Before the world learned that Kirk Franklin and Kanye West would collaborate on Kanye's record, Kirk's protégé, Christon Gray, was praying for the situation.
Franklin surprised people by appearing on Kanye West's album The Life Of Pablo, where he is heard praying on the song "Ultra Light Beams," earlier this year. However, before the gospel musician Kirk Franklin entered the studio with West, he called on his mentee to pray for the project.
"He just hit me up and just asked for prayer that if it was an environment that did not really fit what he's trying to do, that he would have the strength to say no," Gray told Hip Hop DX. "'Cause it is Kanye and they had legends in the room. I wanted to be in the room. Andre 3000 was in there and I was like, 'bruh, can we meet?'"
Franklin and West were first pictured in a studio when an image on Instagram surfaced on Jan. 29. Since then, West has spoken highly of Franklin in interviews and featured the gospel producer, songwriter and artist on his latest album.
In an interview with Hip Hollywood, Franklin revealed how he got involved in the project.
"He asked me to be a part of this one song and it's very clear what I represent. No profanity, or something that is outside of my faith or what I preach," Franklin said. "I'm just here to walk out life with people, and whoever. I'm not a pastor to the stars, I ain't trying to be all that, My job is to just win people to God."
Franklin appeared on "Saturday Night Live" to perform the song with West, singers Kelly Price
and the Dream. For the gospel artist, West is not beyond God's grace.
"As a Christian I'm trying to be what God wants me to be to whoever, and nobody is beyond receiving Him," he said. "Nobody's unforgivable, or unredeemable."
Read full article
Showing posts with label Kanye West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kanye West. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
'Rich in Faith' Brings Young Pastors to Reality TV Spotlight
As a MTV executive, Rod Aissa helped develop "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica." Now at Oxygen Media, believes he's found equally engaging young marrieds who will appeal to today's millennials. However, the couple featured in "Rich in Faith" are pastors, not pop stars.
The reality show features Rich Wilkerson Jr. and his wife DawnChere as they launch a youth-oriented Miami church, Vous, and grapple with balancing work and home life.
"What I liked about it for Oxygen is the overlay of the discussion of faith," Aissa said. "We know from brand research ... that traditional things like family and relationship to God and spirituality are still high on their (the audience's) list."
Rich Wilkerson brings a celebrity connection to the series: He married Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, but the Wilkersons say it's their relationship with God and parishioners that's important, not TV celebrity or its trappings.
"So often it's really easy, especially for people of faith, to sit around and report negatively about the status quo of where our nation is or where entertainment is," said Rich Wilkerson.
"Our idea was to do something that's encouraging, that's positive out there. We want to show people you can have faith, even in this busy, chaotic world we live in right now," he said.
Faith and reality TV have become close companions. A number of shows are based on families for whom religion is a visible part of their lives, including UP's "Bringing Up Bates," in its third season. Others focus on the clergy, among them Oxygen's "Preachers" franchise that started in Los Angeles.
"Preachers of LA" was criticized by some who said the show could foster the inaccurate idea that preachers are in it for fame and wealth.
Hollywood's fascination with pairing reality and faith has dubious roots, said Dave Johnson, a film and TV writer-producer.
"It's like the old circus, with the sideshow tent," Johnson said. "They'll use little people, they'll use Christians, they'll use tattoo people. It's a group of people (industry executives) don't really know or understand or are part of, and think they're interesting to watch."
That's fine, he added, if the show is created and produced honestly, citing "Bringing Up Bates" as an example. He had yet to see "Rich in Faith."
"If they chose someone who is genuine and true, who believes and lives that faith, then the show will reflect that faith honestly," Johnson said.
read full article
The reality show features Rich Wilkerson Jr. and his wife DawnChere as they launch a youth-oriented Miami church, Vous, and grapple with balancing work and home life.
"What I liked about it for Oxygen is the overlay of the discussion of faith," Aissa said. "We know from brand research ... that traditional things like family and relationship to God and spirituality are still high on their (the audience's) list."
Rich Wilkerson brings a celebrity connection to the series: He married Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, but the Wilkersons say it's their relationship with God and parishioners that's important, not TV celebrity or its trappings.
"So often it's really easy, especially for people of faith, to sit around and report negatively about the status quo of where our nation is or where entertainment is," said Rich Wilkerson.
"Our idea was to do something that's encouraging, that's positive out there. We want to show people you can have faith, even in this busy, chaotic world we live in right now," he said.
Faith and reality TV have become close companions. A number of shows are based on families for whom religion is a visible part of their lives, including UP's "Bringing Up Bates," in its third season. Others focus on the clergy, among them Oxygen's "Preachers" franchise that started in Los Angeles.
"Preachers of LA" was criticized by some who said the show could foster the inaccurate idea that preachers are in it for fame and wealth.
Hollywood's fascination with pairing reality and faith has dubious roots, said Dave Johnson, a film and TV writer-producer.
"It's like the old circus, with the sideshow tent," Johnson said. "They'll use little people, they'll use Christians, they'll use tattoo people. It's a group of people (industry executives) don't really know or understand or are part of, and think they're interesting to watch."
That's fine, he added, if the show is created and produced honestly, citing "Bringing Up Bates" as an example. He had yet to see "Rich in Faith."
"If they chose someone who is genuine and true, who believes and lives that faith, then the show will reflect that faith honestly," Johnson said.
read full article
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Kanye West's Lunacy Escalates: I Made That Song Because I Am god
Kanye West has caused some controversy after naming one of his new songs "I Am God" and now the 36-year-old rapper is revealing the inspiration behind the title.
West's "I am God" is a song featured on his recent album "Yeezus." The rapper recently revealed that the song's inspiration came about when he was denied access to some shows at last year's Paris Fashion Week.
"So the next day I went to the studio with Daft Punk, and I wrote 'I Am a God'... Cause it's like, Yo! Nobody can tell me where I can and can't go," West told W Magazine recently."
The rapper likened the shunning in Paris to blasphemy.
"You can't say that you love music and then say that Kanye West can't come to your show! To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn't go is just ludicrous," West told W. "It's blasphemous- to rock 'n' roll, and to music."
West outright explained that the song title was a literal reflection of his feelings about himself.
"I made that song because I am a god. I don't think there's much more explanation," West told W. "I'm not going to sit here and defend (expletive). That (expletive) is rock 'n' roll, man. That (expletive) is rap music. I am a god. Now what?"
While West has not been willing to open up to the media in the past few years, he explained the controversial decision to name is album "Yeezus" recently.
"I wanna explain something about the title Yeezus, simply put West was my slave name and Yeezus is my god name," West said at his recent New York City listening party, according to MissInfo.tv.
West's "I am God" is a song featured on his recent album "Yeezus." The rapper recently revealed that the song's inspiration came about when he was denied access to some shows at last year's Paris Fashion Week.
"So the next day I went to the studio with Daft Punk, and I wrote 'I Am a God'... Cause it's like, Yo! Nobody can tell me where I can and can't go," West told W Magazine recently."
The rapper likened the shunning in Paris to blasphemy.
"You can't say that you love music and then say that Kanye West can't come to your show! To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn't go is just ludicrous," West told W. "It's blasphemous- to rock 'n' roll, and to music."
West outright explained that the song title was a literal reflection of his feelings about himself.
"I made that song because I am a god. I don't think there's much more explanation," West told W. "I'm not going to sit here and defend (expletive). That (expletive) is rock 'n' roll, man. That (expletive) is rap music. I am a god. Now what?"
While West has not been willing to open up to the media in the past few years, he explained the controversial decision to name is album "Yeezus" recently.
"I wanna explain something about the title Yeezus, simply put West was my slave name and Yeezus is my god name," West said at his recent New York City listening party, according to MissInfo.tv.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Stryper to Kanye West: If God Is On Your Album...Prove It
Michael Sweet, lead singer of Stryper, has responded on Facebook to the controversy caused by a TMZ article:
He's referring to the closing paragraph:
"I was approached by TMZ to comment on what I thought about Kanye referencing God as a featured artist on his new record. Those of you who know me, know that I have a sense of humor and it can be quite dry at times. If you read the article you'll see that is all seriousness I understand what Kanye was trying to convey. And then, in typical MS form, I clown around a little bit to lighten things up.
If this article has offended you to the point of denouncing the band then I really don't know what to say. I have no words and that's saying a lot coming from a man of many words.
It was a simple article that was meant to be encouraging and comical. Read it again and maybe you'll understand it a little better.
In love and in Christ,
M"
He's referring to the closing paragraph:
But Sweet says if Kanye means it literally -- and let's face it, he probably does -- he wants details, like ..."I've always wondered - is God a drummer, a bassist, a guitarist or a singer? I'm guessing The Master of all ..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)