Lexi, the media personality for Inside Inspiration on the syndicated “Yolanda Adams Morning Show,” and the TV personality / Host on the Word Network’s “The Lexi Show,” releases her highly anticipated single, “Burn It All Down” today at All Digital Outlets. (Malaco Music Group)

Yolanda Adams says, “It has been a while since the masses had a chance to savor the sweet angelic sounds of Ms. Lexi!! I must say that this single has been long awaited. She has not disappointed us with the dynamic original “Burn it all Down”. This single is poised for every format and genre of entertainment. This ground-breaking single is and will continue to be a blessing for years to come. I’m ready for the entire project!!! Love you dearly Lexi. Your Big Sis Yolanda Adams”

“Burn It All Down,” is a vivid portrayal of Lexi’s personal journey to restoration and serves as a blueprint to all believers who aspire to have an unadulterated relationship with God.

“Burn It All Down” exemplifies Lexi’s new wisdom, persona, style, growth, admiration, worship and spiritual outlook. Like never before, you will witness through song how she has overcome tremendous personal adversity and her maturation as an artist and woman of God which is nothing short of amazing. “Burn It All Down” will bless and inspire you into a place of worship and praise drawing you back to the place when you first believed and received HIM! A new life, a new wholeness – Burn It All Down leaving only God’s truth! Listen to the song below.

Marvin Sapp’s new CD & DVD I WIN hit stores April 3, and the CD can be pre-ordered now at iTunes, Amazon.com and Walmart.com. The project, recorded live at Evangel Cathedral outside of Washington, D.C., is the artist’s first CD since the passing of his wife MaLinda – who died of colon cancer in 2010. As such, it is also the first live CD recorded outside of Sapp’s Grand Rapids, Michigan, hometown. Still, I WIN is indeed a musical triumph, with 10 brilliant tracks that reinforce Sapp’s sentiment that “because I endured, I won.”

The first single, “My Testimony,” is quickly approaching the #1 position at Gospel radio. “It is a transparent, introspective look at what I came through and how, in the midst of it all, I still maintained and am maintaining my faith,” Sapp says of the single, which he co-wrote with Aaron Lindsey. “I think that’s the difference…it is about how I realized that if it had not been for God being there in the midst of everything, I would have been taken out. ‘My Testimony’ is more about me sharing how I got through it, not just that I got through it.”

The title track is a soul-stirring ballad that declares “I am an over comer/I know I can conquer anything/with Jesus I am an over comer/I can win…” The song was written by newcomers Brittney A. Wright and Joshua A. Lay.

A few new songwriters are showcased on I WIN, because Sapp issued a call via Facebook and Twitter for song submissions. He listened to more than 2,000 songs before finding a few that represented the tone of this CD. “I think part of my assignment is to give unknown writers and opportunity to be heard on a national scale,” says Sapp, who has always given a chance to up and coming songwriters. “My prayer is that their names and work will now become a little more prominent.”

An impromptu medley of hymns that Sapp launched into during the live recording provides a special treat on the CD. “The Hymns Medley” opens with “I Need Thee Every Hour,” and then finds Sapp shifting between Andrae Crouch’s classics “Bless The Lord,” “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus” and “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” concluding with “There’s Power in the Blood” and then a mini-sermon that demonstrates why Sapp says he is a preacher who happens to sing: “Because He’s brought me out of some stuff, I’ve got a right and a reason to give God some glory,” Sapp squalls, his voice stretching throughout the cathedral as the church audience screams its agreement. It is an authentic church moment captured on CD. “I grew up on hymns, and my mom taught me almost every hymn I know,” says Sapp. “When we were doing the recording, the hymns medley just happened. We were transitioning between songs, and I just started singing hymns. It wasn’t supposed to go on the record; it was just things I grew up listening to from traditional hymns to Andrae Crouch. And we just went back and forth and people were blessed by it and I enjoyed doing it,” says Sapp of the medley.

I WIN is Marvin Sapp’s 9th solo recording. He first hit the national stage in 1990 as a member of the groundbreaking group Commissioned. The group disbanded around 1996 and Sapp launched his solo career. After a string of Top-Ten radio hits and a considerable following in Gospel music, Sapp saw unprecedented mainstream success in 2007 when a song that started out as a spontaneous moment of worship became a runaway hit at radio. The song, “Never Would Have Made It,” went on to become the #1 most played song of any genre at radio, and was the first Gospel song to sell 1 million ringtones. The rest, as they say, is history.

Under the leadership of Bishop Allen T.D. Wiggins, Senior Pastor of The Hope Church and architect of Hope Center West, a new model program has been created to establish economic partnerships which promise to enhance community infrastructure lasting for generations to come.

With groundbreaking scheduled for summer 2012, Hope Center West (www.hopecenterproject.com) was recently unveiled as a long-range plan to provide resources that will produce hundreds of jobs and convenience for better health and wellness in Washington Shores.  During the first stage of development, a Walmart Neighborhood Shopping Center will be built, with nearby banks, restaurants, entertainment hubs, and several retail establishments.

“We’ve steadily worked to expand opportunities for economic development, housing, education, and spiritual enrichment through our ministry,” notes Bishop Wiggins. “By addressing critical issues that will engage and prepare our communities to become more market driven, we are securing a vision of economic growth and creating connectors that emphasize greater progress while fulfilling the needs of “the whole man,” Bishop Wiggins further states.

Hope Center West is quickly becoming a blueprint for economic development in urban America. Current improvements and progressions to date include the acquisition and rehabilitation of housing complexes for hundreds of families, and a professional/retail market space that accentuates the importance of local businesses. Some of The Hope Church service offerings include programs for ex-offender women, food distribution of meals and groceries to more than 10,000 community families, and spiritual enrichment activities for individuals and families.

About Bishop Allen T.D. Wiggins

Bishop Allen T.D. Wiggins is a native of Daytona Beach, Florida and has served as Senior Pastor of The Hope Church, in Orlando, Florida for ten years.  He is also co-founder and saxophonist of the world-renowned gospel/jazz duo, Allen & Allen. With spiritual wisdom and a heart for helping underserved communities, Bishop Wiggins continually partners with key business, ministerial, and civic leaders that work to bring long-term sustenance to urban cores. Bishop Wiggins is also involved in outreach ministries across the country, and is available for speaking engagements and interview opportunities.  

To learn more about The Hope Church and Hope Center West, visit www.thehopechurch.org and www.hopecenterproject.com. For additional information contact Mylika C. Morton at 407-291-4673 or email mmorton@thehopechurch.org.

What’s a good recipe for box office and DVD sales success? It seems in 2011, pro-America sentiment mixed with conservative values and faith-centered themes equaled a hit.

This according to an annual study conducted by the Christian-focused entertainment advocacy group Movieguide, which found that in 2011, American audiences preferred movies with strong conservative content and values over movies with liberal or left-leaning values by an almost six-to-one margin. 

The 760-page report claims that films with a conservative or pro-American edge, such as “Captain America,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Soul Surfer,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “Battle: Los Angeles” raked in significantly more box office green than more liberal films like “Red State,” “Super 8,” “J. Edgar,” “Glee” and “Ides of March.”

“People want good to overcome evil, justice to prevail over injustice and liberty to conquer tyranny. They respond to strong heroes and even strong heroines, but they are turned off by radical social engineering and big government programs,” Movieguide publisher Dr. Ted Baehrsaid of the report, which rates movies using several criteria such as “anti-communist content,” “strong biblical morality,” and “strong pro-capitalist content.”

The study also claimed that the stronger the Christian worldview in the film, the more money it made.

Films considered to have a significant redemptive or religious focus such as “Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides,” “The Help” and “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” made more money in theaters last year than those with a non or anti-Christian core, or a mixed/humanist perspective, including “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” The Hangover II” and “The Rum Diary.” In fact, Movieguide’s report asserts that the Christian-motivated movies, on average, earned four times as much in box office returns – $64.3 million as opposed to $15.9 million.

“Most people dedicated to a particular faith are likely to find the violence, substance abuse, sexual immorality, and mocking of traditional values in most modern movies offensive,” said Megan Basham, entertainment editor at Christian news site, World Magazine. “The rare well-made film that offers the opposite is going to appeal to church-goers of every stripe.”

CLICK HERE to read the full report by ChristianCinema.com  

Rising inspirational star and BET Music Matters artist Mali Music is set to go to Gospel radio this week with two new singles, “The Name”and “Walk On Water.”

Having already established a reputation as a stellar storyteller and dynamic performer within the Christian / Gospel community and the larger music scene, MALI MUSIC has legions of fans worldwide who have shared their passion for his musical ministry.

When talking about his latest efforts, the singer said:

“I am blessed and grateful to share these two songs which I hope will inspire people. ‘Walk On Water’ is a special song that I performed while on tour last year and found that audiences in each city enjoyed the message. ‘The Name’ is a strong song with a important message specifically because the story is about the power of Jesus’ name to my generation.  The song is simple and straight to the point with a groove and vibe that I hope people will appreciate.”

A prolific singer, songwriter and producer, Mali Music began playing the piano at the age of 5 and writing songs at 8. Since being exposed to the industry, he’s performed alongside artists like Dietrick Haddon, Kim Burrell and Tye Tribbett.

He became the first inspirational artist to be included in their Music Matters program and performed on the top-rated 2011 BET Awards, receiving a standing ovation.

You can listen to ‘Walk on Water’ in the video below. 

California’s Saddleback Church worship pastor Travis Ryan releases his debut album, Fearless, through Integrity Music on April 10, 2012. Featuring songs co-written with Matt Redman, Jason Ingram, Brenton Brown, Ben Cantelon, All Sons & Daughters, Dan Bailey and others, the album was produced by Ryan’s band mate, Josh Auer (PAX217). Additional band members Dan Bailey (Fiction Family, Phil Wickham) and Brandon Collins join in to create the resulting melodic, dynamic rock influenced worship on Fearless that shares themes of God’s pursuit of his people (“Chase”), the rise of the church (“Battle Song”) and Holy Communion (“Jesus My Victory”). The first radio single from the album, “Jesus, Precious Jesus,” speaks to the theme of grace.

GRAMMY Award winners Adam Hawkins (Switchfoot, Natasha Bedingfield, 50 Cent) and Chris Testa (Jimmy Eat World, Mat Kearney, The Goo Goo Dolls) mixed and engineered respectively as Kevin Bartley (Red Hot Chili Peppers, B.B. King, Queensrÿche) mastered the album. OneRepublic’s Brent Kutzle also added his talents to “Awaken Us.” The resulting original music from Ryan is meant to inspire people to press on past fear, becoming courageous and marked by God’s boldness.

“The title track, and the whole album, is really a prayer that the church would be 1 John 4:18-There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear,” Ryan shares. “This is a prayer for me and truth that the church must come alive to.”

Aligning his musical ministry pastorally with his church, Ryan is taking the “Fearless” idea into engaging need across the world with his church’s P.E.A.C.E. Plan. The PEACE Plan (http://thepeaceplan.com/) is a massive effort to mobilize Christians around the world to address the issues of spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy by promoting reconciliation, equipping servant leaders, assisting the poor, caring for the sick and educating the next generation.

“We all wrestle with fear on one level or another, and I don’t want that to stop me from engaging the needs all around me, and encouraging others to do the same,” says Ryan. “The PEACE plan is one way we can all get involved to bring hope to a world in need.”

Sharing the message and music of his new album, Ryan will launch the new project with a special Fearless release event at Saddleback Church April 15. At the event, Matt Redman will join Ryan to sing the song they wrote together, “Chase,” and New York Times No. 1 best-selling author and pastor of the church, Rick Warren, will deliver a message.

As a worship leader for Saddleback Church, Ryan has led worship for such organizations as Campus Crusade for Christ, Student Venture, The Purpose Driven Life Worship Conference and at numerous universities. He also spent time as an associate producer for Marantha Music and played with bassist Brent Kutzle, now a member of OneRepublic. Born into a musical family, Ryan’s father wrote songs for Maranatha during the Jesus movement.

Married with two young sons, Travis says, “If I died, these are the songs I would want my children to point to and say: that was my dad; my dad believed that. This is an altar to God.”

The complete Fearless track listing and songwriters follows:
1. Love That Has Won (Travis Ryan, Brandon Collins, Ben Cantelon)
2. Battle Song (Travis Ryan, Brandon Collins, Josh Auer, Dan Bailey)
3. Jesus Precious Jesus (Travis Ryan, David Leonard, Leslie Jordan)
4. The Wrestling (Travis Ryan, Richie Fike, Brandon Collins)
5. Most High (Travis Ryan, Jason Ingram)
6. Jesus My Victory (Travis Ryan, Brenton Brown, Brandon Collins)
7. Awaken Us (Travis Ryan, Matt Redman, Brandon Collins)
8. Fearless (Travis Ryan, Brandon Collins)
9. My Devotion (Travis Ryan, Anthony Skinner)
10. You Are With Me Still (Travis Ryan, Brandon Collins, Caleb Clements)
11. Chase (Travis Ryan, Matt Redman, Brandon Collins)

Kingsway and Integrity Music are the music divisions of David C Cook, a nonprofit global resource provider serving the Church with life-transforming materials. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kingsway and Integrity Music’s resources are distributed in more than 160 countries and sold worldwide. Additional information can be found at www.kingswayworship.comand www.integritymusic.com.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend a series of high-priced fundraisers in Atlanta soon, sponsored by the African-American Leadership Council and filmmaker Tyler Perry.

The March 16th events will be hosted at Perry’s studio with ticket prices from $500 to $2,500 for a gala. There will also be a private reception, reportedly at Perry’s home costing as much as $35,800 per person — although the Obama for America invite lists it at $10,000.

The other invite is to Tyler’s Perry’s home at 8 p.m. The exact address is revealed only after RSVP and will cost a hefty $35,800 a person, and will include a photo with President Obama. Organizers wouldn’t confirm the address, but there are three main possibilities.

Land records show Tyler Perry still owns the 6-bedroom Fairburn home Karyn Greer toured in 2009 even though it’s been on the market for years. His current home on Paces Ferry might look familiar. In 2010, two young women were arrested after a failed burglary attempt. Another possibility is Perry’s newest acquisition, the Dean Gardens. Inside there are 8-bedrooms, as apart of the 58-acre estate which offers plenty of privacy. It’s also housed in John’s Creek, Georgia’s wealthiest city.

The Federal Election Commission shows north Fulton is the right stop for President Obama. He’s already raised $1.2 million in Georgia for this campaign. The biggest chunk, more than half a million, comes from zip codes starting with 303. That includes parts of Atlanta, Dunwoody, and John’s Creek.

This week no major shakeups in the Top Ten took place.  WOW Gospel 2012 still holds the number 1 position, with Le’Andria Johnson still on its heels at #2.  

Fred Hammond and James Fortune flip flop with Fred Hammond taking over the #3 spot with his latest ‘God, Love, & Romance.’  

The greatest gainer in the Top 10 is Le’Crae coming in at #7 after being on the charts for an astounding 75 weeks. 

Outside the top ten, rising  Genita Pugh is selling strong and garnering greatest gainer recognitions by Billboard.  Pugh’s album ‘My Purpose’ is number 17 on the charts.

The Rest of the Top 10: 

1 | WOW Gospel 2012
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
9 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
10 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me

This week look out for the debut release of new artist Shereka McGrew.  The talented new artist drops her self-titled release March 13th.

Atlanta based indie hip-hop label Reach Records is excited to announce their first official showcase at the 2012 South by Southwest Music Conferenceand Festival (SXSW) in Austin, TX, where thousands will converge for music, film and technology. The Reach Records showcase will be taking place on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at La Zona Rosa (612 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701) at 9pm and will feature performances from their incredible roster of artists includingLecrae, Trip Lee, KB, PRO and Andy Mineo.

“The Reach Records showcase is one you do not want to miss,” states Ben Washer, CEO of Reach Records. “We are excited about the opportunity to showcase our incredible roster of artists and unique message at one of the largest music festivals in the world.”

In addition to fans having an amazing time, Reach Records will be giving away three (3) sets of studio grade Beats by Dre headphones and two (2) Final Four Championship tickets.

Started in 2004, Reach Records launched with hip-hop phenomenon Lecrae, who was featured on BET’s 2011 Hip-Hop Awards cyphers, which also featured Estelle, Soprano and Nitty Scott. Now with a full cache of artists, Reach Records’ artists have successfully landed on the Billboard charts and toured all over the world. For more information on Reach Records and their artists log onto www.reachrecords.com

Comedian, Actor, Writer, and Radio Personality, Akintunde is set to kick off his “2012Rebirth of Comedy Tour”, just as his new DVD, “Akintunde Live – The Truth, The WholeTruth, and Nothing But” (Arrow/No Joke/Universal) hits major retail outlets. This yearwill mark the third consecutive year for the Rebirth of Comedy Tour, which is a part ofthe No Joke Entertainment/Rebirth of Comedy Brand.

In addition to the tour, the R.O.C. banner includes a daily radio comedy segment (airing on 40+ stations nationally), and DVD series of which Akintunde’s latest DVD (and his first since signing with ArrowGlobal Entertainment) will serve as the first installment. The tour will also feature thewinner of No Joke Entertainment’s 2012 Search For The One stand up comedy talentsearch. Last year’s winner St. Vick was featured on the 2011 schedule, and will return for dates on this year’s schedule.

Currently, Akintunde is in the midst of a 20 date stint on the “Acquire The Fire Tour”.  In May, he will return for the 4th year on “The Creflo Dollar Change Tour”. This year’s tours will mark Akintunde’s 10th appearance on a national tour in the past 5 years.

In addition to a busy booking and tour schedule, Akintunde recently appeared on The Stellar Awards Gospel music awards ceremonies, and in October co-hosted (along with Gospel music duo Trinitee 5:7) The Stellar Awards Nominations Concert live on GMC.

Earlier in 2011, Akintunde wrapped a 2 season stint as Writer and Producer on BET’s “The Mo’Nique Show”.

Visit Akintunde at www.akintunde.net