According to an exclusive feature at The Gospel According to Torrence at BET.com, James Fortune & FIYA will release their first Christmas album on October 16, 2012!
The project, titled Grace Gift, is said to feature guest appearances from Isaac Carree, Lisa Knowles, Shawn McLemore and several FIYA faves, including Cheryl Fortune, Zacardi Cortez, Minon Bolton, D’Shondra Rideout and more.
Visit Torrence’s blog for the full track listening, and to hear the title track, “Grace Gift.”
Major congrats to Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy, whose new self-titled album debuts at #3 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week!
Tamela Mann remains at #1 with her latest, Best Days, and Israel & New Breed continue at #2 with Jesus At The Center.
Here’s the rest of this week’s Top 10:
1 | Tamela Mann – Best Days
2 | Israel & New Breed – Jesus At The Center
3 | Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy – Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy
4 | J Moss – V4… The Other Side
5 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
6 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
7 | WOW Gospel 2012
8 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
9 | James Fortune & FIYA - Identity
10 | William McDowell – Arise
VaShawn Mitchell’s new project, Created 4 This, promises to make a huge splash on the charts next week. He’ll have to move some significant units to nab the #1 spot, but with his profile, his single and pre-orders, I think he is up to the task. If you don’t have the project yet, check out my 5 Reasons To Buy here.
J Moss continues to reign at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week with his latest release, V4… The Other Side.
Troy Sneed’s new album, All Is Well, also debuted at #9 on the chart this week. He’s been having significant success at radio for his past couple of singles, so kudos! Click here to check out snippets from that project.
Check out the rest of the top 10:
1 | J Moss – V4… The Other Side
2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
3 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
4 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
5 | WOW Gospel 2012
6 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
7 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
8 | KB – Weight & Glory
9 | Troy Sneed – All Is Well
10 | Nephew Tommy - Prank Phone Calls
Next week, I think we’ll see Israel & New Breed debut at #1 with their new project, Jesus At The Center. Within the first several hours of its release this week, it reached #1 on iTunes Christian chart and, thereafter, climbed to #6 across all genres of music. If you don’t have it, check out my review here!
I also think we’ll see a strong showing from Tamela Mann, especially given the strength of her awesome single, “Take Me To The King.” Read what I had to say about that project here.
The newest project from the incomparable J Moss, V4… The Other Side, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week. This represents the highest chart debut of his career! If you don’t have it yet, check out our review here.
Also, remember how I said last week that Amber Bullock made a big drop, from #3 to #21? Well, she popped back into the top 10 at #9, and brought Le’Andria Johnson with her– both The Awakening of… and The Evolution of…, at #7 and #10, respectively.
Check out the rest of the top 10:
1 | J Moss – V4… The Other Side
2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
3 | WOW Gospel 2012
4 | KB – Weight & Glory
5 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
6 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
7 | Le’Andria Johnson - The Awakening of…
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | Amber Bullock – So In Love
10 | Le’Andria Johnson - The Evolution of…
I can’t think of any major releases this week that might contend for a top spot on the chart, so expect these albums to hang around through next week, after which the new album from Israel & New Breed will likely take the top spot and hang out there for a bit.
After making a #1 debut on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart last week, Reach Records artist KB remains at the top with his new album, Weight & Glory.
HUUUUGE drop-off for Amber Bullock, from #3 to #21 this week. Not sure exactly why, but I’m hoping it’s just an administrative error of some sort. I’m expecting she’ll return next week…
Here’s the top 10 this week:
1 | KB – Weight & Glory
2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
3 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
4 | William McDowell – Arise
5 | WOW Gospel 2012
6 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
7 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | Jessica Reedy - From The Heart
10 | Helen Baylor – Ultimate Collection
Next week, look for an impressive debut from J Moss, whose new album, V4…The Other Side, hit stores this week. Read my review here.
GREAT new video from James Fortune & FIYA, for their latest single, “Hold On,” featuring Monica and Fred Hammond!
“Hold On” is the second single from the group’s #1 Billboard release, Identity. It’s already been added to Gospel and Urban A/C formats, nearing a coveted Top 20 position on the latter, with its universal message of tenacity, faith, and fortitude.
The video was filmed, in part, on location at Atlanta’s historic Carter Center at Freedom Park, which was founded by President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter, in 1982.
I’m really digging it. It’s quality production– from lighting and camera shots, wardrobe and execution– and the song has aalllllways been my favorite on the album. I kinda feel like I had something to do with all of this… no?
Check it out!
The ladies of sister duo Mary Mary return to the #1 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, after Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago’s three-week run at the top with their debut project, The Best of Both Worlds.
Here’s a look at this week’s top 10…
1 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
2 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
3 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
4 | Nephew Tommy - Prank Phone Calls
5 | WOW Gospel 2012
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | Marvin Winans – The Praise & Worship Experience
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
10 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
Next week, I think we’ll see a strong showing from Amber Bullock, whose new album hit stores this week. Check out our review here!
EXCLUSIVE! EXCLUSIVE! EXCLUSIVE!
This week, James Fortune has been on the set of his new music video– it’s for “Hold On” (one of my faaaavorite tracks), featuring Fred Hammond and Monica, from his latest album, Identity.
I got my hands on a few exclusive photos from the video shoot. Check them out below!!!
Click any photo to enlarge!
James Fortune has been the topic of much conversation over the past several days, with news of a lawsuit being announced at the top of this week. Let’s keep all the parties involved in prayer!
Shout-out to Byron Cage, whose latest album, Memoirs of a Worshipper, enters at #3 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week! Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago‘s The Best of Both Worlds continues to reign at #1, followed by Mary Mary’s latest, Go Get It.
The rest of the top 10 at Billboard this week is…
1 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
3 | Byron Cage - Memoirs of a Worshipper
4 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
5 | Andraé Crouch – The Journey
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | WOW Gospel 2012
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
10 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
Next week, expect a chart-topping entry from Marvin Winans for his latest project, The Praise & Worship Experience. If you don’t have it yet, here are 5 reasons why you need to grab it today!
The newest album from Andraé Crouch, The Journey, has jumped to the #3 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, up 6 positions from last week’s #9 showing. It’s definitely one of the greatest albums of 2011, so I’m glad to see that it’s still getting sales. If you don’t have it, read my review and get on board. 
Also, Regina Belle debuts at #15 with her latest release, Higher.
Check out the rest of the top 10 this week:
1 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
2 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
3 | Andrae Crouch – The Journey
4 | WOW Gospel 2012
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Zacardi Cortez – The Introduction
7 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
8 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
9 | Jason Nelson – Shifting the Atmosphere
10 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
Next week, I have a feeling that The Best of Both Worlds, from Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago, will chart HIGH. It needs to. Here’s why.
