playing the role of a nerdy reporter type (a stretch, I know) in their press conference scenes.

The video was shot by Donald Kilgore in conjunction with Stop the Nakedness/Fig Tree Collective and the fruit of that labor was dropped on the web last week.

Here's the final cut:

B.Reith "The Comeback Kid" from Gotee Records on Vimeo.

I also captured this behind-the-scenes footage:



B.Reith has toured with CCM-fave Toby Mac and can be stalked online at: breith.com

Da' T.R.U.T.H. breaks his silence / offers additional details on vow renewal & restoration

Earlier this week I shared with you some photos and details of Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s wedding vow renewal ceremony with his wife Nicole that occured on their 8th wedding anniversary.

Friday morning, through his website (www.datruth.net), he also released an official statement / update on his restoration process.

Here is that text.

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Greetings Family of God & Friends,

I’m coming to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a brother, a friend and co-laborer in the gospel. I’d like to start by thanking you all for your love, prayers and support. For every one that has been wondering where I’ve been, I say with all sincerity that I have been at the foot of the cross, seeking the heart of God, reprioritizing, realigning myself with Him and reuniting with my wife, family and friends.

I have sought forgiveness from my wife Nicole Lambert for breaking my vows and the covenant that I made before God, abdicating my responsibility as the priest of my home and forsaking my responsibility as a husband and a father.

I owe more than an apology to my two daughters Carlise Jackson and Summer Lambert. I would never want a man to do to them what I did to their mother. In this area I have been an example of what not to be. I am saddened and deeply shamed by my actions.

To my personal ministry team, I realize that my actions have compromised the integrity of our mission and call but I am so grateful that you have forgiven me and I am looking forward to how the Lord is rebuilding us as a community and will use that to minister healing to His people and the world at large.

I also want to apologize to every pastor that welcomed me into their pulpit, every youth conference that I’ve participated in, every attendee at every rally and/or concert, to every young person that looked up to me, to every parent that told their child to listen to what I say, to every one of my colleagues that represent in the ministry with integrity.

To say I’m sorry is insufficient and inadequate. When you let down your God, your family and the kingdom more has to be said:

For the that last 6 months I’ve said nothing because I needed time to hear from God, my spiritual advisors and those that are closest to me. During that time, my wife and I have been submitted to a Christian marriage counseling team who have led our restoration process through weekly sessions, along with support from other key individuals. Although we have come to completion of our official restoration plan, my wife and I will remain tightly connected to our counseling team.

I’m grateful unto God that even though I don’t deserve it the Lord has forgiven me. I’m overjoyed beyond words that my family is reconciled. God has shown me the power of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration—indeed He does make all things new!

I cannot begin again, without now seeking your forgiveness as my kingdom family. My behavior was inexcusable, but with God’s grace and mercy I pray you find it forgivable. It is my sincere prayer that not another person would be ravaged by the sin that nearly destroyed my family at my own hands. The bible says we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Through the testimony of my deliverance, I pray that not another marriage is jeopardized, ministry leader compromised, and young person demoralized.

In the same way that Paul felt like the least of the Apostles because he persecuted the church of God, I feel like the least of my contemporaries because of my sin. However, much like Paul, I am what I am and am called to do what I do by the grace of God. After Peter failed, Jesus said to Him “once you have been converted turn and strengthen your brothers.”

Therefore, I am now eager to once again proclaim the excellencies of He who pulled me out of a season of darkness and translated me back into His marvelous light. My passion for preaching Jesus has been restored and I just want to glorify Him with my life and my lips. My testimony has changed and I wish to share it in sincerity and truth. I am a man on fire and I am coming to you with the belief that what God has placed in my wife and me will greatly impact this generation. It is my prayer that you will allow me back into your hearts, back into your pulpits and back before your young people again.

I am not the man I used to be. I have been broken by my sins, humbled by His grace and I am committed to the gospel that has forever changed my life.

Amazed by His grace,
Emanuel (Da’ T.R.U.T.H.) Lambert

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Additional details of the vow renewal ceremony were also provided by his representatives at The Uplift Group.

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June 17, 2010 New York, NY—Acclaimed Christian Hip Hop Artist Da’ T.R.U.T.H. renewed his wedding vows with beautiful wife Nicole Lambert earlier this week on Tuesday, June 15^th—their eighth wedding anniversary. This special event punctuated the completion of their official restoration plan—marking the page of a new beginning and giving testimony to the redeeming power of reconciliation. Additionally, today, he has released a public letter to his family and supporters on his website www.datruth.net.

The private ceremony, held in their backyard and attended by family and close friends, was officiated by Bishop Gilbert and Mrs. Debi Coleman—the marriage counseling team leading the Lambert’s restoration process. Also in attendance were Alvin Love & CeCe Winans (pictured in the insert), who have been walking intimately with the couple as supporting counselors and mentors. Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s long-time friend and spiritual father, William “The Ambassador” Branch and his wife Michelle, Maurette Brown Clark and DJ Wade-O—host of The Wade-O Radio show—were in attendance as well.

More than a celebration, this was truly a worship experience where Jesus was the only star. DJ Wade-O described it as “an out of this world experience.” He went on to say “Not including my own, I can't remember being that moved and touched at a wedding ceremony. The worship was incredible. Bishop Coleman was tremendous. And it’s obvious that Manny and Nicole have a lot of great people around them who will continue to support and love them as they enter this new chapter in their relationship.”

As the service came to close, the presence of God was so tangible that Da’ T.R.U.T.H. was moved to share the gospel and an exhortation to married couples. Through sobs of gratitude, he expressed that “sin was the reason for the breakdown between God and man. It was also the reason for the breakdown between man and man—and with his wife in this case—and Christ is the remedy for both.” The ceremony also included moving performances by friends and co-laborers CeCe Winans who sang “I Promise” and Maurette Brown Clark (pictured in the insert) who moved everyone with her powerful song “Sovereign God.”

The couple sat down with DJ Wade-O after the ceremony to share their powerful testimony of deliverance and restoration. That audio can be downloaded or streamed here.

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We in the Christian Hip Hop community rejoice with the Lambert family in this news and hope that you will join us in continued prayer for our brother in the faith.

Rawsrvnt cast on Donald Trump/Omarosa reality dating show - Premiers Thus, June 17

In a move that was bound to have message boards buzzing, Florida worship-hop star Rawsrvnt has been cast on the Donald Trump-produced Omarosa reality dating show called The Ultimate Merger that premiers on the TV One network at 9pm ET on Thursday, June 17.

I caught up with Raw recently to ask about the show and worked our conversation into an article that appeared in the Belief section of the Houston Chronicle last Friday.

Here's your teaser and link to the rest:

A Donald Trump-produced reality dating show with previous The Apprentice villain Omarosa as its focus doesn't seem like a place where you'd find a Christian rapper as a contestant.

Then again, it's probably the exact reason one was added to the cast. We're talking about it here, aren't we?

Yes indeed, 30-year-old Christian “worship-hop” artist Eddy Puyol, who raps under the name Rawsrvnt (pronounced raw servant), is one of 12 eligible bachelors looking to win Omarosa's heart in The Ultimate Merger, which begins airing Thursday on TV One Network.

The show also will feature 90's platinum R&B artist Al B. Sure and Akon protégé Ray Lavender.

Puyol was approached by the show's producers, who searched the Internet and contacted Christian hip-hop media outlet Rapzilla.com to suggest possible participants.

After initial hesitation, Puyol began to view the show as an opportunity to present a more accurate image of what it means to be a follower of Jesus than the one he believes is portrayed in mass media.

Read the rest and leave at comment here.

And here's the promo vid:

6+ months after "moral indiscretion" announcement Da' T.R.U.T.H. renews wedding vows with his wife

More than six months after the shocking admission of a "moral indiscretion" in his personal life, Christian rapper Da' T.R.U.T.H. renewed his marriage vows to his wife Nicole yesterday in Philadelphia, PA. This was also the 8th anniversary of their union.

DJ Wade-O was invited to the ceremony and posted the following photos to his Twitter account. Wade tells me he'll also be interviewing Da' T.R.U.T.H. on his radio show soon.





Da' T.R.U.T.H. also has the photo seen at the top of this post as his Facebook profile image.

Much like his Cross Movement Records label-mate The Ambassador, Da' T.R.U.T.H. appears to be on the way to full restoration in his marriage and is possibly planning a comeback to public ministry.

"Jesus Walks" co-writer, Rhymefest, slams "Prosperity" preachers in new song/video

Rhymefest dropped this gem of a video and song on the Interwebs today in which he takes aim at the "Prosperity Gospel" message of televangelists and TV preachers who seem to exploit people looking for genuine salvation.

The general market, Chicago-based MC has covered Christian themes and topics in his raps before, having co-authored Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" which won a Grammy in 2005.

NOTE: The song contains two words you probably wouldn't want to be overheard saying in church and a couple of cleavage shots that might be distracting to some viewers.

Still, do you think Rhymefest is being too harsh here or hitting just the right tone with this branch of faith?

Trip Lee leaves a Legacy in Houston

The popular Legacy Conference launched its inaugural "Institute" stop in Houston, Texas on Saturday, May 22, 2010. The day included four hours of teaching by Trip Lee on the topic of "Christlikeness" and a follow-up concert with Decipha.

I was there and compiled these two video reports.

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NOTE: All photos by xphaqtor (xphaqtor.com) and provided courtesy of Alexander Curtis (aka Apokalum).

Learn more about the Legacy Conference at legacy-conference.org

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Legacy Institute (Houston) - Trip Lee - "Christlikeness"

This video contains snippets from Trip's teaching
and interviews with a few attendees.

Trip Lee interview about the Legacy Institute (Houston) and Between Two Worlds

Prayer time

Trip Lee brings the Word

Decipha welcomes the crowd

Much Luvv Signs The W.A.R.R.I.O.R.S. ATX

The latest addition to the growing Much Luvv Records roster is Austin-based collective The W.A.R.R.I.O.R.S. ATX.

The group (whose name stands for We Are Righteous Redeemed Invaders Of Reality) has been together for about six years and comprised of Ervin Jackson (Swerv), Corey Anderson (Proof) and Ahmad Bell (Victorious).

The move comes shortly after Much Luvv Records announced the signing of former Rap-A-Lot artist 007 and released Geto Boy Bushwick Bill’s album titled, Testimony of Redemption, in a joint venture deal with G.S.P.O.T. Productions.

“We’re most excited about how this partnership exemplifies harmony within the Christian hip hop community,” Victorious said.

“Psalms 133 says: ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’ Everybody talks about it, but who is really doing something to move things forward?

“We’ve released four mixtapes and two complete albums on our own. Still, we believe that both the Houston-based Much Luvv Records and our Austin connections can further benefit the Kingdom of God by working together.”

In 2004, The W.A.R.R.I.O.R.S. ATX became the first Christian rap group in the central Texas area to have their music played on a secular top 40 station. They followed that up with a ministry performance at ME TV (a regional television network) that was in regular rotation.

They’ve also performed at the popular, mainstream SXSW (South by Southwest) music festival and seen their “Warriors Anthem” video receive airplay on both BET and The Gospel Music Channel.

“I’ve known the guys in The W.A.R.R.I.O.R.S. ATX for over five years now and seen their servant hearts and passion for ministry. Adding them to the Much Luvv family just seemed like such a natural fit,” Much Luvv Records owner Bobby “Tre9” Herring said.

The crew is now working on their third album, All In, that is set to drop regionally in September 2010 and nationally in November 2010 through Infinity Distribution.

Here's a clip of the crew performing at this year's SXSW music festival:

I'm now blogging for the Houston Chronicle

Exciting news: I'm proud to announce I'll now be contributing regular blogs to the Houston Chronicle's Belief site.

The invitation came after months of corresponding with the site's editor and suggesting several stories (DaSouth.com stage at SXSW, the CHH Kite Program, and the LOST LP) they liked and ended up featuring on the front page of the main Houston Chronicle website.

My blog will be mostly about Christian hip hop, but I'm sure I'll work in posts about other topics that mix faith and pop culture. Look for them to appear once or twice a week. And if the stories have broad appeal, they might make the front page of the site or into the weekly Religion section of the print version of the paper.

Here's the first introductory piece titled: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Christian Hip Hop. Feel free to stop by and leave a comment.

I believe this is a great opportunity for me personally and the genre as a whole. We'll be educating a mainstream audience about what we do and why it's important.

I am both honored and extremely grateful for the chance to continue my role as a Christian hip hop journalist.

See ya on the blog.