Niyoki- Rest

In 2007, Niyoki arose from just being another underground independent artist to being one of the most-talked about rising artists on the scene last year after the release of her debut project, My Everything. From that album came the chart-topping single “He’s Here;” which ranked at number eight on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs in January 2007 and closed out the year at number 27 on MediaBase’s most-played gospel songs list in its annual year-end edition. A new chapter was written in the burgeoning career of the former Prince protege’. After giving birth to her first child, Kedron, in November, the Indiana-born, Tennessee based vocalist shows no sign of slowing her momentum as she readies for the new release of her sophomore project, Rest, on the Direct 2 God (D2G) label. With thirteen songs in all, Niyoki runs through a tasteful assortment of R&B, hip-hop, pop and urban gospel. Along with Ralph C. Stacy (Mario, Jagged Edge) returning to assist with production, the album is also supported by EMI Gospel producer/songwriter Antonio Neal and upcoming producers Floyd Thomas and Quintin X. Vocally, Niyoki captures the powerhouse vocals of a Mary J. Blige and the sweet melisma actions of a young Yolanda Adams. But there’s an astonishing factor to her style that sets her apart from her comparisons – she carries those unique embellishments into a sonic medley of musical genres that generally don’t fit into conventional mainstream formats. It is those risks that definitely sets this album apart from her debut.

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