Zacardi Cortez touches down with a preview of his brand new single today! The intimate ballad is set to appear on “Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix Vol. VI“.

Due on August 6th, the compilation album will feature 30 tracks from some of Gospel music’s top acts such as Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett, Ted Winn, and Earnest Pugh just to name a few.

Without further delay, hit ‘play’ and get a preview of what’s to come from Mr. Cortez, below…

Sounds promising! We can’t wait to hear the song in its entirety, stay tuned!

Destiny’s Child alum Michelle Williams is returning to her Gospel roots with new single ‘If We Had Your Eyes‘.

According to reports, the ‘Heard A Word’ singer announced that the track – which serves as the lead release from her third gospel album – features production from Harmony and a guest appearance from Fantasia.

On her new song, the singer revealed:

I’m so happy to share new music with you guys! Y’all have been patient and so supportive! I’ve been just as anxious to let you guys hear what I’ve been doing in the studio! So here goes my lead single ‘If We Had Your Eyes’ from my new album! Thank you guys for all the love and support! Stay tuned to IAmMichelle.com :)

Check it out below…

Sounds promising! ‘If We Had Your Eyes’ hits digital music stores on 6/24!

Artist: Jamie Simond

Album: Collage

Label: Goldstreet Gospel

Street Date: April 16, 2013

iPod Pick: Like This

I couldn’t wait to turn up the volume on my first listen of ‘I Can’t Wait’ the opening track on Jamie Simond’s ‘Collage’. Smooth. Jazzy, effortless are some words that best describe the sound that Jamie brings to the table on this album. With moments artists like Brandy and Musiq are known to give that would want you staring into a mirror or out a window while listening (Like This, Power, My Soul, Leaving) to dance floor moments in the classic mood of Michael Jackson, Keith Sweat and the new pop feel hip Alexis Jordan especially that song ‘Happiness’ (I Can’t Wait, I Need You), the album doesn’t just make a bend for a comfortable style. It welcomes in diversity that works.

I love it in that the words Jamie sings about are so relatable and draw you in. He’s strong and vulnerable enough to talk about his personal struggles (Like This, Leaving) and also offer encouragement and hope (Reach for God, Depend on God). There are also very upbeat worshipful moments in the loved routine of bands such as Hillsong United and The Lakewood Team (Holy). Though woven with a mellow back ground tune ‘I Need You’ might just remind you of the new sounds of veteran Usher or maybe Chris Brown and it sure still maintains so much originality. In fact it features a rap. A beautiful rendering of Zephaniah 3:17 (The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.) also appear on the album as ‘3:17’. Beautiful BGVs, Beautiful choir usage, beautiful ad-libs. Church choir leaders might have their eyes on this one as it would work well for a Sunday morning.

One thing is sure if you are a lover of music drenched in soul but that still keeps you close to the ‘Centre of it all’, Jamie Simond’s Collage is a perfect pick. Apart from mainstream hot shot such as Maxwell, Musiq Soulchild, and maybe say Jill Scott I think the closest thing I’ve heard comparable with the soul plus inspiration Jamie serves on Collage is the acoustic soul of bass guitarist Debra Killings brought on with her 2005 hit ‘Oh my God’.

Jamie Simond is sure one of those few artists you won’t mind sitting with over coffee, taking time to hear what he has to say because beyond making music he has a story to tell. But ’til we have the opportunity for coffee with Jamie we can keep Collage spinning in our respective music box.

A new Tim Dillinger track, ‘Say Thank You’, surfaced this week.

Produced by the award winning singer-songwriter-producer B.Slade (artist formerly known as Tonex), the new cut sees Mr. Dillinger tackle a more contemporary sound!

‘Say Thank You’, in which also features B.Slade is set to appear on Dillinger’s LP, ‘The Baton: 1985’ which is scheduled to be released on 6/18!

‘The Baton: 1985’ is the follow-up to 2011′s ‘Gospel (EP), and is preceded by singles ‘The Baton’ and ‘Say Thank You’.

Hit ‘play’ and get familiar with the latest from Tim Dillinger below…

After a brief spell out of the limelight, The Ambassador bounces back with new single ‘Yah (You See Me)‘.

And while the Geeda Baby produced cut will garner healthy buzz on its own accord, the net was set blaze moments ago whenThe Ambassador announced the release of his forthcoming EP, ”Hors D’Oeurves“, which is due out this month.  ”Flame On“, his full-length project is scheduled to hit stores Fall 2013 courtesy of XIST Music.

New music awaits below:

Artist: Isaac Carree

Album: Reset

Label: Door 6 Entertainment 

Street Date: June 25, 2013

iPod Pick: Famous

From the bouncy ‘In the Middle’ to the soulful, laid back in tune ‘Uncommon Me’, Isaac Carree has brought in a kind of RnB in gospel we have come to love. Using his last project before this one as a springboard, it’s not like Carree brings something totally new to the table as various artist might come to mind when listening but the thing is how music is a part of this artist. He brings a presence to it that’s just uniquely his. And that is a very good thing. Isaac Carree carved a niche for himself and called us all in even with his debut ‘Uncommon Me’. That said, what about ‘Reset’.

On ‘Reset’ I hear many things. For me ‘Reset’ sounds more like a debut for Mr Carree as he totally leaves that niche he made for himself on his real debut. The thing about leaving niches is that just like a mother bird, you might lose some fans you already have in your nest.

Enter in ‘Clean This House’ the first single from the album which is already all over radio. This track is so R Kelly (Who coincidentally features latter on the album on a remix version of the same song)! Apart from concerns on originality on this track, the song writing is also skewed and lacks some precision. The verse starts off with a personal story ending up with a preachy bridge and ‘generalized’ refrain. My quick question for the artist or songwriter: is this a personal story or the metaphor story type with an ideal character the writer hopes anyone should fit into? These issues make the song a bit un-relatable.

Viewing as a whole, ‘Reset’ as an album is bold (maybe not lyrically) but musically. It is fresh and unlike a lot of things out there even in the mainstream. It has moments that shines with creativity [for example the ‘raggedy’ sounding little band choir chanting ‘Jesus’ on the moving ‘Famous’ (You need to listen. it is beautiful and has the ability to move your soul)]. Though with the Venn diagrams drawn already by popular RnB males such as Jason Derulo, Tyga, Chris Brown, Jor’dan Armstrong, Trey Songz, Miguel and little big boy NeYo, it’s hard to not be able to categorize anything thing that comes out in the RnB sector with pop flair into these categories but it’s good to find on Carree’s ‘Reset’ that thankfully some tracks fall out of these circles (Knock Knock, Famous, Never, Right Now.)

We hear a hint of what it used to be on ‘Right Now’ and its one song that would connect with you even from the opening lyrics and sound. Ever wondered what it would sound like whenKirk Franklin, Lecrae and Kiki Sheard appear on a song? You need to listen to the loud speaker bomb ‘So Glad’ and they do it well without overshadowing or too much shine.

Ever had that feeling when a piece of artwork is saying a million things when it’s best at just passing one across? That’s what ‘Reset’ felt like on first listen but I believe it would grow on me. It should grow on you too. But first you’ve got to press the reset button on the memory of Isaac Carree you always had (even way back with Destiny Child‘s Michelle Williams and the Men of Standard) cause it’s okay to call this one a brand new artist. Seriously, it’s okay.

P.S.- Whatever lyrics he was crooning on the song ‘Never’ girl stay strong! You might be whining your waist before the song ends. Honestly it matters. I just had to tell you. Lol

Erica Campbell is wasting no time launching her solo career!

The gospel belle is gearing up for the release of her new single “A Little More Jesus”. And took to her Instagram page to unveil the striking cover. The new single is lifted from her forthcoming debut LP that is slated to come courtesy of My Block Records/eOne Music.

Produced by Warryn Campbell, “A Little More Jesus”, in which has already hit the Top 25 at gospel radio is slated to hit digital music stores on 6/25. Stay tuned for more info regarding Erica Campbell and her new music!

Give the song a listen below:

The gift it looks good on you!

Donald Lawrence‘s hotly anticipated new single ‘The Gift’ (available for digital download on 6/11)was unwrapped last week.

The official lead single from the maestro’s forthcoming project, the infectious cut features the stunning vocals we love oh so much from Company along with D.Lawrence’s tight production.

Hit play, and tuck into the latest from Donald Lawrence below…

Artist: Hezekiah Walker

Album: Azusa The Next Generation

Label: RCA Inspiration 

Street Date: June 11, 2013

iPod Pick: No Greater Love

There is a BOLD claim I always love to make among my ‘musical’ friends, which is: LFC (Love Fellowship Choir) which happens to be Hezekiah Walker‘s choir is one of the best choirs ever. In fact most times I tend to rate them above other great choirs I love including the Soweto Gospel Choir, Kirk Franklin‘s Crew, St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir (The choir Anthony Way uses), Choir of King’s College at Cambridge, Swedish Radio Choir, and Westminster Abbey Choir (Yeah, too much British choirs, I know, but Britain [or say Europe]‘s got great choirs).

I think I’m always bold to make this bold claim cause the music of Hezekiah Walker has that organic feel of reminding us where we all came from, not just the black race but also the human race. It’s rich, deep like a never-ending well and of high quality like the diamond pendant your granny gave you and you would never want to throw away. It’s music to decipher and let serenade you. You just have to listen. And even as you listen to the music that emanate from Hezekiah’s choir, you would just hear not only the sound, you would hear the conviction, yes the convictions in each of the voices, in the voice of the thirty something single mom who’s had so much to cry about lifting her voice alongside the devotion of the twenty something young lad who heart cry is to live pure and bold in his generation. And isn’t that what we love about choirs? Voices of different texture, timbre and history rising to into one beautiful harmony telling the same story. And that’s beautiful if a choir succeeds in doing that well. Hezekiah Walker always does that well.

On ‘Azusa The Next Generation’, we have the anthemic, powered-up faith chant titled ‘Every Praise’ which is bound to pierce every dark cloud and the choir is at their tightest on this one. We also have Deitrick Haddon doing ‘Break Every Chain’ (which was formerly covered early in the year by Tasha Cobbs on her album ‘Grace’ but I must honestly say I prefer D Haddy’s version not just he can SANG but cause it has more room for response which also makes it ready for easy listen and local church choir renditions). Donnie McClurkin also appears on the soulful, worshipful ‘Breakthrough’, it’s a must listen. Before I close these appetizer givings, Brian Courtney Wilson appears on the chill-back, windows-down ‘Grace’. Beautiful tune that would make you move on the inside.

So much on the new Hezekiah Walker’s ‘Azusa The Next Generation’ and I must say it doesn’t fail to deliver or kick off on the awesomeness of ‘Souled Out’ (Hezekiah’s last album.) Yes it’s been 5 years and we haven’t grown tired of that one. We won’t be getting tired of this one in a long while too. It’s that good.