Former Houston gangsta rapper hosts Father's Day weekend event to honor and educate men about finances, family, and faith

On Saturday, June 16 Andre “007” Barnes, a former member of the gangsta rap group the 5th Ward Boyz, will hold the M.E.N. (Mentoring Educating Networking) Mentor Celebration in north Houston. The event is designed to honor and educate males of all ages in matters of finances, family, and faith.

“Double 0”, who is now a business owner and dedicated Christian rapper, claims he didn’t know his own father until the age of 22 after he had already achieved a criminal record and success as a recording artist on Rap-A-Lot Records. He said he was driven to organize the affair after seeing alarming statistics about the often negative fate (incarceration/homelessness, etc.) of children who grow up without a dad.

“Too often it seems like Christians only speak to the spiritual side of things,” Barnes said. “I wanted to take a holistic approach and offer people something besides advice to ‘just pray about it.’

“Don’t get me wrong, I love and value the power of prayer, but we can also offer some practical solutions to issues that face men and their families.”

Barnes enlisted speakers and sponsors from Comercia Bank and other local businesses, former Houston City Councilmember Jarvis Johnson, and Christian rappers Bobby “Tre9” Herring and Gifted da Flamethrowa to play a part in the day of workshops and celebration.

007 has also been involved with The Empowerment Community Center’s young male mentorship program over the last year and guided members of its Eagle Scholars Student program through an 18 week course that ended with them taking an all-expenses paid field trip to Washington, D.C. to further their education.

Click here to find out more about the free event and register to attend.

Former 5th Ward Boyz gangsta rapper's "Blessfest" this Sunday pays rent and light bills for less fortunate

Volunteers register Houstonians at Blessfest 2010

At Blessfest this Sunday, needy Houstonians can register to win one month’s paid rent/mortgage, one month’s paid light bill, one of 50 turkey baskets, $100 Toys-R-Us gift cards, and a laptop computer.

It will be the third annual event organized by former 5th Ward Boyz gangsta rapper Andre "007" Barnes who views the community outreach as a normal part of his life as a rededicated Christian.

Andre "007" Barnes

Over 300 people registered for the giveaways at last year’s Blessfest and Barnes expects over 500 to do so this time around. The day will also be filled with music performances from local gospel and Christian hip hop artists.

The activities will commence at 2pm on November 20 at 5800 Lyons Ave (Fiesta Food Mart), Houston, TX 77020.

Bun B speaks to youth mentorship group led by former 5th Ward Boy Andre "007" Barnes

Bun B with the TWEF Eagle Scholars - Photo by Sketch the Journalist

Last night on the north side of Houston in a chilly room filled with satellite jazz and hardwood floors, rapper Bernard “Bun B” Freeman spoke to a group of teens and pre-teens excited to go on an all-expenses paid, weekend trip to the nation’s capital.

The students are a part of the Eagle Scholars - a free youth mentorship program run by the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation. Bun B was invited to speak to the group by gangsta-rapper turned-inspirational-artist Andre “007” Barnes from Rap-A-Lot Records’ 5th Ward Boyz.

Barnes has been working with the group of 20 boys (ages 8-18) twice a week since February alongside motivational speaker Christopher L. Williams. This weekend Barnes, Williams, and other chaperones will accompany about half of that group to Washington, D.C. to tour the White House, Congress, and Howard University. They’ll also be meeting with noted comedian/civil rights activist Dick Gregory.

Both Bun B and 007 said they wished that, when they were growing up, they had the type of positive male role models and involvement the Eagle Scholars program provides to young men from low to moderate income neighborhoods.

The Eagle Scholars program is in its first year and seeks to build character and personal development by offering class sessions dedicated to etiquette, professionalism, computer training, and dream casting.

Previous guest lecturers have included corporate executives, civil servants, and local leaders. Bun B’s message followed along those lines and encouraged the kids to seize the opportunities granted to them, pursue higher education, and to give back to their communities once they achieved success.

“You don’t have to be on TV to be somebody,” he noted during the interview-style discussion hosted by TWEF youth leader Cecily Gomez.

Bun B is interviewed by TWEF mentor Cecily Gomez - Photo by Sketch the Journalist

Sixth grader Brealon Berguin said he was most looking forward to the Pentagon visit portion of the D.C. trip and took away from Bun B’s speech the importance representing where you’re from.

“But not in the bad way, in the good way,” Berguin said.

007 said he plans to continue his mentorship efforts and pursue ways to use the highs and lows of his experience (which includes performances alongside Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. as well as several years in prison) to benefit others in his city – a pattern he’s already developed as a Christian rapper through events like his Bless Fest and Hip Hop Hope Tuesdays.

TWEF's Christopher L. Williams (left) and 007 (right) present Bun B (center) with an Honorary Eagle Scholar award - Photo by Sketch the Journalist

After his speech, Bun B was presented with an award that made him an Honorary Eagle Scholar. He stuck around to take photos with the kids, sign autographs, and listen to their stories. Just a few hours later, Bun B appeared on stage at Warehouse Live freestyling with actor/rapper Donald Glover.

As one might gleam, Bun B is all about “community.”

For more information on the Eagle Scholars program and the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation visit www.twef.org.

Former 5th Ward Boyz Gangsta Rapper Gives Back to Community Through This Weekend's Bless Fest 2010

This weekend, a former gangsta rapper who served time for armed robbery will demonstrate that he is a completely new man by giving back to the community through an event called Bless Fest. The activities will commence at 3pm on Sunday, November 21 at 10009 Homestead Road, Houston, TX 77016.

Andre “007” Barnes, known for his music career as a member of Rap-A-Lot Records’ 5th Ward Boyz group, has partnered with Impact Ministries to offer an afternoon of food, music, and various “blessings.” Residents in some of the neediest parts of Houston can register to win one month’s paid rent, one month’s paid light bill, one of 25 turkey baskets, and over 100 children’s toys.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” Barnes said. “Jesus met the needs of all who came in contact with him physically. So we don’t want to preach to you, we just want to bless you as God has blessed us.”

For Bless Fest 2010, Barnes has secured partners such as All Eyes On Me Inc., Fiesta, Kohl’s, Street Life Ministries, CFC Church, G Tech Solutions, and Blessings Christian Bookstore.

Andre “007” Barnes is a 5th Ward native whose story is a perfect example of how positive opportunities and role models can lead to dramatic life change.

In the mid-90’s 007 gained fame and notoriety as a founding member of the hard core gangsta rap crew the 5th Ward Boyz. Unlike many of today’s street rappers, 007 was never a “studio gangsta.” His lyrics reflected his actual life. That included a murder case for shooting and killing a man trying to steal his car (later ruled a justifiable homicide) and armed robbery as well as selling and abusing drugs.

Eventually greed consumed 007. After a European tour in the year 2000, he was caught robbing three banks and sentenced to more than four years in prison. Upon release he caught another case that earned him an additional 15 months behind bars.

It was there, in jail once again, that Andre Barnes had his “Road to Damascus” experience. Finally encountering and understanding the true grace of God through the sacrifice of His one and only son, Barnes began to change.

When he walked out of the yard this time around, it was with a renewed mind. Barnes pursued ministry, established Taking Back the Streets, and opened Blessings Christian Bookstore with his wife and family.

Now a new creature, 007 has returned to the mic with a much different message.

“I’m just trying to show young people that you don’t have to let street life consume and define you,” Barnes said.

Here's what 007 sounds like today:

Much Luvv signs former Rap-A-Lot artist 007

After dropping five albums in 2009, Much Luvv Records has hit the ground running with former 5th Ward Boy, 007. It was in January of 2010 that the independently owned and operated Christian hip hop label released former Rap-A-Lot artist Bushwick Bill, album entitled, Testimony of Redemption, in a joint venture deal with G.S.P.O.T. Productions. Now they team up with 007's Judah Music Group and present Audio Future.

Andre “007” Barnes’ story is not unlike the Apostle Paul.

In the mid-90’s he gained fame and notoriety as a founding member of the hard core gangsta rap crew the 5th Ward Boyz. Signed to Houston’s infamous Rap-A-Lot label, the group had several hits that celebrated the gritty, violent, and often-profane street life in which they grew up. They recorded and performed alongside of some hip hop’s biggest names including Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., UGK, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and the Geto Boys. Just Google search the 5th Ward Boyz, the proof is there.

Unlike many of today’s street rappers, 007 was never a “studio gangsta.” His lyrics reflected his actual life. That included a murder case for shooting and killing a man trying to steal his car (later ruled a justifiable homicide) and armed robbery as well as selling and abusing drugs.

Although he continued to see paychecks from Priority Records, Virgin Records, and Rap-A-Lot Records, greed consumed 007. After a European tour in the year 2000, he was caught robbing three banks and sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Upon his release he was asked by Matthew Knowles to write and produce music at Music World Studios (home to Beyonce Knowles and Destiny’s Child). But even this second chance couldn’t keep him out of the life of crime and he was eventually forced to serve an additional 15 months behind bars.

It was there, in jail once again, that Andre Barnes had his “Road to Damascus” experience. Finally encountering and understanding the true grace of God through the sacrifice of His one and only son, Barnes began to change.

When he walked out of the yard this time around, it was with a renewed mind. Barnes pursued ministry, established Taking Back the Streets, and opened Blessings Christian Bookstore with his wife and family.

Now a new creature, 007 has returned to the mic with the goal of using hip hop to glorify Jesus Christ. With a beat background that sounds like it was created in a time machine, Barnes adds sensible, street lyrics to what he’s calling the Audio Future. On this album, he shares his testimony and attempts to warn others of the sinful snares that robbed him of so many productive kingdom years in his past.

The debut release from Much Luvv Records/Judah Music Group, Audio Future, releases this Tuesday April 20th via Central South/Infinity Music Distribution. Pick up his new album at your favorite online retailer. You can also visit your nearest Christian retailer to cop the CD!

Join 007 at 9pm eastern time, Thursday, April 22nd for a live chat session at DaSouth.com!

Related video:

007 & the 5th Ward Boyz then:
"Thanks for the Blessin'" feat. Bushwick Bill

007 interview by Sketch the Journalist @ SXSW 2010