Brian Courtney Wilson has been having an incredible year. His Music World Gospel debut 'Just Love,' has held steady in the top 15 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart for over 76 weeks since it debuted #2 and the album's lead single 'All I Need' broke the all-time record for the longest-running current single ever in the history of the Billboard Gospel Charts.
Now, the Dove Award nominee is readying the album's re-release on Oct. 5.
"We have been very successful with the first release and we thought this was a great opportunity to re introduce who I am and what I am doing as well as put some new music on there for people who are supporting us," he shared with us.
'Just Love Deluxe Edition' will include five brand-new songs, including his new single, 'Awesome God.'
The University of Illinois graduate said that 'Awesome' is one of the first songs he recorded and that he's happy to re-record it especially since he wasn't the first choice to sing the song.
Music World head Mathew Knowles, who also manages the careers of his superstar daughter, Beyonce and recently signed Dr. Juanita Bynam II to his gospel imprint, couldn't be more pleased with Wilson's success and how quickly his new single is catching on.
"[He]is one of those rare talents to come along and earn the praise of gospel fans and who will certainly have a long term career," the black music maverick told BlackVoices.com. "We are proud of the accomplishments and the history making achievements that Brian and the Music World Gospel family have made. This is only the beginning."
Wilson said he's been most grateful to have such a supportive label boss.
"He's been very supportive from the start and allowed me to be myself in a way that's unique to any other label and to allow me to find my voice," the married father of two said. "Even with the re-launch he's put his money where his mouth is in support of what I am doing."
On Oct.8, he will join Marvin Sapp on the 'Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour' sponsored by the American Heart Association/American Stoke Association's 'Power to End Stroke' initiative.
Wilson, who resides in Houston, Texas, is looking forward to learning from the 'Never Would've Made It' crooner on the trek.
"He's been doing this for years and from what I've seen from him he's been steady and not allowed the notoriety and the fame that comes with doing this type of work keeping him from keeping the main thing the main thing which has always been his family and God."
Wilson continued, "More than learning from him, just showing my love and support to him," given the recent loss of Sapp's wife.
In the midst of his success he's staying grounded, though.
"It's been great. Just getting an opportunity to find out that people can connect with your music universally is very inspiring to me," the ex-pharmaceutical salesman revealed.
And, that music is sure to continue inspiring gospel music lovers for a long time to come.
Black People and the N-Word: Filmmaker Dorian Chandler Explores
had a chance to chat the other day with award-winning filmmaker Dorian Chandler. Chandler is the author of the film "Nigger Nation," which explores the use of the n-word, and why people might think it's O.K. I've always been impressed with Chandler's work and consider her to be the best young filmmaker in America today. Her film has won several awards, including The Emerging Filmmaker Award from the "Women Make Movies," organization and the 2005 Flicker Film Festival Jury Prize.
The n-word is an interesting and perpetually controversial topic within and outside of black America. It is also misunderstood by most of us. First of all, I've never thought of the n-word concept in a singular sense, as there are multiple variations of the word used in casual conversation. There is the word that ends with an "r" and the other version that ends with an "a." Yes, I do believe that the version of the word being used makes a difference. Also, there are a long list of voice inflexions that can change the definition on the spot: If I say "What's up my n*gga!" in a high pitched, enthusiastic voice, that's very different from me twisting my lip, cocking my head to the side and saying "What's up n*gger" in a low, grumbling voice. In the first case I want to hug you, but in the second, you're about to get knocked out.
Obviously, you cannot disconnect variants of the n-word from hip hop. Starting with the group NWA (Ni*gaz Wit Attitudes), the use of the n-word has been relatively consistent within the genre. In fact, at a house party, you might hear an artist refer to "n*ggaz" and "b*tches" as synonyms for "men" and "women." Chandler's film does a wonderful job of using hip hop and young people to help us gain perspective on how our language has been twisted through time.
The n-word debate reminds me of when I began the long and grueling process of learning to speak Chinese. The Chinese language, in all its complexities, gives you the ability to change the meaning of simple words like "ma" by adjusting the tone of your voice. I can't imagine why this same linguistic complication can't exist in Ebonics.
There are some who think that the n-word, and all variants, should be banished. The NAACP even had a funeral for the n-word, as many of its older members associate the word with terrible racial oppression. You can hardly blame them for the move, since there are clearly more productive ways for us to communicate with one another.
The other side of the story is that the n-word is simply a word. Words have power, sure. But they only have power if we give them power. It cannot be denied that, for right or wrong, the n-word (with an "a" at the end) has been transformed into a term of endearment for some, and that young people are going to continue using it, whether we like it or not. So, when we attack young people for using language we don't quite understand, perhaps we should be attacking ourselves for not addressing the fact that nearly half of all black teens can't find a job. We can also address the fact that inner city schools are woefully underfunded, destroying the futures of our kids. Changing the language of their suffering is not going to undo the suffering itself, so we must make sure we know the difference.
LeBron James Addresses Critics in New Nike Commercial
Should NBA superstar LeBron James be who we want him to be? That's all the Miami Heat guard wants to know in a new Nike commercial that features him questioning his critics and taking a direct shot at Charles Barkley.
Should he have stayed with the Cleveland Cavaliers? Gotten his "Chosen One" tattoo removed? Admitted he's a failure because he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh? Given up on hoops altogether and focused on something else? Ignored the advice his friends gave to him about his free agency, his brand and his life this summer?
In the 90-second clip released earlier today, LeBron takes aim at each and every columnist, blogger, NBA analyst and talking head that took shots at him after he made his decision to join the Heat in July. He addresses them, not through answers, but by questioning what they would have done if they were in his shoes (a nice touch, considering the spot was paid for by Nike). And he finishes by posing one simple question: "Should I be what you want me to be?" It's nothing if not effective.
Here at TheBVX, we've thrown plenty of stones at King James' throne. We've laid out all of the different ways NBA teams could have lured LeBron, pointed out how much the city of Cleveland hates him and listed the ten things LBJ did to ruin his reputation. We've criticized his decision to broadcast The Decision, questioned his motivation for taking his talents to Miami and admonished him for saying stupid things on Twitter. We've launched an all-out LeBron-a-Thon since July to drag the guy's name through the mud, simply because we haven't agreed with how he's handled the last six months of his career.
But even we have to give it to LBJ: This new Nike ad? It's a W. Not because it'll help him sell sneakers or turn him back into the beloved superstar he once was or make us any less upset that he bolted to MIA. Rather, it's because it's the first time LeBron himself puts everything -- from The Decision on -- into perspective. It's the first time LBJ gives us a real, albeit dramatic, look into the questions he had to answer before deciding to skip town and start his career in another city.
And through that, we realize that LeBron is not what we want him to be. He's flawed. He's imperfect. He's -- dare we say -- human. But, you know what? There's really nothing wrong with that. And even though we think everything he's doing is wrong for his life, wrong for his career and wrong for his legacy, he's ultimately the one that's going to have to live with it. So, it doesn't really matter what we think, now does it?
We haven't said it in awhile, but we'll say it here: Good job, LeBron. Well played.
Does LeBron's new ad change your opinion of him -- or reinforce the fact that he's arrogant and selfish? Leave us a comment and let us know!
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