INTERVIEW: Lil Raskull talks about his new "Quotes from a G.O.A.T." book

On April 1, Houston’s Delbert “Lil Raskull” Harris released his new book Quotes from a G.O.A.T. - (Greatest of All Time) Volume 1.

I recently caught up with the veteran Christian rapper (whose We Are Legend album was one of my favorites of last year) via e-mail to discuss the tome’s content (the subtitle says: "Daily thoughts and Facebook posts), his use of the G.O.A.T. name, and his post-University of Houston plans.

Sketch: First off, why should I buy this book when I can just be your “friend” on Facebook and get my daily dose for free?

Ras: Personally, I'm a fan of print but of course I won't hold everyone to my preference. I think to have all the quotes together and accessible makes them easier to read. Also, there was a book like this called Acts of Faith that ultimately led me to salvation, so I believe Quotes from a G.O.A.T. can have that same capability.

Sketch: You titled the book Quotes from a G.O.A.T. - (Greatest of All Time) Volume 1. Isn’t that a little egotistical, especially for a Christian rapper?

Ras: Yes, but I'm one of those who complains about Christian hip hop artists not paying enough respect to the forerunners. I'm still active, so my fight isn't just for personal reasons.

Whatever the case, this lifetime has taught me something and that is people will say about you what you first tell yourself - good or bad. So yes, I am one of the greatest of all time, be it ego, truth, or both.

Sketch: You’re a Christian rap veteran. Why write a book like this and instead of one about the history of the movement or your own involvement in it?

Ras: I believe the book will reach people outside of my genre of music. In fact, in the preface I address readers who may not be fans of hip hop. I can't stand it myself sometimes. All in all, I think the book is easy read, entertaining, and educational in some aspects - pretty decent for my first rodeo.

Sketch: You’re about to graduate from the University of Houston with a political science degree. What’s next for Lil Raskull/Ras/Delbert R. Harris?

Ras: Eventually I will tackle law school, but I’ve got to get couple of the kids out of the house before I focus that intensely on studies. My son is fast tracking to an athletic scholarship and career, plus he eats a lot, so I've got to get him shipped off first. Until then, I'll be announcing more music and business ventures soon.



Sketch: Who would win a religious rap wisdom Tweet-off? You and the Facebook app on your Android or Rev Run on his Blackberry in the bathtub?

Ras: That's a good one. Of course, Rev Run would win because I would feel bad punching my father. (Laughs)

No really, he's seen a side of life I haven't quite experienced so I believe his wisdom runs a little deeper than mine. Also, all my Tweets and posts aren't exactly spiritual. But if you can arrange a Tweet-off I'll accept the challenge.

To purchase your copy of Quotes from a G.O.A.T. Volume 1 send money orders for $6.99 to:

Delbert R. Harris
4022 Bennington St.
Houston, Texas 77016

Or email Delbert.Harris[at]gmail[dot]com and describe your interest and payment arrangement.

Recap: Nuwine performs and speaks at Resurrection Sunday "A Day for God" event

On Resurrection Sunday 2011 Houston’s Street Life Worldwide organized “A Day For God” – a combination Christian rap concert and family fun day outreach. Nuwine, aka Wine-O, was also asked to play a part.

For those that don’t know, Nuwine was a key figure in the Grapetree era of Christian hip hop. His gritty tales from Da Bloody 5th Ward of the city told of the urgent need for Christ. Later, he was signed to Evander Holyfield’s “Real Deal Records” and after that began making a name, and money, producing and rapping in a more secular music style.

However, his friends in the ministry, like Lil Raskull and Pastor Levi, have still remained and continue to encourage him in the faith.

Levi told me he got the vision for "A Day for God" after seeing a street cat at a ticket booth trying to secure admittance to a big name comedy show being held over Easter weekend. For some reason or another, the guy couldn't get a ticket and left in a huff.

On Resurrection Sunday, at a different, T.D. Jakes event being held at the Astrodome, Levi said he ran into the same guy, dressed to the nines and ready for Easter.

"I realized then that even the most hood dudes come out to celebrate this day," Levi said.

So now, in what he hopes will be the first of many, he helped organize "A Day for God" and invited a mainstream rap talent like Nuwine to participate.

Here's how that went down:







Nuwine’s early work impacted many for the Kingdom of Christ. As you heard, he still wants your prayers. Please continue to lift him up.

And here's how Von Won explained Nuwine's involvement.



Overall, it was a great day. A couple hundred people showed up, got fed, and enjoyed some God-glorifying hip hop music and activities.

Here's a photo recap of the rest and to the hopes that this thing can continue year after year.

Chizzell (S.O.M.), Reconcile, D. Davis, and Phurious Stylez

Pastor Mukes (Bound 4 Glory) & Pastor John Richardson (First Outreach)

Von Won interviews Zeeda for his TV show

Everybody gets grub

Hilary Pradia and Corey Paul

Frontline Movement prays before hitting the stage

Lil Man gets down

Lil Raskull rockin' the retro tee

Remembering the life and passion of Richie "s/ave" Douglas

Richie "s/ave" Douglas

If this story sucks, it’s most likely because I didn’t let my editor give it an “anti-wack” review first. It’s not because I didn’t meet a deadline or was too lazy or too busy to submit it for critique. It’s because he’s gone.

On the morning of December 31, 2009, I received a phone call with the tragic news that my friend and writing mentor, Richie “s/ave” Douglas, had died in his sleep the night before – a result of the epilepsy he battled all his life. He was only 36 years old.

As I gathered the details from Tee, his rock-solid wife, my heart sank because it all seemed so familiar. Just two months earlier, the gospel rap community also lost Juan “Enock” James – the 35 year old former Cross Movement member who moved to Houston from Philly as a result of his friendship with s/ave. It definitely felt like the proverbial punch to the gut.

The last story s/ave edited for me (just a week or so before) was my Enock memorial. Now I knew I had to write another one, that it wouldn’t be nearly as good without his input, and that it would be twice as difficult to author because it was about him.

*****

Sketch, Ambassador, DJ Official, Tonic, s/ave, and Bad Luck

s/ave was the original Christian hip hop journalist. He was writing about the genre before I even considered publishing a piece.

As an early consumer of the music, his “Real Criticisms” column in Heaven’s Hip Hop Magazine guided my otherwise blind purchases and proved that coverage of faith-based rap records did not require a rubber-stamp approach.

The “Unsigned Hype” issue of that same periodical is what spurred my introduction to Houston’s Christian hip hop scene. Because of s/ave’s research and writing, I had the snail mail addresses of guys like C.I.A. and Blackseed. I wrote them letters about my interest in their work and several responded. Nuwine even called to introduce himself and invited me to my first gospel rap concert at a church near the Astrodome where his buddy Lil Raskull would also be performing.

In my senior year of college, Rich mailed me a copy of the inaugural issue of the ONEMIND newsletter he started in his one-bedroom apartment in northwest Houston. I didn’t know how he got my address or knew me, but I was deeply interested.

I contacted him about writing for OM and we arranged to meet face to face at an upcoming Cross Movement show. That was the night I learned he was Caucasian. This came as quite a surprise. After all, what self-respecting white man would have the gall to call himself “s/ave?” (In actuality, he gained the nickname as an MC when he co-opted a lyric about being a “slave to the rhythm.”)

*****

s/ave freestyles with Blackseed and Optix at Club 360

s/ave’s memorial service brought out a slew of “heads” from Houston’s old school Christian rap scene. Bad Luck and Optix reminisced about the Bonafide Zealots (aka Bon-zee aka Bon-Z) crew and all their different lineups and spellings. We even listened to their “Throw You a Curve” cut from 1999 that reminded me of grimy, early Labklik recordings.

Ras told us how Rich gave him the hook for his “One Fo’ the Sick” song from Controverse All-Star, his debut Christian rap album. He said it was the first time he ever accepted lyrics written by someone besides himself.

Grapetree Records’ Knolly Williams shared the tale of a 21 year old “s/ave” sending him unsolicited album reviews for Heaven’s Hip Hop Magazine. He was just three years older than Rich but loved his passion and eventually hired him to be the editorial voice of his side publication.

Interspersed with the hip hop stories were memories from family and friends in the deaf and education communities he grew to love in his later years.

Dusty Douglas told us how much he admired his older brother, how s/ave always stood up for the underspoken minority, and how “Christianity fit him like a glove.” Others remembered Mr. Richie’s kindness toward the special needs kids at the elementary school where he worked or talked about their friend by making the two-finger, forehead-to-crown sign they crafted to symbolize his shaved head.

*****

s/ave signs off

I mentioned Knolly Williams recognizing s/ave’s passion. It was something I picked up on too and noted in a recommendation letter Rich asked me to write when he was in between jobs.

Whether it was self-taught web design, how to properly write his pen name (“All lower case letters with the ‘l’ as a forward slash mark,”) animation, healthy eating, or simple living - when s/avey had an idea he chased after it full bore.

And that may be what I miss and want to emulate about him most.

####

Click here to read more about s/ave's founding of DaSouth.com

Houston’s Kingdom Media Group Partners With Swishahouse to Distribute Gritty, Christian Hip Hop Flavored Films

If a mainstream rap label like Swishahouse is distributing Christian movies, it’s a pretty safe bet that those films will be a little more “street” than Left Behind or Facing the Giants.

The first title to be released through their new partnership with Kingdom Media Group (also a Houston-based company) is PAIN: The Movie. Its story centers on a street hustler whose days are filled with drugs, guns, money, and threats of brutal violence. And increasingly, they begin and end with stress-filled smoke sessions that attempt to numb his inner turmoil.

As you might surmise, PAIN: The Movie is not your average church flick.

PAIN’s co-writer/co-director/producer/supporting actor is Terrance Levi. He said he birthed the vision for this and a multitude of other multi-media projects after praying about his displeasure with programs that were targeted to people of faith.

“I remember standing at the sink washing dishes and saying ‘God, why do Christians have to have the cheesiest shows on TV?” Levi recalls. “And not to be negative about Christian programming, but I look at things through the eyes of the unchurched quite a bit and I just really felt a tug on my spirit to do something about it.”

Soon after, Levi said he believed God was bringing specific people into his life with talent sets and passions that could help him fulfill this dream. From there, he developed a script and plan for PAIN along with a case-study drama called Tales from the Player’s Manual Volume 1.

Although there is no cursing, nudity, or sex scenes in the straight-to-DVD films, Levi is hesitant to call them “family friendly.” Neither title has been through the official Motion Picture Association of America process, but he believes that if his movies were to be graded, they would earn between a PG-13 and R rating due to the amount of gunplay and illegal drug content in their narratives.

“If I have a definite point and target that I’m aiming at, I’ll smoke a cigar or two on a movie set and take a whiskey glass and pour some Diet Dr. Pepper in it to make it look like I’m drinking alcohol,” Levi said.

He said such steps were necessary to illustrate his character’s hypocrisy which plays a critical role in the story.

The Swishahouse connection came as a result of a relationship that began because of misdelivered mail – something Kingdom Media Group members believe was more “divine appointment” than “happy accident.”

Levi said that Swishahouse (who helped give Paul Wall and Mike Jones nationwide exposure) is launching their independent movie venture with his films and had absolutely no issues with the content or message. The same couldn’t be said for all of the Christian businesses he spoke to about similar distribution options.

Houston’s Delbert Harris (known by his stage name of Lil Raskull) has known Levi since high school and acts in PAIN along side Yung Ro, Beau Williams, and Baby Bash who were able to bring their audiences to the project from the worlds of mainstream hip hop and traditional gospel music.

“Levi has always been a street evangelist and to do this type of movie certainly takes a certain level of maturity,” Harris said. “I see this as The Cross and the Switchblade of our time.”

PAIN: The Movie will be available through Swishahouse in U.S. stores on October 12 and through Integrity Distribution to Christian bookstores in South Africa later this November. For more information, visit www.painthemovie.com

PAIN THE MOVIE: Trailer from Robert Taylor on Vimeo.

Lil Raskull Goes Back to School

When the Big Red Marching Band of Houston’s MacArthur High School takes the field for halftime of this Friday night’s homecoming football game they will be joined by two special alumni. The first will be Marcie Chapa – a professional drummer who frequently tours with Beyonce and Delbert Harris aka Lil Raskull – a veteran Christian rapper.

Although Harris’ small stature and babyface features would allow him to pass for a member of the senior class (hence the “Lil” in his stage name), it’s actually been 20 years since he roamed MacArthur’s locker-lined hallways. Chapa graduated five years after him and is a 15 year alumna.

The duo will perform with the school’s marching band for an interpretation of Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” hit song as well as an all original duet written by MHS music director Jose Diaz.

Harris said he was invited to perform by Diaz who was MacArthur’s music director when he attended the school. He’s also worked with Diaz’s side band, Caliente, a few times in the past.

“I’m definitely honored by the request,” Harris said. “It’s probably the closest thing a Christian artist like myself will get to performing at the Super Bowl.”

Although Ras, as he is also known, has not performed in a setting like this before, he said he was inspired by the mix of hip hop and marching band music when he saw the movie Drumline.

“I’m definitely excited about getting my Petey Pablo on,” he said, referencing the mainstream rapper who made a memorable cameo in that 2002 film.

Harris said he was far from a straight-A student when he attended MacArthur High but had many friends who were and also participated in varsity sports.

After graduation Harris briefly attended the University of Houston – Downtown. He said back then he wasn’t disciplined enough to appreciate the delayed gratification rewards of a degree and eventually dropped out of college to pursue his burgeoning rap career.

But today, he’s actually returned to the UHD campus and is one year away from graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

When asked what he would say if he could provide one bit of advice to the 1990 version of himself, the answer was almost instantaneous.

“Definitely take that athletic trainer college scholarship you were offered but turned down because you wanted to ‘hang out.’ Paying for this stuff on your own dime is no fun at all,” Harris only half-way joked.

The MacArthur Generals will take on the Jefferson Davis Panthers this Friday, September 17 at H-W.W. Thorne Stadium at 7pm.

Vid: Ras & Child of Christ "Let Me Speak"

A new video from Lil Raskull, aka Ras, popped up on the web this week.

"Let Me Speak" has an underground look and sound and appears to have been largely filmed near the University of Houston-Downtown campus that Ras attends.

Vid: Lil Raskull & Vince Young

My man Ras (aka Lil Raskull) recently got it in with Tennessee Titans' QB and University of Texas legend Vince Young. Peep the message.

You can keep up with Ras at his community site: www.therasonline.com

Vidz: Throwback - Nuwine "Do That"

I noticed this throwback clip on Lil Raskull's site. Brings back memories.

Think Christian hip hop videos have improved a lil?

Favorite part: Ras getting his MJ on with the wind machine. Enjoy.

Lita Rodi - "The Reform" release party - Nov 14

H-town's Lita Rodi is set to celebrate the release of his exciting new project with a blowout concert on November 14, 2009. "The Reform," Rodi's third Christian rap album (5th overall) takes on a classic old school, "early America" feel with an urgent charge of spiritual reformation.

The concert will take place at Sagemont Church (11600 Hughes Rd, Houston, TX 77089) from 5pm - 8pm. Admittance is 100% free. Additional music ministers that night include Ras (aka Lil Raskull), Inner Fire, Purposed, and the Fountain of Praise Drill Team. Pastor Sammy Lopez will also bring a message.

Be there early (doors open at 4:15pm) to pick up your copy of "The Reform."

Connect with Lita Rodi & listen to music clips at: www.myspace.com/litarodi

Watch the promo video below:

Photo: Ras in the studio

Tuesday (Dec 30) I was at 4930 Studios with s/ave working on The Fence documentary. We just walked in from a great talk lunch at Chilis and caught the legendary Lil' Ras in the booth recording a track for Much Luvv's upcoming sports-themed album.

This was my first pic on the new iPhone so I was doubly geeked.

Ras & Nuwine's Gospel Radio Interview

Photo by Sketch the Journalist

Yo, are the Good News Bad Boys back at it again?

Could be. Last night Nuwine/Wine-O and Lil Raskull/Ras were interviewed on Houston's Praise 92.1 FM's "Street Gospel" show with DJ Wiz and Crazy C/DJ Revelation.

During the hour-long show, Ras and Wine reminisced about their early days of ministry and discussed the impact of Pimp C's words on Nuwine's desire to return to evangelism.

Listen to the interview here.

Props to Paradox for the link.

Recap: Bushwick Bill / Icece Listening Party & B-day Bash (12/14/07)

All I can say is “What a night!” I haven’t been to a holy hiphop event this unique in a while.



More than just a concert, Friday’s jam at The Brighter Side Café/Club also included celebrations of several birthdays and the surprise announcement that Much Luvv Records was losing one of its team members.

Oh yeah, we also got sneak previews of tracks off of two upcoming albums from Icece and the legendary Bushwick Bill (of the Geto Boys).

Happy Birthday to…

• Bushwick Bill
• Icece
• Mrs. Tre9 (aka Maria)
• Mrs. Bless’T (aka Linda)
  

The small $8 cover charge went to support The Brighter Side and included a full fajita dinner (con aroz & frijoles) - plus we all got to grub on the cakes.


Tre9 and Maria show off the goodies



As the crowd filtered in, DJ Chill manned the music booth and got all the kids dancing to the some old school hip hop classics and the latest gospel rap heatas.




DJ Chill and Tre9 behind the scenes

Shortly after that, Tre9 took the Master of Ceremonies mic and explained that evaluation forms were being handed out to the audience to rate and rank tracks from Icece’s upcoming album. Each song got a minute and half of play time and then the crowd was asked to give each title an:

• Industry Rating (A-D): A. Radio Single / B. I’d Buy It / C. Might Buy It / D. Wouldn’t Buy It
• Personal Rating (1-5): 1-Trash It / 2-Needs Lots of Work / 3- Good / 4- Feelin It / 5-Bangin
• Dislikes (optional): Ex: Beat, lyrics, delivery, sound quality (mixing), feature artists, etc.
  

Such market research is a common practice in the mainstream music industry, but it’s a rare occurrence in the holy hip hop world. And it’s such a win-win for the audience (previews of new tracks) and the labels (advance feedback before making any final decisions) that I don’t know why more people don’t take advantage of it.


X-Thug (of The Brighter Side) and Stephen Oran (fka Stikk)


Testimony with producer Bruce Bang and his wheelchair athlete brother Kevin

Before and after Icece’s listening session, several acts took the stage for a quick set. Those that blazed the mic included: AFC, Gifted (Bound 4 Glory Records), Chosen, Bless’T, and 007 (formerly of the 5th Ward Boyz).


Gifted on the mic


007 comin' fierce

Next, we got to hear and evaluate songs from Bushwick Bill’s “Testimony of Redemption” album. Man was there some fire here!

Seventeen cuts in all, from the anti-Chucky, rock screamer “No More Child’s Play” to the remake of the classic “Mind Playin’ Tricks On Me” called “My Renewed Mind.”


Charles, Pastor T, and Joe from A.O.G. Clothing

The album has several guest features from local HHH cats like Gifted, Bless’T, and Lil Raskull who were in attendance that night and later took the stage with him.

I gotta tell ya that Bushwick is serious about his change. At a side table during the listening session he chopped it up with Lil Raskull and said he wasn’t satisfied with just doing this one album. He said God had laid it on his heart to do a triple album tentatively titled “The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”


Gifted, Ras, and Bushwick engage in some real talk.

He said he didn’t want people to see him like KRS-ONE who dropped “Spiritually Minded” and then went back to his typical material (and was thought to have only done a gospel album to pimp sales from the church crowd. )

Instead, Bill said he has done and said so much evil in his old lyrics and that he needed to set things right with his new content. He said he wants to touch everyone with his music and even include tracks done entirely in Spanish or Jamaican slang.

A drop date for “Testimony of Redemption” has not yet been set, but look for it in 2008 on the G-Spot Productions label.

After the BB listening session, Colcutz and Tre9 took the stage followed by Von Won, S.O.M. and Icece.


Tre9 and Colcutz (in the Lupe Fiasco-like hoodie) get the crowd moving without any Souljah Boys


S.O.M. - They some real "Fiyah Startas"


Icece is 6'3" flowin....

At the end of Icece’s set, Tre9 asked that everyone from his label join him up front for a major announcement. He reviewed the history of his Much Luvv Records label and how Icece was an old high school friend who reconnected with him over the past few years. Icece was intended to be Much Luvv’s first mainstream artist (still positive and clean, just not so Scripture heavy) but that a bigger opportunity had been presented to him that he had to take.

Never one to hold his artists back, Tre9 gave his blessings for Icece to sign with J7 Records out of Baton Rouge, LA. J7 has a relationship with Universal and can possibly put Icece in front of millions and millions of listeners.


The Icece presentation and prayer

Both sides embraced and prayed as T-Trax (J7’s main man) thanked Much Luvv for their above-the-board business ethics and for grooming Icece’s career up to this point. A cool feature of this move is that Tre9 will actually continue that relationship as a manager/advisor for his former artist.




Tre9, Icece, and T-Trax

Finally, the Little Big Man took the stage to perform some of his new material. He said he was nervous about the performance and still getting into "show mode" with some of his new lyrics. Nonetheless, he did it all with a smile and his trademark giggle and humor.


Bushwick blasts off


"What's up Party People?"

The “All Eyes On Me” TV show camera crew was in the crowd in addition to some guys filming for an upcoming documentary on Bill’s life.



Tre9 assisted on the hook for “Takin’ It Back” (Bushwick Bill / takin’ it back / to the days when people actually learned something from rap) and AFC and Gifted joined in to perform their parts on “Work It Out.”




Gifted, AFC, and Bushwick break it down

Bushwick closed out the night with a prayer for the families of Houston’s fallen recently deceased rappers (Fat Pat, Hawk, Big Mo, and Pimp C) and took the audience through a recitation of the Sinner’s Prayer confession of faith. He also asked people to lift him in prayer as he continues to try and follow and imitate Jesus the Christ in his daily life.


The always animated Boyce



As I said, it was quite a night. Look for more details on both Icece and Bushwick Bill’s albums in the near future and check out The Brighter Side on any upcoming weekend for a chill, Christian social environment.


Mr. Morris of The Brighter Side


Bushwick with his G-Spot Records partner


Hear Bushwick's new music at: http://www.myspace.com/therealbushwickbill
Hear Icece's tracks at: http://www.myspace.com/icece

Reprint: Soul P "The Arrival" (U-Zone Magazine - April/May/Jun 07)

Here's a reprint of the Soul P cover story I wrote for U-Zone Magazine's April/May/June 2007 issue. If you dig it subscribe to the joint or check into buying some ad space and support holy hip hop journalism.

You can also hear Soul P interviewed on The Wade-O Radio Show you can get on HCR.fm or as a free podcast through iTunes.

[My apologies to Wade for giving him bad info about P's mission trip when he asked for input on the message boards prior to his interview. I told him Soul went to Bolivia when it was really Grenada. I got it right in the story and incorrect on the post. My bad! Thanks for the on-air rib though Wade. It's all love.]



The Arrival:

Okay, let’s go ahead and acknowledge the obvious. Yes, Soul P. is the underground cat you used to know as Soul Plasma. Yes, he’s got a record deal and some marketing money behind him now. And yeah, his latest album is designed for maximum sales and airplay.

Is it a sell-out? Maybe to some, but P doesn’t see it that way.

“Sure, The Premiere is a very commercial record, but it’s soulful at the same time,” the artist said. “I’m comfortable in this role and don’t think I’ve really changed that much. I do what I do and that’s it.”

The album’s title is a bit of a misnomer. Syntax Records initially featured P in 2002 on the Acts 29: Under Exposed compilation with Braille and Ohmega Watts. He also released his Simply Soul and The Soul Affect albums on an indie level shortly thereafter. In fact, The Premiere theme is actually attempting to draw upon the image of a Hollywood movie launch more than a particular artist’s debut. But even that has drawn its critics.

“Yeah, I’ve read some corny e-mails and message board posts that I was being too flossy or that my album cover and promo shots made it seem like I was glorifying myself,” Soul P. confides. “I think they just missed the idea we were going for. I mean, the album cover is about a red carpet, step-out-the-limo type thing. That’s it.”

P said he responded to some of these keyboard critics and let others go unanswered. He further defends by saying he could have taken the easy route and simply given a mean mug glance to the camera for a thugged-out cover shot with a posse full of homies in the background. And it’s not like the album’s title was something more high-minded or abstract like Grace or Peace.

“It’s cool though. My manager always tells me that if you don’t have critics, then you don’t have fans.”



Beatmart, the ever-expanding label run by super producer Todd Collins definitely has Soul P.’s back. Of all the albums and artists released by the company, this one seems to be given a little extra nurture and care.

The Premiere was marketed with a free download snippet-blend mixtape by DJ Morphiziz, a “Getting’ In With Soul P.” pre-release video blog, an album single video shoot with A-list production crew, is part of a joint partnership with Sony/ BMG, and had P hitting pop networking scenes like the NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas and the Sundance Film Festival.

“The reason we’re pushing The Premiere so hard is because, we as a label, believe so much in this record and in Soul P. as a person,” Todd Collins said via e-mail. “Hopefully in the end, a ton of people will have been exposed to this record, to Soul as an artist, and a ton of lives will be impacted as a result. That’s our prayer.”

Talk to just about anyone who has collaborated with or observed Soul P.’s work ethic and you’ll get the impression that any rewards or benefits now coming his way are well deserved.

“Soul P. is a joy to work with. Not only is he a man of God, he is a hard worker, in and out of the studio. He also has a keen ear for hooks, which we love over here. Creatively, we just mesh,” said Elected Official of Winona Drive Productions.

“We trust his opinions and he trusts ours, and the stuff we do together comes out crazy fresh. I don't even think he's hit his stride yet either. He has a lot of great ideas and is just beginning to grow into who he is as an artist.”

The artist formerly known as Plasma has also impressed gospel rap vets.

“I think Soul P. is the next-now. He definitely has the talent and the swagger and his connection to Beatmart can only lead to success. I love his CD!” Ras said.

In fact, Lil’ Raskull’s Grapetree records were some of the first holy hip hop soundtracks Soul P. heard after his 1998 jail stint and decision to follow Christ.

Although Mike Greene’s (aka Soul P.) northwest upbringing has the familiar street-thug-to-rapper storyline, it wasn’t any less painful or undeserving of respect. He says his various times behind bars were for knucklehead robbery and drug selling stunts as a juvenile. After getting his release, he was mentored and discipled by a youth pastor that gave him a legit job doing roof repair.

Once in church and seeing the kingdom of God expressed through hip hop, Soul P. was sold. He linked up with the Lightheaded (Braille & Ohmega Watts) folks for the Acts 29 project and later developed his Soul Plasma persona for the two indie records. By the time his “Five Fingers” track made it on Beatmart’s Best of the Submissions Vol. 2, the buzz had begun.

Now, he’s husband and father trying to balance family with constantly touring and spreading his light to schools and Christian festivals. Peep his schedule and you’ll see dates with mainstream artists like Bubba Sparxxx followed by trip to Grenada for events with international evangelist Luis Palau.



Is Soul P. too flashy and polished to be a Christian who raps? Or this is perhaps a role that needs to be effectively filled in order for this message music to obtain its maximum impact and audience grab.

Too often, holy hip hop is only made for the street or the underground. Surely there’s a fence-straddling Kanye West in our midst who can satisfy both the artistic and commercial urges of our industry.

In fact, he may have just made his Premiere.

***************************************

Watch the video for Soul P's "Whoa, Whoa!" below.