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The Biggest Names of 2000: Success Stories in Christian Music*By Cara Baker If you’re still listening to Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patti cassette tapes, then you’ve got some catching up to do in the world of Christian music. In fact, Christian music’s audience has so expanded in the past couple of years, you’re more likely to find cutting-edge groups not on your local cable access channel, but on MTV. Groups like eclectic pop group Sixpence None the Richer and rock group Creed have put Christians in the forefront of music consumers, although their message may not be as clear as the days of Carman’s “Radically Saved.” Helping us name the hottest groups of 2000 is music expert, Chris Well, editor-in-chief of Christian music magazines 7ball, Release and Profile magazines. The success stories, including the controversial rap group P.O.D., boy band Plus One and R&B sisters Mary Mary, prove Christian music’s diversity has come a long way from its inspirational and contemporary days. Some may argue the broadening of Christian music’s audience sacrifices the message it contains. Moreover, only one of the top three groups mentioned here refuses to compromise their lyrics as anything but gospel. Plus One feels the time is gone when being a Christian group was about preaching Jesus. “You don't have to preach—just show love, acceptance and tolerance,” says Plus One member Jeremy. “Our audiences have heard all about Jesus—what they really need is to see Him." And hip-hop group P.O.D. wants to have a positive influence on their audience, but tells their fans, “I’m never gonna be perfect,” says P.O.D. drummer Wuv. “I’m gonna do things bad all the time. Still, you live your life and have a relationship with God while just trying to have a positive effect on the people around you." Yet if you’re looking for a meat-and-potatoes gospel message, look no further than Mary Mary. The hottest new R&B group, who opened for Billboard Music Award winners Destiny’s Child, is the only group who defines themselves as strictly gospel, not just inspirational artists. Mary MaryIf
you hear it for a minimum of 30 seconds, you’ll be singing and dancing to it
all day. It’s “Shackles (Praise You),” the first single from new R&B
gospel group Mary Mary. And it took singer/songwriters Erica and Tina Atkins to
the top of the Christian charts in 2000. Not only did the Christian industry welcome them as its new darlings, but the single got considerable mainstream radio play as well. The single landed in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Dance Singles and was the 12th Top Single of the moment, according to their website www.mary-mary.com. And unlike most projects that expand a group’s audience, Thankful, recorded for mainstream label Columbia Records, is pure gospel. Mary Mary, who currently tours with Shirley Caesar and Yolanda Adams, write their own material and are produced by R&B/hip-hop producer Warryn Campbell (whose work has appeared on albums by Brandy, Boyz II Men, Shanice, Dru Hill, and others). Certified GOLD by the RIAA as of August 2000, Thankful earned the sisters a sweeping of nominations including The NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards, The Stellar Awards and Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. Sister Tina shares their motivation behind their songwriting. "I think one of the misconceptions about gospel music is that it's dreary or sad, or 'Oh Lord, help me' --something that brings you down," says Tina. "That's not me. I'm living in a natural world—first natural, then spiritual, my heart is still the same. It's just my relationship with God is always there. Being thankful or talking about joy just goes to the music that I hear and that's how I write these songs." Born to gospel-singing parents amid five other sisters and a brother, Erica and Tina were raised in a strict churchgoing family in Inglewood, California, where gospel music was the only music allowed in the household. The Atkins kids soon comprised most of the church choir's soprano section, but Erica and Tina's vocal talents earned them coveted soloist spots. After singing with the popular "Bobby Jones Gospel" program on Black Entertainment Television with their siblings, the two middle sisters realized that "music was completely in our hearts." After touring for a few years with traveling gospel shows, the sisters individually went on tour singing backup for major recording artists: Erica for Brian McKnight, Brandy, Terry Ellis, and Ray-J; Tina for Kenny Lattimore and Eric Benet. A chance meeting with producer Campbell around 1996 led to publishing contracts with EMI Music, while "Dance," a song they wrote and performed with Robin S., was quickly added to the best-selling Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. Producers of the inspirational soundtrack to The Prince Of Egypt clamored for their work, and their "Let Go, Let God," was included on the album. Yolanda Adams, recorded two of their songs, "Time To Change" and "Yeah," for her current album. The circulation of Mary Mary's songs throughout the recording industry brought offers of record deals from several labels. With a clear conception of how they wanted to be marketed to a broad audience, Mary Mary chose to sign with Columbia Records as the first gospel act to be signed to the label. "Inspirational music makes me feel good, like I can go on, I can make it, I can do whatever I put my mind to. But the gospel tells you about what God can do, it tells you the good news of Jesus," explains Erica. "Because our music is so hip-hop and has an urban feel, a lot of people think, 'Oh it's inspirational, it's contemporary.' It can be. But listen to what I'm saying [in the song]. The songs that we write tell the message of Christ specifically." Plus OneAs if the mainstream music world didn’t have enough boy bands of its own, the Christian industry produced its own version. But the members of Plus One, who opened for Jaci Velasquez this past fall, believe their sound and message is worth hearing. "Guys with good voices are a dime a dozen in LA," says Florida native Nathan Walters, the group’s oldest member at age 22. "But chemistry… that's another story. Plus One works because we are not just five guys singing next to each other—we've worked our socks off from the beginning to connect, to click." Plus One knew there has to be substance to the songs to justify the audience's time and set out to find the perfect songs to stretch themselves as people. For this reason the songs on their debut album cover the gamut of what you might expect from a bunch of friends at the edge of adulthood: songs full of fun and romance, hopes, dreams and the highest yearnings and ambitions. There are songs about friendship and faithfulness, like "My Friend," and mostly, there are songs such as "Run to You" and the melodic title cut, "The Promise," that get to the heart of the matter for the guys—their faith in God. They have an ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity as part of an intentional strategy on the part of the band to expand their experience and their vision of ministry. "Anyone can sing about God," says Jason Perry, the youngest member of the group at age 17, "but we knew that until we had something to say with our lives, our songs would be empty." "We
are so committed to sharing our faith in our music," offers Jeremy.
"But our faith tells us that it's better to love our neighbor than lecture
them. If you listen more than you speak, you can get a lot done sometimes. The
main thing is that you don't have to preach—just show love, acceptance and
tolerance. Our audiences have heard all about Jesus—what they really need is
to see Him." P.O.D.
Since forming in 1992, hip-hop group P.O.D. (Payable On Death) developed a grass-roots following by independently releasing their first album and touring relentlessly for years. While recording subsequent albums on Christian labels, they eventually landed gigs opening for mainstream acts like Green Day, Cypress Hill, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Pennywise. P.O.D. consisting of Sonny on vocals, Wuv on drums, Traa on bass, and Marcos on guitar eventually signed with Atlantic Records in 1998. This October the group recorded the head track and video from the Adam Sandler movie Little Nicky. Most listeners unfamiliar with P.O.D.’s music and history would not peg them as a Christian recording group. And as they tell their fans, don’t expect them to live up to your standards as a Christian either. Their goal is to have a “positive” influence on kids. "A lot of people, who know where we’re coming from on the spiritual side, will be watching us to see what we do—even if it’s something ridiculous like finding out if we smoke cigarettes or whatever," says group member Wuv. "I tell those people, ‘Don’t be watching me because I’ll disappoint you over and over. I’ll be stumbling all over the place.’ I’m never gonna be perfect. I’m gonna do things bad all the time. Still, you live your life and have a relationship with God while just trying to have a positive effect on the people around you." With gigs often promoted by young fans, grass roots bookings have led to P.O.D. tour stops at alternate venues in small towns and suburbs across the States. After a set, it is not uncommon to find all four members of P.O.D. hanging out with kids that just want to talk, whether it’s about music, school, parents, anything. Such interaction is as inherent to the band’s purpose as the music itself. "The style of music we play—it’s an important part of life for a lot of kids," says Wuv. "The way they feel this music, that’s the way they’re living life—hardcore. It’s there in the way they dress, the way they do everything. It’s not about some fad they run in and out of." ninetyandnine.com
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2000, ninetyandnine.com -------- *Top three groups of 2000 named by Chris Well, editor-in-chief of Christian magazines Profile, Release and 7ball.
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