Five-time Dove Award winning hip-hop/pop sensation Group 1 Crew releases its #FASTER digital EP today from Word Entertainment. Featuring special guest vocalists Moriah Peters, Jonathan Thulin and Rachel Lampa, the new recording is the first of two EP’s to be released from Group 1 Crew in the coming months.
#STRONGER is set to release November 4, 2014, while the double EP, #FASTER/#STRONGER, will be a physical CD sold exclusively at retail through Family Christian Stores beginning Sept. 16, as well as sold on Group 1 Crew’s fall tour with Big Daddy Weave. There will be another full-length recording coming from Group 1 Crew Spring 2015.
At Christian Hot AC/CHR and AC radio now is the lead single from #FASTER, “A Little Closer.” Already the most added song at CHR this week with the second largest increase in spins, Group 1 Crew’s Manwell Reyes hopes the song will encourage listeners caught up in perfectionism or a legalistic faith.
“For a long time, I felt like my Christianity was based on performance; it was about making sure that I was good enough to be called a Christian,” says Manwell. “And then I realized that God truly expects us not to be perfect, but to trust in the One who is perfect. I pray that through this song, you will draw a little bit closer to understanding that God loves you where you’re at, and is excited for where you’re going.”
Manwell further talks about the impetus of the new song, the story behind his life that led to the formation of Group 1 Crew, and the hope for the legacy he wants to continue to build with this new music on the “A Life Changed” video that can be seen below:
The full #FASTER track listing follows:
1. The Wonder Years (feat. Moriah Peters)
2. A Little Closer
3. Heaven (Feat. Jonathan Thulin)
4. Everyday Is A Miracle (feat. Rachael Lampa)
5. Psalm 23
Taking the songs from #FASTER and #STRONGER, as well as its fan favorites, like the No. 1 hits “He Said (featuring Chris August),” “His Kind of Love” and “Dangerous,” on the road, Group 1 Crew joins Big Daddy Weave, Chris August and Dara McLean on the “Beautiful Offerings Tour” this fall. The tour begins Sept. 12 in Cherryville, PA and travels across the country through Nov. 15 in Cedar Rapids, IA, while hitting cities like Dallas, Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Madison, WI and more. The full Group 1 Crew tour itinerary follows, with the latest updates at www.Group1Crew.com:
8/16/2014 Montana Expo Park (w/Audio Adrenaline) Great Falls, MT
8/22/2014 St Luke Ministry Columbus, GA
8/23/2014 GSW University Storm Dome Americus, GA
8/30/2014 Jim R. Miller Park Marietta, GA
9/12/2014 The Beautiful Offerings Tour – Bethany Wesleyan Church Cherryville, PA
9/13/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour- Chesapeake City Park Chesapeake, VA
9/19/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – First Baptist Church Dallas, TX
9/20/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Abundant Life Center La Marque, TX
9/21/2014 The HUB in Roby Roby, TX
9/26/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Oasis Church Tomah, WI
9/27/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour Fort Wayne, IN
9/28/2014 The Beautiful Offerings Tour – Judson Erne Auditorium Columbus, IN
10/3/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Vertical Church West Haven, CT
10/4/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Chestnut Assembly of God Church Vineland, NJ
10/9/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – First Baptist Church Naples, FL
10/10/2014 Anderson High School Cincinnati, OH
10/18/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Alexandria Riverfront Center Alexandria, LA
10/19/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour- Citronelle HS Football Stadium Citronelle, AL
10/25/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Truett-McConnell College Cleveland, GA
10/30/2014 Jewel City Church Francis, WV
10/31/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour-Smoky Mtn Center for the Perf. Arts Franklin, NC
11/1/2014 Marion Cultural and Civic Center Marion, IL
11/2/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – Evangel Temple Meridian, MS
11/7/2014 The Beautiful Offerings Tour – Coastal Carolina Fair Ladson, SC
11/9/2014 Sharon High School Auditorium Sharon, PA
11/14/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – City Church Madison, WI
11/15/2014 Beautiful Offerings Tour – New Covenant Bible Church Cedar Rapids, IA
* Tour dates subject to change.
