So,

 

As you know, my albums are more than just love songs. I like to tell stories, and I like to cover issues that I think affect us all.

 

So I did. I wrote a song called GOD SAID after watching Pat Robertson declare that the earthquake in Haiti was because of a curse from God. After hearing A man named Rev Wiley say that he was praying for President Obama's death during the election (the prayer didn't work BTW). After hearing people fiddle around with the idea of a curse on Japan after their recent disaster. After hearing about Koran burnings and battles that seem to have peoples interpretations of religious texts at the foundation of them all. 

 

I'm not one of those who claims that religion is the ONLY thing that causes all of the wars and bloodshed, but it has caused many. But not necessarily even the religion but the interpretetation of a few dangerous minds put into the wrong position of power or influence.  I figured it was time to have a conversation with extremists like this, and put that kind of thinking in it's proper perspective.

 

 Its just my opinion, but I suspect peace loving people from all walks of life will agree with me on SOME level. 

 

I wanted to illustrate the vision I had for the song, and make it clear what I meant, because just off of the title, many didn't catch the satire. I contacted my longtime friend and incredible director, Devaughn Hughson to work with me on these visuals. We actually started out together when I was writing more screenplay than songs. Music became my format for expression wile he went further in film, but we always shared ideas in hopes to do something powerful together one day.

 

This is it, or definitely one of em.

 

Once we started combing and looking for footage that went with it, there was TOO MUCH (unfortunately, and this is further evidence that it needed to be made).

 

I'm extremely proud of the work we did on this. We made it for the internet, but somehow it got cleared to play on BET of all places. I'm proud of them for airing it. Stephen Hill has always been a supporter of mine from the first album (I can remember seeing this guy in the front row at SOB's singing ALL THE WORDS, and wondering who he was- it was him). They brought me in on this MUSIC MATTERS TOUR (ft Marsha Ambrosius and Melanie Fiona- check my tour dates, we're coming to you) and they have exposed me to their audience quite a bit. I'm grateful to them for that.

 

I'm sure there will be some disagreements. I put some of my more radical ideas in there, and there will probably be some disagreement about a few things here and there. That's ok with me, I'm all for civil discussion and people having their own ideas. I don't mean any harm, but they're my ideas (and the directors- we all pitched in). There will be places to have these discussions, but mostly, I tried to stick to the unifying point, which is anti extremism and fundamentalism. I mean well by it. I encourage THOUGHT, REASON, LOVE, and RESPECT.  I hope that comes across at the very least.

 

Whenever something comes out that's a little more pointed than love songs, or whatever, I suppose they need to be prefaced with a little disclaimer. Heres mine.

 

Enjoy? yeah, you can and should

 

106 & Park airs at 630- cheers!