Music

The Internet was abuzz Wednesday morning after rapper J. Cole announced the world premiere of the new video for his hit song "Lost Ones," which tells the story of a young, unmarried couple dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

The video, which debuted around midnight, was filmed in 2008 on the budget of $1, according to Cole. So far, "Lost Ones" has proven a hit with fans online, who praise the rapper for a no-frills, real-life approach to an issue many young people find themselves dealing with in life.

"Lost Ones" is said to be one of Cole's favorites songs from his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, which was released in September. Cole, 24, is from North Carolina and was reportedly the first artist signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation Label. more >>

A Philadelphia church is charging platinum-selling rapper Lil Wayne of presenting a big problem for the spiritual welfare of America's teenagers.

Pastor Jomo Johnson of Philly Open Air Church said Wayne's influence over participants in his youth ministry inspired him to investigate the popular hip hop artist. Having grown up on the genre, the 31-year-old pastor said he was appalled at Wayne's lyrical war against morality and ethics.

"I believe Lil Wayne is popular as with him there's no sense of right or wrong," Johnson said. "There are no boundaries and no authority. Most rappers in the past wrestled with good and evil. With Wayne, nothing is sacred and nothing is holy." more >>

Perhaps hungry to assimilate into American culture, more second and third generation Hispanics raised as Catholics are finding the worship style of evangelical churches in the U.S. more to their liking and leaving the centuries old religion.

Although the trend has been reported in the past, a recent National Public Radio (NPR) article points to the shift led by young Latinos as the major reason for the increasing numbers of U.S. Hispanics leaving the Catholic church.

Even more specifically, a movement toward Pentecostal churches may be where the influx of Hispanics from the Catholic faith is seen most, according to NPR. more >>

Award-winning musician Andrae Crouch has done it again with his newest album, The Journey, once again showing his pure talent to bring listeners closer to God. From beginning to end, the album provides a rollercoaster of emotions that will bring you to your feet with praise or fill you with tears of joy.

The album starts with an upbeat and uplifting piece, “Somebody Told Me About Jesus,” which kicks your mind into gear for worship. With phrases such as, “His love for you is guaranteed” and “He will wash your sins and make your body whole,” fans cannot help but feel the love and blessings Crouch poured into the song.

“Where Jesus Is” takes a slower tempo and shares a great message. A song about desiring to be closer to God is something everyone can relate to. This song has a special place in my heart and it will in yours. more >>

With more than 56,000 Facebook fans, its safe to say that many people love Christian singer and songwriter Jimmy Needham. A successful artist, Needham travels the world and ministers to thousands, but this doesn’t come without a cost. Just ask his wife.

Kelly Needham, Jimmy’s wife of four years, knows firsthand the sacrifice behind her husband’s success. With her husband on the road two to five days a week, life is often similar to her single days having to handle things at home on her own, including caring for their daughter.

In a recent Wordpress blog, Kelly Needham, shared openly about this. more >>

Over the years, we’ve watched her grow from being Kiki, the daughter of phenomenal gospel artist Karen Clark Sheard, to maturing into a woman of God who has her own distinctive voice in gospel music. Distinction, maturity, and a newfound freedom are just some of the elements that you’ll hear on her forth-coming album, Free.

Having released Bold Right Life in 2008, it’s been nearly three years since Kierra Sheard has released a full album. Free not only marks a new album for the 24-year-old but a new experience, with this being her first live recording and her first recording with Bold Right Life, the community choir she began.

Sheard, being a native of Detroit – a hub for gospel music that has turned out the legendary Clark Sisters, J. Moss, Deitrick Haddon and many more of today’s most influential gospel artists – some have wondered why she chose Chicago to record this landmark in her career. more >>