I’m talkin’ jaw-dropping vocals (of course), plus pretty good songwriting and guest appearances that make you say “WHAT?!”
Zacardi’s voice has quickly become one of the most recognizable in the industry, stemming from his step-out appearances with James Fortune & FIYA. Now, he delivers his debut project and enlists the help of legends Fred Hammond and John P. Kee, plus Lalah Hathaway, Kierra Sheard, Isaac Carree and more.
As if we needed any more of a reason to pack the house for VaShawn Mitchell’s upcoming live recording next week, here are two more– Israel Houghton and Kierra Sheard will be among the evening’s special guests.
The live recording takes place in Chicago on Monday, April 30th, with doors opening at 6pm and the recording beginning at 7pm. Tickets are just $15 and are still available right here. Get yours today!
The day before the recording, on April 29th, VaShawn will be honored in his hometown of Harvey, IL in a special street-naming ceremony. The event will take place at 14615 South Winchester at 4:00pm, at which time the street will be official re-named VaShawn Mitchell Avenue.
William McDowell remains at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart for the third consecutive week, with his newest project, Arise. Le’Andria Johnson follows at #2, with a Marvin Sapp compilation from Verity rocketing from #10 to #3.
Also, indie artist Genita Pugh debuts at #9 with her latest album, My Purpose.
Check out the full top 10:
1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
9 | Genita Pugh – My Purpose
10 | Kierra Sheard – Free
I don’t have Genita Pugh’s project, but I took a listen at Amazon.com and it ain’t half shabby. Check it out–
Kudos to worship artist William McDowell, whose latest project, Arise, just debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart! The live set is a follow-up to As We Worship: Live, which features the radio hit “I Give Myself Away.”
Maurette Brown Clark’sThe Sound of Victory also debuts in the top 10 this week, landing at #7.
Here’s a full snapshot of the top 10:
1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
6 | Kierra Sheard – Free
7 | Maurette Brown Clark – The Sound of Victory
8 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Nevels Sisters – It’s My Time
Which of these are you still planning to purchase?
Shout-out to Christian hip-hop artist Shai Linne, whose new album, The Attributes of God, debuts at #5 this week on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. His songs are cleverly steeped in theology– they’re deep, but accessible– and I love that. You can check out this project right here.
Le’Andria Johnson continues to rest at the #1 spot on this week, followed by Jessica Reedy’sFrom the Heart at #2 and Kierra Sheard’sFree at #3.
Here’s a glance at the Top 10 at Billboard:
1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
3 | Kierra Sheard – Free
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Shai Linne – The Attributes of God
6 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
10 | Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s – Living On The Lord’s Side
It will be interesting to see how the new releases from William McDowell and Maurette Brown Clark fare on the charts next week.
Le’Andria Johnson returns to the #1 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, after being bumped to #2 last week by Kierra Sheard’s new project, Free.
Kierra lands at #2, followed by Jessica Reedy at #3.
Most likely a result of the Stellar Awards nominations concert and results, Isaac Carree sees a sales jump, from #6 to #4, and Preashea Hilliard re-enters the chart at #8.
This week’s Top 10 at Billboard:
1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Kierra Sheard – Free
3 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
4 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
5 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Preashea Hilliard – Live Out Loud
9 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
10 | 116 Clique – Man Up
Next week should also be interesting, with the anticipated new release from The Nevels Sisters hitting stores this week.
Congrats go out to Kierra Sheard, who debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week with her new album, Free. She also landed at #40 on the Billboard 200! This is her first #1 debut since her 2006 This Is Me album. Check out our review of Freeright here.
Also debuting in the top 5 this week is Micah Stampley’s latest project, One Voice. You can read our review of Micah’s project here.
By the way, it’s pretty dope that three young women hold the #1, #2 and #3 positions at Billboard this week!
Here’s a snapshot at this week’s Top 10:
1 | Kierra Sheard – Free
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Micah Stampley – One Voice
6 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
9 | WOW Gospel 2011
10 | 116 Clique – Man Up
I’ll be interested to see if Le’Andria Johnson will rebound to #1 again next week– aside from Jessica Reedy’s debut and, now Kierra’s, she has reigned at #1 since her album came out the first week of September.
Le’Andria Johnson continues to sit at #1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart this week, with Jessica Reedy again following at #2, this week followed by Kirk Franklin’sHello Fear.
The complete Top 10 this week:
1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
3 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
4 | Lecrae – Rehab
5 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
6 | 116 Clique – Man Up
8 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
10 | Andraé Crouch – The Journey
New releases this week came from Kierra Sheard, Micah Stampley, Sounds of Blackness and Shirley Murdock. I’m expecting to see some new entries to the chart next week!
In stores today is Kierra Sheard’s Free, an urban and pop-themed praise and worship album featuring tons of energy, inimitable vocal acrobatics and Kierra’sBRL Choir. With it, she stands firmly in a space of gospel music that may not have even existed previously, and she sets the bar for others to follow, if they can.
Kierra’s first release on her parents’ label, Karew Records, Free is intricately produced by her brother, J Drew Sheard II, and was recorded live in Chicago earlier this year.
Fans will appreciate her cover of Chris Tomlin’s ”Indescribable,” the playfully melodic “People,” and the whimsical choir cut “Victory,” which features James Fortune (it’s my personal fave on the project).
Other standout tracks include the hard-driving single “You Are,” the pop-flavored “War,” with a chorus that reminds me a bit of something the Black Eyed Peas might do, “Since I Found Christ” with Mali Music, and the title track, “Free.”
Kierra Sheard has said that this album is her best to date, implying that it represents her better than any other. Consumers may be surprised to hear that, as many considered her 2006 sophomore album, This Is Me, to be sonically definitive of her artistry. Or, at least we want it to be.
But it’s clear– on Free, Kierra is probably most “herself.” She is vulnerable and transparent, at times absolutely overcome with emotion and tears as she worships God or challenges the crowd to a lifestyle of holiness.
Undoubtedly, Free is a musical wonderland with plenty to take in. I had to listen repeatedly to even get a sense of all that was happening. Still, I can’t help but wonder if a segment of her earlier audience will feel a bit lost among the complicated melodies and arrangements.
For those expecting an urban album, this isn’t it. For those expecting a churchy project, it isn’t that, either. Free is the recorded result of a live worship experience featuring Kierra and the BRL Choir singing songs as imaginative as they could dream, reaching out to a God as mighty, but as personal, as He is.
Free is in stores NOW. Listen to snippets and/or buy it right here–
At this point, Bonnerfide Radio has pretty much become synonymous with great music during the day and exclusive listening parties at night. It’s kinda like… THE PLACE to be.
In true Bonnerfide fashion, founder/host Gerard Bonner is hosting a listening party for Kierra Sheard’s new project, Free, on Monday, October 17th at 8pm ET.
You’ll hear new tracks from the new project before it hits stores the next day. And, the artists have been known to pop in for their listening parties… I’m just sayin’.
…it’s good.
Kierra’s first release on her parents’ label, Karew Records, Free is intricately produced by her brother, J Drew Sheard II, and was recorded live in Chicago earlier this year.
