Mista Big Tymer "M.V.P."
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Mista Big Tymer "M.V.P."

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2001 | SELF

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2001
Solo Hip Hop Gospel

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"MVP - Triple Impact"

This is not the genre I am most familiar with and at times I wished for a hip-hop lexicon to aid me in comprehending the message. But I suspected early on it was gonna be worth the trip and I was right. Actually, I think MVP works hard to pronounce his lyrics clearly and the CDs production values are top grade. The challenge for me was more in the area of language, making my way through the unfamiliar slang. Like I said, it is worth every effort.
Michael 'MVP' Kennedy has a message for the people, for "he who has an ear". He delivers it passionately and intelligently, not to mention the music is hot. His beats are original, he's got some great hooks, and his strongly Biblical message is presented in a fresh and authentic way. There are not many Christian rappers able to cross over to mainstream audiences without losing respect for diminished musical excellence, but MVP is one who should be able to make that leap successfully if that is his intention. You have to hope so, for his testimony of redemption is told masterfully in these songs.


His youth spent in the church and even in a Christian rap group was not enough to keep him off the streets, and gang life and a series of street crimes left him with a dark future. But a stint in the military spared him and prepared him for the turnaround he experienced shortly after his release. Two months after his return to Christ he began putting his story to words as MVP, or Messiah's Valuable Property. This is his sophomore release and I'm predicting victory, although his testimony alone is the victory. These tunes tell that story and tell it well.
The single "Off the Cross" calls listeners to a different way to party, while also filling us in on the story of his marriage: "we was rough around the edges/ God smoothed us out / once living in sin/ but God moved us out." MVP tells his story truthfully, holding nothing back; there is some rough language but it's a rough story told honestly. This is going to speak to those who need to hear it.


His testimony is covered in a number of songs, including "Hot Az Ice" and "Step a Side", which features guest rappers the Crunkaholics. There are a lot of guests on Triple Impact and they add to the power of this "gospel with a gangsta twist" CD. There are numerous well-placed Scriptural references and topics covered include spiritual warfare, "Priceless", spiritual hypocrisy, "Truce", and the error of passing judgment, "Street Music". Some of the last songs are particularly difficult for the unfamiliar ear to discern due to the ratatat delivery, "Southern Comfort", but others are just plain exhilarating with their powerful messages of truth and triumph, "In-Cor-Rup-Ti-Ble" in particular. Yes, it might be hard for some to figure out the message but it's good to try new things, right? You won't be sorry. Best of luck to this brother walking out his deliverance and taking it back to the streets for those left behind. - Kevan Breitinger


Discography

  • MVP "Fired Up" Released 10/16/2001
  • MVP "Triple Impact" Released 06/06/2006
  • MVP "The Great Hustle" Released 11/18/08
  • MVP "4-LIFE" Released 4/7/15

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Bio

M.V.P. was born and raised in South Carolina by his mother Evelyn until he was eleven years of age. At that time his mother remarried and they moved to Tucson, Arizona. This was his step-father's final military duty station. M.V.P. has loved rap for as far as he could remember. At the age of 14, he joined a Christian rap group called the Underground Shadows of Wisdom after committing his life to Christ. M.V.P.'s tenure with the group was short lived though due to his failing grades in school. After performing in the group for a year, and with no more positive friends around him when he departed the rap group, M.V.P. found new friends who were involved in gang related activities. By the age of sixteen, he was hanging with members of a crip gang called the Eastside Hoova Crips. They accepted him into the gang, and due to him always keeping his head bald they named him lil' nugget.

 By the age of eighteen, M.V.P. was already arrested for crimes varying from grand theft auto, to grand theft larceny. His grades in school never got better, and his parents feared the worst for him. The gang life took its toll on M.V.P. when he was arrested for burglary and facing time in prison. M.V.P. was fortunate though when he managed to enlist in the military before his court date was scheduled. In 1998, upon leaving the military after four years, M.V.P. found himself at another crossroad in his life. Feeling empty inside and wanting peace in his life, he found himself in a church service one Sunday afternoon. After the sermon the pastor gave an altar call that M.V.P. just couldn’t pass up.

Two months after recommitting his life to Christ, M.V.P. began writing and performing Christian rhymes again. He gave himself the name M.V.P., which means Messiah's Valuable Property, based on the scripture, James 1:18. He also chose that name because he wanted to be an M.V.P. in the Gospel rap industry as well.

In May of 2000, MVP started Divine Flava Records and began working on his debut album entitled "Fired Up". This would also become Divine Flava Records’ first release for the independent label. He is married to Jessica Nieman, and they are the proud parents of three healthy children, Tyshon, Tevin, and Aubrey. MVP is now on a mission to impact the streets, the church, and the music industry; as told on his sophomore album "Triple Impact". MVP would feel another calling from the Lord in 2005 when he started a non-profit youth organization called G-L.I.F.E. Outreach (Gods Love Is For Everyone). This organization would reach out to urban at-risk youth who were gang involved, drug addicted, incarcerated, and dealing with juvenile delinquency issues. M.V.P. went on to release his third album in 2009 "The Great Hustle".

 After 10 years in the music business and seeing all the changes, some good and some bad, M.V.P would close the doors of Divine Flava Records and focus solely on G-L.I.F.E. Outreach, its programs & ministries, and the youth who were being serviced by it. M.V.P. continues to do music under the G-L.I.F.E. umbrella, but this time without all the politics and red tape that come along with running a record label and being highly involved with the day-to-day business aspects of it. He is currently working on his 4th LP to date along with his long time friend and ministry partner for almost 15 years “Rollah”. They will be releasing their next LP’s together as a double disc. So keep an eye and ear open to the ministry of G-L.I.F.E. Outreach and the music that is still very much Divine Flava.

Band Members