Spotlight On Flame

FLAME, a.k.a. Marcus T. Williams-Gray, was born in the inner city streets of St. Louis, Missouri where he was influenced by the Hip-Hop culture. His best friend (his grandmother) was a significant person who helped shaped him - teaching him about life and more importantly, Christianity.

At the age of 16, FLAME’s grandmother passed away. As a result of this event, FLAME began attending church where the Holy Spirit convicted him and he began to diligently seek Christ. FLAME continued to grow spiritually and became heavily involved in ministry at his church.

While in a Christian bookstore, FLAME took notice to the music section. Being part of the Hip-Hop culture and having done secular rap for years, he was drawn to the Gospel Rap area and purchased a CD by Cross Movement. Impressed by the artistic quality of their music and the content, FLAME found the lyrics saturated in Scripture being both encouraging and challenging.

FLAME’s desire to spread the Gospel to those influenced by the Hip-Hop culture grew more intense. In 2000, after being edified through Cross Movement’s music, FLAME made his way to one of their concerts in Chicago. He met the group and provided them a demo CD of his own work. Much to his surprise, he received a call back. Cross Movement began building a relationship with FLAME that was fostered over a couple of years. In 2002, FLAME was invited on the Platinum Souls Tour with Cross Movement.

Shortly after, FLAME was signed to Cross Movement Records and released his self-titled debuted CD nationwide on October 2004. He was the first Christian Rap artist from the Midwest to gain national attention. FLAME released his sophomore album in December 2005 titled REWIND with hit tracks No Silence featuring Lecrae, So Sweet, and the Dove Award nominated Gotta Notice.

FLAME appeared back on the scene in 2007 for an interpretation of the bible’s first story of man, simply laid out for the masses. Stemmed from an eye opening conversation with a neighborhood acquaintance who knew nothing about Adam and Eve, the experience served as inspiration for the OUR WORLD CD Series. Laced with his quick and crucial delivery combed with his southern flair, the OUR WORLD CD Series began with his third album, OUR WORLD FALLEN. FLAME presented realities of mankind’s spiritual poverty and the grave consequences of a sinful lifestyle – on earth and after death. This successful release peaked to #7 on Billboard’s Charts and birthed many hit singles such as MySpace, Shinin’, Goodness to Repentance, and many more.

Involved in ministry for more than 10 years through music and preaching nationally at churches, events, and conferences, the 2008 Holy Hip Hop Award Honoree and current Biblical Counseling student at Boyce College (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), FLAME arises to conclude the dramatic epic began in OUR WORLD FALLEN. This time presenting a study of the redemption process through pensive lyricism, OUR WORLD REDEEMED takes us on a victorious driven journey thus encouraging one to exchange thoughts of despair for redemptive thoughts of deliverance. The album peaked to #5 on Billboard’s Charts and still receives many great raves and reviews from critics and supportors, alike.

http://www.flame314.com/