CY returns to original stage name

Tweaking a trend of Christian rappers reverting to their birth names for recordings and stage performances, the MC formerly known as CY will now go by CYclone – the hip hop identity he assumed shortly after his encounter with Jesus at the age of 17.

“I believe my art is like a furious funnel cloud that packs in a variety of styles and ultimately spins out something unique,” Timothy “CYclone” Gross explained.

As he began to incorporate his faith into hip hop Gross adopted the moniker CYclone but noticed it would often get abbreviated as his music began to receive nationwide attention.

After launching the Circus World Event…The Ringleader album at the 2007 Texas Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards (where MTV personality Sway was a presenter) to critical acclaim, CYclone began to pray about the direction of its much anticipated follow-up.

Whereas The Ringleader’s concept envisioned our world as a circus with one true ringleader (God) and an imposter (Satan) who plots and schemes for the same position, High Wire Act plays off a tight rope metaphor that represents the narrow road believers in Christ must walk in order to receive eternal life. That project also carries other messages about the humility that must be maintained by those placed in lofty positions.

CYclone’s High Wire Act employed a gloomier carnival sound and explosive energy. Each song was painstakingly crafted to embody a singular theme where both the music and lyrics meld together to transport audiences to a specific time and place. A perfect example is the song “Ice Cream Truck” which takes the listener back to the youthful days of chasing after their neighborhood’s mobile, sweet treat shop. Here, CYclone is handing out a variety of lyrical ice cream bars.

It’s versatile and accessible to all listeners with guest artists like Young Joshua, Von Won, Gifted, FireJaws, D. Steele, One Dose, Kent & Shellee Coley, and tracks produced by himself, Phillip Moore, Tony Stone, Vohn Beats/Symbolyc One, Jimmy Natural and others.

So far, CYclone has four albums to his credit and has established his own Complex Melodies production company and record label.

To learn more about the artist visit dasouth.com/complex.

CY encourages “Obedience” on Rap Fest Presents Vol. II feature

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.” – Ephesians 6:1 (NIV)

When was the last time you heard a rap song encouraging you to obey a command besides “Put your hands up!” and to follow the direction and correction of your parents?

Possibly never.

To fill that void gospel emcee CY tenders his track, “Obedience - Godparents” on the Rap Fest Presents Volume II that was offered as a free download on December 23.

The song not only reinforces Biblical calls for obedience, but provides a relatable subject matter for even the youngest Christian rap fan.

“Sometimes the little kids get forgotten, even in holy hip hop,” CY said. “They often hear mature content because we’ve got guys spittin’ raw and they can get exposed to issues and topics they shouldn’t have to deal with at their age.”

He said he specifically wanted to reach out to children with this song so that when they go to concerts and buy CDs they’ll have something that speaks to them.

“The subject matter of the song also relates to adults as well,” CY said. “I was fortunate to have good parents growing up, and to this day, I can still hear their words echoing in my head about things I should and should not do.

“It's still up to me, even now, to obey what I was taught as a child and live by that wisdom. Those who had the luxury of having good parents who feared the Lord know what I'm talking about."


Photo by Sketch the Journalist

CY was invited to be on the compilation by Bert Bocachica of Rap Fest Inc. after establishing a relationship with him through the New York-based annual ministry event of the same name and follow-up contact.

Rap Fest organized this second volume of Christian rap songs with various producers and recording artists. The album has 38 tracks and received nearly 5,000 complete downloads from Illspot.net within the first two weeks.

Bocachica said the digital delivery method allows Rap Fest to reduce production costs and provides them with an easy way to share the Gospel free of charge. The ministry also openly encourages fans to copy and share the album with others so undoubtedly the message music is reaching more ears than can be reasonably accounted for from a single distribution outlet.

The song’s beat was produced by Rolando “3D Remedy” Remedios of Evolution Musik from Staten Island, NY. CY recorded it in Houston, Texas with featured verses from Much Luvv’s Von Won and additional vocals by his wife Gina.

Bocachica commended the song’s level of musical and spiritual integrity, saying it “can only be applauded by other ministers of the Gospel, not just in hip hop, but everywhere.” He also talked about the relevance of the subject matter.

“What if we were all obedient to our parents and, more importantly, to God? What a better world this would be. Obedience is one aspect in life ‘we’ have total control over. We either obey or not and face the consequences and or benefits accordingly,” Bocachica said.

“I can only wish and hope that everyone would take heed to the words and message of the song. Trust me, I am a parent of three teenagers… obedience is always a concern.”

CY said he also wanted to use the last verse of the song to provide evidence of God’s truth to non-believers.

Playing off the homonyms “sun” and “Son” (referring to Jesus as God’s child), CY uses an analogy of a plant that needs the sun to grow and live, much like we need the Son to do the same.

“God is truly our parent. He’s the one that created us and provided, not only His word, but means through Creation to teach us His ways,” CY said.

Download your free copy of Rap Fest Presents Volume II here.

Gospel rapper CY to T-Pain: “I used the Circus Ringleader concept first”

Christian rapper CY has a message for mainstream hip hop singer T-Pain: “I used the Circus Ringleader concept first.”

T-Pain’s next project, set to drop in November, is titled Thr33 Ringz, carries a circus theme, and has been heavily promoted on music networks with the artist wearing a top hat and ringleader attire. All of this is eerily reminiscent of CY’s Circus World Event: The Ringleader concept album and stage show that has been released and publicly performed since 2006.

“I’m frustrated and concerned that people will think I’m copying T-Pain when that’s clearly not the case,” CY said. “But he has a higher profile and marketing budget than me and I’m afraid hip hop and music fans are going to assume I’m the one that’s biting.

“Our messages are completely opposite. I’ve strived to be very creative in my presentation of the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrifice and the deceptive tactics of the Enemy to unjustifiably claim the title of ‘Ringleader’ over our world. God is the only true Ringleader.

“On the other hand, T-Pain’s circus seems to mostly be about carnal living. I just hate to see similar imagery and presentation being used to spread such divergent themes,” CY said.

Documentation of CY’s “Ringleader” concept can be easily found on the Internet, including video of his eye-popping, circus-themed performance at the Texas Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards in June of 2007. The event’s packed audience included MTV journalist Sway and rap legend Special Ed.

“I’ve promoted video of that performance on my MySpace page for a while since then and interestingly enough, T-Pain is one of my ‘Friends.’

“After his circus-themed set at this year’s BET Awards show my cell phone nearly ran out of battery power with family and fans calling to tell me how much his performance looked like mine with the spotlights, mimes, and clowns. I’ve tracked down footage of it online since then and there are many similarities between the two,” CY said.

"Pain's Thr33 Ringz album artwork even uses the same yellow and red color scheme," he added.

This is also not the first time that T-Pain has been taken to task for borrowing from a gospel artist. In August it was revealed on MTV.com that Kirk Franklin had a sit-down conversation with the Auto-Tune Wonder Boy about his “tequila soaked” version of Silver and Gold that had leaked online. The song misappropriates the lyrics to Franklin’s work of the same name that proclaims the worth of the Savior. In contrast, T-Pain’s track laments the effect of mixing clear and colored Patron alcohol.

In the same article, he admits to taking other creative ideas he did not originate. The MTV.com piece states the inspiration for his “Can’t Believe It” video came from TV spots by Apple computers. “I just came up with it man. I kinda stole some stuff from the last iTunes commercial. I got the same people to direct it… I was like ‘If we can find those people to direct my next video, it will be the best video.”

UPDATE (09/30/08): We found another one. This time T-Pain is being sued for ripping off his "I'm In Luv With a Stripper" hit from another artist - TV's "Huggy Bear" of all people!

Read more here: Rappa Turnt Steala

Peep the video clips below and see if you notice any similarities.

CY @ the 2007 Texas Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards



T-Pain @ the 2008 BET Awards