I dunno what you have planned for this evening, but cancel it.

Mary Mary’s highly-anticipated reality show on WE tv premieres TONIGHT at 10pm ET. It’s gonna be one of theeeee best reality shows you’ve seen– Christians, living out real life, for the world to see.

In case you need convincing, check out a snippet of the show below. In this episode, Tina’s husband, Teddy, is encouraging his wife to… do a little more in the appearance department. Lol

For more teasers, visit the TV show’s official site.

JUST IN!

In an exclusive given to Essence Magazine, Tina Campbell of Mary Mary divulges that SHE is now pregnant with a new baby!

The news comes just weeks after sister, Erica Campbell, gave birth to a new baby girl.

Essence writes:

“Initially we felt overwhelmed at the thought, but then my hubby and I reflected on how rewarding it is to love and be loved by another baby,” said Tina in a statement to ESSENCE.com. “After thinking that our last child was our last child we’ve been surprised with an unexpected blessing almost 4 months and growing. We thought our home was exciting and busy now it’s about to be even more exciting and busy. We are looking forward to it.”

Read the full story here.

Congrats to Tina and Teddy Campbell!!!

From the Heart, the debut album from Jessica Reedy seems to have been long-awaited since before she was actually working on it. The season two Sunday Best runner-up collaborated with some of gospel music’s finest writers and producers (Warryn Campbell, Big Jim Wright, Daniel Moore and more) to create the 13-track project that Reedy says is truly an outpouring of what God gave her to do.

At first listen, I was a bit taken aback. While I wasn’t expecting a churchy traditional gospel album, I also wasn’t expecting the progressive, soul-laden music that Reedy has delivered. Once I got past my own expectations, though, I could listen to the songs for what they are– testaments of love and gratitude, straight from Jessica Reedy’s heart to God’s ears. And I can’t deny that the impressive vocals, creative songwriting and tight production now have me returning for more.

The album is mellow for sure–a bit cozier than I would want on a road trip– with only a few up-tempo tunes. Among them is the project’s latest single, the bouncy ”Put It On the Altar,” and “Doctor Love,” the clever remake of the 70′s classic dance club tune, featuring Faith Evans.

Musically, From the Heart is jam-packed with soulful sounds, at times even featuring Motown-styled production and doo-wop backrounds vocals. Tunes like “Marching On,” which is reminiscent of an Otis Redding groove, and the tight harmonies of “Always,” resonate with my old school heart and take me back a musical era or two.

Jessica also dabbles in urban flair, though, as heard on songs like “So In Love With You (Amazing),” which is first driven by a thunderous bass before it reaches an ethereal chant of “so amazing,” with Jessica ad libbing in worshipful gratitude. Or, just listen to “Something Out of Nothing,” an R&B-styled ballad that showcases greater vocal range than we’ve typically heard from her.

Lyrically, the album’s messages are often couched in more abstract prose than this industry gets on a regular basis. The Mali Music-penned “Blue God,” for example, is a knock against our selfishly skewed relationships with God, demonstrated through wittily placed punctuations of “my” this and “my” that. Listen closely and the sarcasm screams loud and clear– it’s not about us.

Though progressive, the rich heritage of gospel music is foundationally present in gems like “I’m Still Here,” an excellent collaboration between Jessica Reedy and The Soul Seekers, blending Jessica’s rich tone with the group’s quartet-style background vocals, and lead singer Teddy Campbell’s classic crooning. It’s also heard in “God Has Smiled On Me,” the full arrangement of the mellow groove that placed Jessica as a frontrunner on Sunday Best in 2009.

Throughout From the Heart, Jessica’s passion is felt in her pulsing vibrato and colored tone. She intensely delivers each note as if it counts the most. For her, it does.

I won’t deny it– making this album was risky. At first listen, it’s not what the fans are expecting. But, as she shared in a recent interview with me, Jessica knows that and isn’t really phased by it. It’s clear that she is most interested in expressing herself musically than impressing people.

But, with From the Heart, I believe she’ll do both. It’s good music… from-the-heart music. And in an industry increasingly dominated by numbers games and PR gimmicks, it’s a relief to know that an artist decided to simply be herself, express herself, and leave the rest out of the equation.

Listen and buy it on Amazon, iTunes, or right here–

I woke up incredibly hoarse this morning.  I know that I talked on the phone quite a bit yesterday for business, and that I went to bed later than usual because I was celebrating at a friend’s party, but I knew neither of those things was the culprit.

Jason Nelson is to blame.

See, I listened to Jason Nelson A LOT yesterday while riding in my car. More than listening, though, I sang along.  Tried to, anyhow…

Jason’s got one of those voices that just makes you wanna try it. Like, perhaps you’ll accidentally stumble upon being able to sing like him, if only for one moment.  You’ll go hoarse trying to sing with Jason Nelson.

But Jason’s not the only one– at times, for me, it’s been Teddy Campbell, Isaac Carree, Floyd Wilkinson, Donnie McClurkin, Melonie Daniels, Kim Burrell…

And I know I’m not alone in this because I’ve driven alongside some churchy people putting on a full CONCERT in their car.

So, tell me– who is an artist that you go hoarse trying to sing with?

As a general rule, I don’t like mixtapes.

For one, they are often titled with too many capital letters and intentional misspellings (i.e., DJ KOOL- MIXTAPE VOL. IX:  EAZY STREETZ MIX SO U CAN LIST3N IN YOUR KAARRR). *shrug*

Beyond that, while they demonstrate creativity, they too often major in studio tricks and minor in great vocals, which is not a combination that suits me.  But I get that some people like to do ‘em, and I get that some people like to hear ‘em.

When I heard Onitsha was releasing a mixtape, I thought “interesting… no one in their right mind would allow a VOCALIST like Onitsha to be drowned out by beats and studio tricks… this might be GOOD.”

Cut to this morning, when I finally got a chance to reeeaaaaally listen to mixtape since its worldwide, FREE release on Thanksgiving Day.

The scene:

EJ’s in his jammies, sipping coffee… he slowly starts inadvertently bopping his head.  He’s aware of music in the background, but he’s got to blog… and what is he gonna wear today?

He listens to “Holdin’ Me Down” and thinks “yep… this is dope… good job Eric Dawkins, good job Amber Riley.”

He gets to “Somebody” and, in between keystrokes on the computer, he starts playing the bridge’s chords on his air piano, a sure sign that he’s diggin’ the musicality.

He’s out of coffee, but doesn’t want to pause or leave the speakers… he decides he’ll go dry for a minute. (wow)

EJ gets to “No Woman, No Cry,” and enjoys  how incredibly Onitsha gives voice to the passing of her father, and all that goes along with that, to the popular Bob Marley tune.

He looks at the clock– time to get ready, and OOPS!  Need some coffee, for real.

The boppin’ turns to one of those bites-his-lip-cuz-the-groove-is-niiiice situations as “Karaoke,” featuring Drake, plays.

Enjoyment turns to sheer mirth when the iTunes hits “You.”  As the verses come, he immediately recognizes them from a live stream studio session that O did back in 2009– must be a good song.

But by the end of the song, EJ began to worship.  Definitely didn’t mean to– had things to do, AND the song had a beat to it (that’s a joke… worship, dear friends, is not defined by a beat or tempo. Lol)

“Why are my hands raised and why am I doing the Holy Ghost rock in my chair?,” he wondered.  As he tried to answer himself, he realized he should blog about it…

See– it was one of those moments in which I was reminded that God is the giver of ALL creativity, innovation and gifting. And every now and then, I hear SUCH gifting that it smacks my face away from the giftED, and directs me upward, toward the giftER.

And I happily lost my mind for a moment, thanking God for still giving us beautiful things to enjoy in such a cursed world (that’s deep, but true– it’s gracious of Him, if you think about it).  More personally, I thanked Him for still giving a dude like me– who adores music more than he could EVER express– glimmers of overwhelming musical excellence in the increasingly barren landscape of the music industry.

Back to my story– EJ had to listen to the rest of  the project as he got dressed (no one wants to hear “hey, sorry I was late, but Onitsha has this dope new mixtape, and, well YOU know…”).  But he did catch the Spinners sample on “Falling” and managed to scream “BRILLIANT!” while throwing a pen at his speakers.  And he nearly squeezed lotion onto his toothbrush, distracted by “Try Me,” featuring Teddy Campbell… that would have been a problem.

Anyway, this is a very basic, unsophisticated way to say YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE MIXTAPE BY CLICKING RIGHT HERE.

I really do believe you’ll love it.

If you’ve already got it– can I get a witness???

Word has it that Onitsha will be releasing a mixtape, titled Love, Onitsha, this Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, available at http://www.LoveOnitsha.com.

The project is said to feature performances from Eric Dawkins, Teddy Campbell and Drake, as well as Glee’s Amber Riley.

Onitsha’s got some of the smoothest and most precise vocals in the game, so I’m thrilled that she’s hitting us with some more music.  She’s a vocalist and artist who knows her craft, not just a singer whose voice is being set to music.  That’s not a jab at anyone else– I’m just sayin’… gotta appreciate true musicianship.

Who’s grabbin’ it?

Check your local PBS listings to catch In Performance At The White House: A Celebration Of Music From The Civil Rights Movement TONIGHT (in most cities, at 8pm ET/7pm CST).

Yolanda Adams was among those fortunate enough to sing before President Obama in the Civil Rights concert celebration.  She performed Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” to an audience in the White House’s East Room.  PBS has already posted some of the performances on YouTube.

Personally, I’m not thrilled with the song choice– I generally think of this song as one intended for a gravely male voice, not a pure, clean and soaring voice like Yolanda’s.  But after just a short time, she definitely captivated the audience with her sound and her message.  Something about the tune even made Mr. President snuggle up with the Mrs. about 1 minute in (I just LOVE them!).

Other performances came from Jennifer Hudson & Smokey Robinson (“People Get Ready” – click here to watch it), the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Bob Dylan, Seal, Natalie Cole and more.

It looks like the same house band that played last year when Mary Mary performed at The White House in tribute to Stevie Wonder (which would also be the house band of American Idol).  Musical direction is coming from Rickey Minor and I think I spotted Teddy Campbell (husband of Tina Campbell, from Mary Mary) on the drums.  So, you see… all things come back to Mary Mary. LOL

Okay, tune in tonight to catch the full performance.  I’m just thrilled that President Obama hosts so many great concerts and parties… wonder why he didn’t invite me… must’ve gotten lost in the mail.  It’s cool.

Word has it that we’ll soon be getting new music from The Soul Seekers, the most modern, yet true-to-tradition, quartet group in the gospel game. 

The Soul Seekers is a group/band comprised of Warryn Campbell, Teddy Campbell, John “Jubu” Smith, Eric Seats, Charlie Bereal, Nisan Stewart, Gerald Haddon, and Craig Brockman.

The untitled album, the group’s second, will be available on May 4, 2010.

Shout-out to Jeremy for the heads-up on this and for cracking me up by calling these dudes “the Voltron of Gospel Music.”  I think you’re right! LOL

Within hours of Tina Campbell’s delivery of her bouncing baby boy, the industry received word that Erica Campbell is 3 months pregnant!

According to an exclusive report from Jawn Murray yesterday (and a follow-up acknowledgement from Erica to me), Erica and Warryn Campbell are expecting their second child.

CONGRATS Erica & Warryn!  And congrats, again, to Tina & Teddy.  A blessed family…

Word has it that Tina Campbell, of gospel’s hit duo Mary Mary, and her husband, Teddy Campbell, are expecting a baby.

Tina is “the red mary,” as she refers to herself on Twitter (btw, you followin’ them???).  In an interview with JET Magazine (at newstands today), she reveals that she is now about 14 weeks pregnant with her fourth child. [Editor's Note:  There have been questions here about whether this is her fourth or third child... Tina has publicly counted her step-child among her own, so I'm sayin' FOURTH.]

Congrats!  Let’s pray for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby!