Ricky Dillard has announced that the first single from his upcoming album will be “God Is Great.”  The album is due out in April of this year on Light Records.  Dilliard posted a YouTube link to the tune via his Twitter account over the weekend.  What do you think of the song?

Kirk Franklin released the second song off his upcoming album scheduled for release March 22, 2011. The First single “I Am” is getting raving reviews. Check out the second single “I Smile” below. What do you think?  Check out the first single “I Am” by clicking here.

Also Read: Kirk Franklin’s New Single “I Am”

Word has it Tye Tribbett and Wess Morgan will be on the Monique Show.  Pastor Wess Morgan is currently in Billboards Top 5 for the song “I Choose to Worship.”  Tye Tribbett is riding the wave of his first solo CD release “Fresh.”  Tune into BET Thursday to Check Tye & Wess Out!

Also Read: Steve Harvey’s Ex-Wife Takes to YouTube to Air Dirty Laundry

The 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards have announced this years nominees.  Gospel artists are recognized by the “Outstanding Gospel Album” category.  The nominees are–

Kirk Whalum – Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III
Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love: Deluxe Edition
Tamela Mann – The Master Plan
Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone

Congratulations to the nominees and also to Kirk Franklin for his book “The Blueprint: A Plan For Living Above Life’s Storm” being nominated for Outstanding Literary Work-Instructional.  The televised special airs LIVE on March 4, 2011 at 8pm ET on FOX.

Steve Harvey has been very open about the his faith in God and the lessons he has learned in his first marriage, appearing on shows like TBN’s Praise the Lord and most recently BET’s Celebration of Gospel.  The lessons learned catapulted him to be a best selling author with the book Act Like a Lady, Think like a man, and his new book “Straight Talk No Chaser.” 

The question posed is should Steve be giving relationship advice if the things his ex-wife is saying is true?  Listen below and decide for yourself.

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson is by far the most successful quartet singer of his generation. The man behind quartet hits such as “Send A Revival” and “Let Go and Let God” has a new album with his group, The Spiritual Voices, in the works. It’s entitled, “Back 2 Basics,” and is scheduled to hit stores in the first quarter of 2011. The mellow R&B-flavored radio single, “True Love,” is currently #23 on the Radio & Records gospel airplay chart and climbing. “Over the years, I’ve put my trust in a lot of people and they let me down,” Johnson confesses. “I had to go back and realize that Jesus Christ is the only true love who will never let me down.”

“I call the album Back 2 Basics because my group is known for doing traditional music that everybody can listen to,” Johnson explains. “My record label started bringing in producers and songwriters with a different sound than mine to expand my audience and to freshen my sound. That’s all good. Songs like `True Love’ come from that collaboration but I call myself a universal gospel singer. I keep it simple and sing all kinds of gospel for anybody and everybody.”

The “Back 2 Basics” CD hits stores in January but in the meantime, Johnson’s fans can digitally download a deluxe EP featuring six of the songs from the new CD on ITunes, Amazon mp3, and other online music portals. One of those songs is the finger-popping ditty, “I’m Gonna Make It.” Johnson says, “I love that song. I’m hoping that will be my next radio single. I think that can go all the way to the top.”

Johnson has been making noise on the gospel landscape since 1998 when he burst on the scene with the smash hit, “Hide Behind The Mountain.” He quickly became known as a young man with an old soul for mixing introducing quartet to a young generation of gospel fans. Since then, he’s birthed modern-day quartet standards such as “I Made It,”  “Send A Revival,” “Be Right,” and “Let Go and Let God.”

When asked what keeps he and his music fresh after all these years, Johnson says one thing. “Dreams,” he offers. “Dreams keep it fresh. I dreamed about doing this since I was a little boy. Not too many people can say they are living their dream. God made that dream a reality and every time I hit a stage, I’m gonna rock the house and stop the show.”

Entertainment Guru Jawn Murray has partnered with EMI Gospel to search for “Untapped” talent. 

“I’ve worked my entire career to be in a position where my influence can help others live their dreams.  This project gives me an opportunity to do that and I’m extremely happy to get that chance.  There are a lot of people who don’t know the first thing about gaining exposure or visibility for their music and participating in this ‘Untapped’ movement really gives them a shot at seeing their dreams come to fruition.  I’ve worked with EMI Gospel for years doing some artist development and media training with several of their marquee talent and to now partner with them to release my own endeavor is really awesome.” – Jawn Murray 

If you want to share your talent with the world be sure to watch the video below and take action.

For official rules and regulations go to http://untapped.emigospel.com/

Mary Mary just released the second single off their upcoming album titled “Something Big.”  The Title track called “Something Bigger” is the second single with the other single “Walking” already doing well at radio.

The Track is upbeat and features Mary Mary singing and rapping.  It’s definitely a slightly new flavor for the girls.  So what do you’ll think?

Also Read: Gospel Rapper LECRAE Has the #1 and #2 Album on Charts: Christian Rap Makes a Plea for Radio Time

This week’s chart has already been released.  It covers the week of January 20-27, 2011.  Gospel Rapper Lecrae continues to dominate the Billboard charts now with two different projects sitting at the #1 and #2 spots according to albums sold.  “Rehab” and the sequel  “Rehab: The Overdose“ is shocking the industry.

This is un-heard of right?  Especially for a genre of music that gets little airplay on the radio.  Lecrae is busting the doors off the stereotypes that have plagued Christian rappers.  Rapper Lecrae also has the #1 album in all of Christian music including Christian contemporary.  Rapper “Flame” sits at #5 on the Gospel Charts marking the first time three Gospel albums have placed in the Top Ten in sales on the same week.  Additionally, Rapper “Trip Lee” sits at #24.

Lecrae’s Single: “Just Like You”

So who are these guys?  Where are they getting their followings to sale so many CD units?  The answer to that is simple.  Social Networks.  Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace have revolutionized the way you can promote a brand and get it out to potential buyers.  In the case of entertainers, you can go from being a nobody to creating a buzz about your talents.  Online websites such as PATH aid in getting the artist exposure as well, but radio continues to keep the door closed on these artists.  Why?  Well it’s partly because polls show older generations don’t get the message of Christ through upbeat tracks and quick tempo lyrics heard in rap songs. 

Radio stations are waiting for the younger generations to turn the dial from secular rap to Gospel, but their anxiety wonders if the time slots for Gospel rap can sustain itself.

One thing’s for sure, sooner or later someone is going to have to take the risk.  Radio cancels everything else.  So give these guys a chance and if it doesn’t work, change the format back.  Hopefully the older saints can encourage their kids to listen to Christian Rap or Christian Hip Hop.  They can understand the positive lyrics even if you can’t! 

Here is the rest of the Top Ten Gospel Albums for this week.

1. Lecrae-Rehab: The Overdose
2. Lecrae-Rehab
3. William McDowell-As We Worship: Live
4. VaShawn Mitchell-Triumphant
5. Flame-Captured
6. Marvin Sapp-Beginnings
7. James Fortune & FIYA-I Believe
8. Marvin Sapp-Here I Am
9. Wow Gospel
10. Greater Mt. Calvary Live

New music from Kirk Franklin what do you think?  New album is scheduled for release in just a couple months.

Also Read: MARVIN SAPP BRINGS HOME TOP HONORS AT 26th ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS