Juanita Bynum speaks to Essence Magazine

On Why She Stayed in the Marriage

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“I don’t want anybody to think I was stupid for staying; I stayed because of who I was—I had to be careful. My thoughts were, I can’t get a divorce. What would people say? How would they view me? I just felt like I needed to pray more. And I did, and it did get better. We went three years without him getting physical, but then the verbal rage would still be there.”

On What She Says Happened on August 21

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“He just grabbed me, and he grabbed me around my throat and threw me to the ground. I said, “Oh, my God, my head!” because the whole sky was spinning. And when I turned around, that’s when I got the first kick. I screamed out, “Please don’t kill me!” That’s when the bellman grabbed him, and they were going at it. I don’t know what was happening, but the bellman was going into his pocket, and I grabbed his arm and got between them and said, “Please don’t hurt my husband,” and that’s when the bellman let him go. And I took maybe two or three steps over and I collapsed on the ground.”

SOURCE: Essence.com

From Hard Core Rapper To Christian Rapper- The Testimony of Bushwick Bill

Bushwick Bill, a former member of the horror-core gansta rap group The Geto Boys, is one of the most recognized and respected artists in rap music and has lived a life of radical testimony.

Beginning his professional career as a rapper in 1988 when joining up with the two other Geto Boys and making quite a success together as a group, Bushwick Bill dived head-first into a debased lifestyle while rapping about the worst in humanity. He knew Christ when he was younger, but once with the Geto Boys, he became so out of control in the industry and fame, that it took an extreme series of events, including a drunken suicide attempt to eventually give him the wake up call he needed.

Finally, in 2006, Bushwick Bill rededicated his life to Jesus Christ and planned the release an album entitled “Testimony of Redemption” in 2007. Although Bushwick gave thanks to Jesus Christ within the inserts of previous Geto Boys albums, this time it provided a stark contrast between the lyrical content of the albums and professed personal views of the artist. While some viewed these self-expressions as polar opposites and potentially hypocrytical, others found it to be a transparent testimony of a man struggling with his faith and the harsh realities of life.

In the 2007 release, Bushwick Bill provides a summary of his life and struggles; combined with the influences of his faith is a classic good vs. evil struggle. In the song “Testimony of Redemption”, Bushwick professed to be an ordained minister by age 18, and falling into a life of fame, money, drugs, and the street life soon after. The lyrics of this song combined with the lyrics of “Going to the River” provide a revealing summary of Bushwick’s life to date.

Read entire article at: CCMagazine.com

Check out 2008 Stellar Award Nominee Ms. Kaira Miller!

I have to admit, I had never heard of this young lady until I read the list of nominees for the 2008 Stellar Award Nominees. There is so much talent in the gospel industry that gets very little promotion, but is very much worth the attention and she is one of them.

From cdbaby.com/kaira2:

Kaira (pronounced “Ky-Rah”) is a gifted and humble servant of God. Blessed with a quiet and reserved demeanor, her personality is one that endears her to all who know her. Singing since she was a toddler, Kaira first publicly displayed her God given talent in February 2001 when she sang a song entitled “In the Presence of Jehovah” as rendered by Doreen Vail at her home church, Abundant Life International Baptist Cathedral in Jacksonville, NC. Only 8 years old at the time, Kaira amazed all who heard her with the strength and beauty of her voice.

Soulful, mature and anointed have been some of the adjectives used to describe her sound. Since then, Kaira has grown and continues to develop her gift. Kaira has been performing around the eastern NC area and has been blessed with invites to perform in venues featuring Gosple music greats such as Dottie Peoples and Vicky Winans in Jacksonville, NC, Psalmist Doreen Vail in Ayden, NC, Gospel Rapper Lecrae in New Bern, NC and Pastor Shirley Ceasar in Wilmington, NC. Kaira has also ministered at youth services in Wilmington, New Bern, Havelock and Goldsboro, NC.

Kaira has written a couple of the songs on her debut CD including her first recorded single “My Everything”. Kaira was inspired to write this song after her father returned home from a second deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. Kaira represents the next generation of gospel music singers poised to take her place among the gospel music greats that have preceded her.

We are happy to announce that ….Kaira is currently a Nominee for the 2007 “Ensound Awards” (Independent Artist) in the “Best Urban CD” of the year category and also a Nominee for the 2008 Stellar Awards for the “Best Children’s Performance of the Year” category. To God be the Glory!!

Please check her out at http://www.cdbaby.com/kaira2

Also visit her myspace at http://www.myspace.com/kairamiller

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