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NATIONAL ANTHEMS REVIEW FROM DA SOUTH.COM
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By Nina del
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Hailing from the streets of Detroit, Emazin and Goo...By Nina del
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Hailing from the streets of Detroit, Emazin and Good Son have come together yet again for their sophomore album titled, National Anthems.Now when this album was put in my possession I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I was not familiar with this HHH group at all and I couldn't think of any artists repping Detroit besides the famous secular candy rapper himself, Eminem.
As the album began I was taken aback by the first track, Move Like This. I wasn't sure if I had been sucked into a video game from the 1990s or what but this song had that unique affect on me. I'm sure you're familiar with it, after the song is over the chorus is stuck in your mind and at night you're dreaming the hook. It's a unique song indeed and definitely set apart from anything that I have heard as far as originality. The next track, one of my favorites was Liar.This was a dope east coast beat with a nice electric guitar blend against a hypnotizing acoustic lick. The lyrics weren't too far behind as the duo came hard with the lyrics which came from a more testimonial perspective. The hook however, stood out in a league all by itself as a sample comes in echoing Satan, you're a liar, you're a liar, Satan, you're a liar, you're a liar, Satan, that's one thing you cannot deny is that youre the father of every lie. The words are so simple yet so profound as the sample cuts in and out. I could easily see a video for this song with Emazin and Good Son dressed in all black as a story unfolds slowly but surely.
Along with this song I would group a few other songs into the equally enjoyable songs category. Such as the heartfelt joints Because of You, which reminds me of something I'd hear back in the early 90s with the smooth R&B hook and the mellow bass and kick. Hold On is another one I'd add to this collection as the beat makes you want to bump this with the windows down while the sun kisses your cheeks. This feel-good song will have you in a place similar to Fresh Prince's Summertime. Some other noteworthy tracks would be Let's Get It and perhaps the track that stands out the most, the heavy hitting dirty-south Reppin. I would've personally liked to hear more songs with the hard-hitting baselines and equally yoked lyrics like the ones on Reppin.This track sticks out from all of the rest as something you'd hear on the radio today. For cats that like Lecrae and Reach Records, you'll especially appreciate the vibe and content of this song.
On the flipside some low points on this album, in my opinion would be some of the content, which didn't blend well with the production. Songs such as How We Get Down and the oh so catchy Move Like This had a lot going on as far as production and it wasn't as clean as I would have hoped for. CHH/HHH has evolved into it's own unique blend of tight production and dope lyrics all done for the God who never evolves but always stays the same. With these tracks, it's nothing new as far as the marriage between the content and production. Also, by the time the album ended I wasn't quite sure why the album was titled National Anthems and so I personally couldn't pull it all together thematically.
One thing is for sure when hearing this album is that Emazin and Good Son have a heart for their Savior and heart for the streets. Their evangelistic and testimonial songs are a decent representation of this. My hopes would be that this would shine through, as it has for me, above all things when listening to this album as it is for the Glory and Honor of our Savior.
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INTERVIEW WITH DETROIT GOSPEL.COM
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By Conway Norwood, III
Sometimes, when I hear nay-sayers talk about gospel rap, they paint holy ...By Conway Norwood, III
Sometimes, when I hear nay-sayers talk about gospel rap, they paint holy hip-hoppers with this stigma of being carnal, proud, and no step higher than out of God’s will. Yet when I talk to gospel rappers, it’s amazing to see the humility and virtue that exude in their voices and character. Emazin & Goodson are no different. Talking with Paul Collins, alias Goodson, I knew I was talking to a saint. He’s God’s child, saved and full of praise, and he’s not to be placed in any category that labels him ungodly.
Paul and his holy cohort, Erik “Emazin” Harvey have cranked out the sixteen-track Serious, and just as they tell us on their album’s title track, these guys are “serious as cancer.” Erik and Paul exemplify the fact that the key element that makes gospel rap the powerful Kingdom weapon that it is isn’t primarily the musical quality or the lyrical gift of the gospel rapper (even though Serious is full of both), but the lifestyle and the soul-borne holiness that enrich the music and the ministry of the lyricist.
Like every other good artist, Emazin & Goodson rap what they know. They don’t mind opening up their souls and letting the world know that they’ve been through some things and that they’re still going through, and that through all of that, God remains their chief priority. They testify on “Like Job,” saying, “We got some pain this side, we got some tears we cry/Sometimes I wished I’d die from the hurt like Job/Now it’s a brighter day ‘cause on my knees I pray/Trustin’ in Him to show me the way like Job.” Thank God for cuts like “Celebrate” and “Move Like This” (featuring an outstanding cameo from King Ray) that keep your soul jumping and hot remixes that seal the envelope on the album, and you don’t make it halfway through without realizing that these guys ain’t playin’.
I spent some time talking to Paul “Goodson” Collins, and asked him about the ministry, motives, and challenges of Emazin & Goodson...
Conway: Introduce us to Emazin & Goodson. What are you guys all about and what do you want to accomplish?
Goodson: We’re all about furthering the gospel first and foremost. Number two, we’re about not just being traditional. We want to touch people with the traditional message of the gospel, but with things that are personal to us as well. Sometimes, we act like just because we’re Christians we don’t go through everyday situations, but we do, and that’s just as much the gospel as the traditional message. We’re trying to minister to the whole man.
Conway: Your album is called Serious. What brought you to the point where you realized that this ain’t a game?
Goodson: Salvation is serious. A lot of times within the ranks of young people, we look and think, “I’ll do that when [I’m] 40 or 50.” It’s not a game because the enemy is not playing. He uses music and other avenues to try to captivate the [youth] and it seems like a lot of us are sleep on it. It’s one of those things that’s not a playing matter; we’re dealing with souls and moving forward.
Conway: You mentioned that you find it useful to use what’s personal to you to spread the gospel. One of the songs on the album that I think is so powerful is “Like Job.” On that song, you say, “It’s a million Jobs all over the globe, and I’m one of’em…Now it’s a brighter day ‘cause on my knees I pray/Trustin’ in Him to show me the way like Job.” When and how did you get the revelation that God is a waymaker and a keeper?
Goodson: There are so many different times, but I’ve always been one of those people that [knew] God had been tugging at me. He was tugging at me at a young age, and I didn’t know who it was. God would give me insight on certain things. I didn’t know what it was for. I didn’t know God was equipping me to go forward or was setting me up so that when I was ready, I would come. I think it was the same thing for Erik. I think the turning point for him was when his grandmother passed. His grandmother was the anchor of his family, and she was definitely a spiritual mentor. So when she passed, it made him realize that life is too short not to be serving God. For me, God built it up to a point where I couldn’t do nothing but say, “I’m so tired of what’s going on around me. God do what You want to do.” That was the point where God changed everything. I’ve always been open to things relating to faith, not necessarily my faith in Christ, but [just] relating to faith, not knowing that God was drawing me for Christ, but I was open period. If someone struck up a conversation about faith or religion, I was all ears.
Conway: How did you know that gospel rap was the way that God wanted you to minister?
Goodson: I rapped as a youth, and when I came of age, club music and rap was contributing to my self-destruction. I got saved, and God stripped me down. I didn’t listen to rap or anything that sounded like rap for about four or five years. I didn’t think I would be doing Christian rap, or any rap for that matter. It wasn’t until Eric and I met and God opened some stuff up that things started to happen. Before we knew it, we had an album. It was crazy the way it happened. I saw a group called the Council, and some other people that ministered, and I saw the reaction from the youth, and I listened to their ministry myself, and I said, “This is awesome.” I didn’t know that Detroit had such a huge Christian hip-hop community. We probably have one of the biggest in the country.
Conway: Who are some of your other influences?
Goodson: Anybody that’s pushing the gospel with heart. For one, my pastor, Joel Wallace. I have a lot of influences, but I love real people. I click with real people. There are so many people that indirectly and directly influence our lives, but I click with real people. Most of all, my wife, Eric’s wife, and our church family. Those are the people that really push us and inspire us to do what we do.
Conway: You guys take God so seriously, but unfortunately, gospel rap is still a joke to so many Christians. What challenges do you encounter as gospel rappers and how do you overcome it?
Goodson: We face challenges daily, not just from ministries that think “in” the box, but we’re in a Catch-22 situation; I heard a rapper say that we’re too hard for ministry, but we’re too soft for the streets. They put us in an awkward situation, but I believe that if God anointed you to do something and if He commissioned you, He’ll make a way. We might go places and people [look at us strange], but the Bible says the anointing destroys the yoke. I’ve been places where there were hardly any young people, but when we leave, they invite us back, and they’re buying the CDs because they recognize the ministry. I’m a praise leader at my church, and I [approach] what we do with this type of music the same way I [approach] praise and worship. I do it wholeheartedly, and I’m sure people feel that. I’m sure God moves on people. It’s not just performing. We definitely minister and we let God break down the barriers.
Conway: What do you guys do to continue to grow spiritually and musically?
Goodson: Spiritually, you have to stick with the basics, and you have to keep people around you that will sharpen you. There’s a lot of stuff that goes on in the music business. We used to be naïve and figure that everybody that proclaims Christ’s name is a child of God, not saying that they’re not, but everybody doesn’t bear those type of fruits. So spiritually, you definitely have to stay around people that sharpen you. My pastor is a visionary, and he’s serious about the work of God and the will of God. When it comes down to prayer and fasting, he won’t hold you up. That’s good for me because it keeps me on track. Musically, as artists, we want to evolve; we don’t want to be stuck in one spot. We always want the gospel message to be clear, but at the same time, [we ask ourselves], “Who are you ministering to? Are you just ministering to the church or are you trying to reach some people that aren’t churched and try to bring them over into Christ?” Like with anything, you want to perfect your gift, and if you don’t perfect it, God can very well take it and give it to somebody else. So we want to take it to the highest level possible musically. That means whatever we can incorporate in our stage show or whatever we can do to make our music better. We’re going to do something to that song “Like Job” real soon. We’re going to have somebody mime it and change the end where it climaxes. Things like that. As an artist period, you have to constantly reinvent yourself and that much more for Christian rappers because everybody’s still not taking us seriously.
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2007 INTERVIEW WITH DETROIT GOSPEL.COM
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Detroit Gospel presents to some and introduces to others Erik Harvey and Paul Collins, better known ...Detroit Gospel presents to some and introduces to others Erik Harvey and Paul Collins, better known as Emazin & Goodson.Their brand is hip-hop without the games and without the compromise. Last month, Emazin & Goodson released National Anthems, the follow-up to their 2005 release Serious.The title alone promises that this is a project that reaches far and wide, and they have every intention of taking advantage of that versatility to inspire and minister. They've grown musically and professionally, something that has prepared them for the goals they've set for their ministry and career.Where it concerns their inspiration, they continue in the vein of their previous album and draw from their personal experiences and faith in their music.
Without a doubt, Erik and Paul are already busy with God's work.Paul is the youth pastor and praise leader at this church.Erik, formerly a secular entertainer, attends High Praise Cathedral under Bishop Clarence and Dr. Joyce Haddon. Beyond the church walls, however, National Anthems is poised to be the record that catapults the guys farther than they've been able to go before, and they're ready and willing to do what the Lord has in mind for them to do.
I spent some time with Erik and Paul, and they rapped with me about their ministry, their growth, and their plans for the new project.
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Conway: You've worked with Choir Boy, King Ray, and others.Who have you worked with on this project?
Emazin: We've worked with a lot of people on this one.We worked with K. Montez, Mr. Cel, and Ms. Jaguar. The Rutley Brothers are on a song called "This Place;" it's hot! Mike Bowdre produced the album.We got a track from Ron O-Ski from P.K.'s 4 Life; he produced a track.It's sure fire!It's gon' be that joint right there.
Conway: What's different about this particular project than what you brought on the last one?
Goodson: The aim is a lot wider.The name of the album was supposed to have been Still Serious, a continuation of Serious, but in the recording process, we started noticing all these different sounds.For example, we have a song that has a southern [sound], we have a song that has a steppin' groove, a techno song, a rock song, a ballad, a west coast song, an east coast song...It was so wide that we named it National Anthems.We had to name it something that spoke of the appeal that it has the potential to have.There's genuinely something for everybody. Also, topic-wise and production-wise, we took it a step up.
Conway: What type of issues are you dealing with on the album?
Goodson: Almost every song on the album is personal in a sense. They way we attack Christian hip-hop is probably not the way people attack it regularly. Instead of coming from the scholastic, academic standpoint, a lot of it comes out of the things we've been through. The up-tempo stuff on the album came from us wanting to encourage and celebrate the goodness of God.People would say, "They're just trying to be all things to all people," but it just happened like that.It was part of the creative process.Erik might say, "let's do a rock song," and I'd say, "a rock song?," and [we would do it], and it worked.It's bred out of personal struggle and everyday life.
Conway: How important is it to you that your pastors back you up and back rap up in the ministry?
Emazin: Paul's pastor, Pastor Joel Wallace, has been supporting us from day one. I'm glad that I have him.
Goodson: It's important because when the pastor supports anything, a lot of times, the people will support. Some people may not be open to certain things, but once the leader says, "just [give it a chance]", they may say, "This wasn't as bad as we thought", so it's really meant a lot to me. Pastor Wallace has even gotten us events.
Conway: Being the praise and worship leader at your church, do you feel as if you have to switch faces or switch your mind-set sometimes from doing praise and worship to doing rap and vice-versa?
Goodson: When we first started doing this, I did, not because I felt it was wrong, but I thought, "Now I'm rapping, Sunday I'm singing."We would get strange looks that made us wonder, but we saw one of our friends, Mr. Cel at an event, and he had his tuxedo on from a wedding he'd attended, whereas traditionally, rappers where baggy, [informal clothing], and he did a song, and after that song, all we saw all over the room were hands lifted, and that's when it hit me: it's the same thing. When I go to an event, I want the Spirit of God to bless. We do it all in honor of God.
Conway: Emazin, were there any experiences you had that you brought over to gospel rap?
Emazin: Back then, it was all about what I had: money, cars, etc. Once I got saved, all that changed; it became about what I've been through, so other people could be inspired by that, but I brought my same style to gospel.
Conway: What kind of reactions did you get from audiences that heard the first album?
Goodson: At first, it was up and down, but what happens with maturity is you learn certain things, whether it's about stage presence or connecting with people or song selection. Now we're getting more positive responses than negative because we know how to [choose] songs for [certain] situations. You have to consider what certain people want and need, and adjust.We get negative reactions because we're not overly-theological.We've [been looked over] at events and by D.J.'s because people think the gospel has to be presented a certain way.
Emazin: Some people just throw negativity out there for no reason. For example, some people called us old, and they don't even know us.We've experienced a lot of hatin', but since we're gettin' all this hate, we must be doin' something right. We're just doing what we're supposed to do.
Conway: Gospel rap is on the move.Do you have any specific goals set for this album that were different from the ones you had for the last one?
Goodson: With Serious, we were trying to introduce ourselves to the industry. We were on a label, and the album didn't get the exposure it needed, but it taught us, so we set lofty, but realistic goals for this album.We want to hit home first as hard as we can, and with the advent of the internet, you have a ready-made international audience at your fingertips.So we're looking at taking advantage of the U.K. and Japan [markets]. The WOW compilation is my dream. Since the WOW compilation has been out, only two rappers have been on that compilation: B.B. Jay and Lil' Irocc. I truly believe that we have something on this album [that we can promote].You can still make quality music and not compromise who you are. There's no profanity, it's faith-based, you can definitely hear God in it, but at the same time, it's real life music.
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Get more info about Emazin & Goodson at www.myspace.com/emazingoodson. Special thanks to Paul, Erik, and Tamika Coleman for a great interview.
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URBAN GOSPEL ALLIANCE MICHIGAN
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Saturday, July 07, 2007
Emazin & Good Son are on "Fire" with National Anthems
If you have ... Saturday, July 07, 2007
Emazin & Good Son are on "Fire" with National Anthems
If you have not heard the group, Emazin & GoodSon, then you are missing a high power experience. I had the opportunity to attend their CD Release Party for "National Anthems", and truly it was an "Awesome" experience.
Their new cd sends a electric shock through your system to make a stand, and grove to the heavy beats in the name of Jesus!!!!!
You have to check out this group, and add them to your next event, magazine, or tv interview.
Currently, this group is touring all over the country by leaps and bounds. Even the Rev. Al Sharpton has requested an interview.
Check them out at www.myspace.com/emazingoodson or www.cdbaby.com, or if you are in Detroit, go to Gods Word or Baker Bible Bookstore.
This group is managed by the exclusive management team of B Boy Record Productions, Ms. Tamika Coleman is heading that team, and under B Boy, your ministry is always on "The Move". To book this group call (313) 213-4533 or email at BabyBoyrecordproduction@yahoo.com.
Oh by the wya, did I mention that this group is also UGA Members? So make the connection, and join UGA Today! www.urbangospelalliance.com
Sparkles To Ya!
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EMAZIN & GOODSON ENTERTAIN THE HOMELESS
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Monday, December 03, 2007
Emazin & Good son in the Michigan Chronicle
Thanksgiving meals
... Monday, December 03, 2007
Emazin & Good son in the Michigan Chronicle
Thanksgiving meals
On Nov. 14, employees of the Ritz Carlton Dearborn hotel continued a decade-long tradition as they orchestrated Thanksgiving meals for an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 people at Central United Methodist Church near Comerica Park. The meals, consisting of the traditional Thanksgiving feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, rolls, pumpkin pie, coffee and milk, were prepared by Ritz Carlton Dearborn chefs.
"We also had a to-go bag for them filled with fruit and bottled water," said Laura Gutierrez, area director of human resources at the Ritz Carlton Dearborn.
Chefs Erle Webber (executive chef), Ken Lincoln, Woody Woodward, and Liljana Talebska prepared the food the previous night. It was reheated at the church.
In addition, Ritz Carlton employees Erik Harvey and Paul Collins entertained people with gospel rap in the sanctuary of the church. The two have a gospel group called Emazin & Good Son.
Ron Thomas, a Ritz Carlton employee who was homeless from 1979 to 1989, serves as the go-between between the hotel and the church. Thomas also spearheaded the initial effort to get the Ritz Carlton Dearborn to take a more hands-on approach to helping the needy over a decade ago.
"He helps tell us exactly where the help is needed because we like to make sure we're making an impact," Gutierrez said.
Thomas works in housekeeping, but also does a variety of other things around the hotel. He is informally known as "the mayor of the Ritz Carlton."
He also helps people find jobs. Gutierrez said he has been instrumental in bringing individuals to the hotel to help apply for positions, and during the course of the day at Central United Methodist, he brought at least two resumés to the attention of Gutierrez and Tony Mira, general manager of Ritz Carlton Dearborn.
Thomas got his own job at the hotel — his first job — through a similar process.
"That's how we found Ron back in 1991," Gutierrez said. "We were at a shelter. He was helping us."
They pretty much selected him on the spot.
"Most people know me from being down here," Thomas said of his role in helping people find work. "I was down here for years, in the same position they're in. And they've watched me over the years come down and feed people at picnics and dinners. They know I work and they approach me a lot."
The Ritz Carlton doesn't just help people out at Thanksgiving. Employees also participate in coat and blanket drives, and work with Forgotten Harvest, year-round. They are currently conducting a canned food drive for Forgotten Harvest. It will run through Christmas.
"We'll continue to bring clothes and warm things to the shelters," Gutierrez said.
Ritz Carlton employees also help the Detroit Rescue Mission and COTS (Coalition on Temporary Shelter) whenever they're able to do that.
For Thanksgiving, however, they've always worked with Central United Methodist.
"This is where we get the largest draw," Gutierrez said.
She added that Central United Methodist helps the most people because it has a centralized way of getting the information out to people who need to hear it.
"It's more of a coordinated effort than some of the things we've tried in the past."
"A lot of people that come have come from several miles away," added Tony Mira, general manager of Ritz Carlton Dearborn.
Thomas and Gutierrez started providing food and other essentials out of the trunks of cars in the early days, before she'd reached her present position at the hotel. Once she was in a position to focus the hotel's activities with regard to helping the needy, she put that focus on more hands-on involvement.
None of the prepared food went back to the hotel. Thomas said whatever might be left over would go straight to the Detroit Rescue Mission that evening.
