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Publication date: 15 August 2005
Another UK Gospel.com Report
years before. As time went on we met McGLADIUS at
another Summer Festival called SOUL SURVIVOR, he
was tearing up the floor as a B-Boy.
Yinka eventually moved on to become a pastor, but
God brought the remaining four of us together when
McGLADIUS moved to London to study, and
DANGEROUS was putting beats together from his
home in Birmingham. By 2000 we were getting bookings
for shows, and by 2001 we had released our first single
BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS. The rest is history!
McGLADIUS: I think what THE 29th CHAPTER
experience, as a full time Rap crew would be very
another Summer Festival called SOUL SURVIVOR, he
was tearing up the floor as a B-Boy.
Yinka eventually moved on to become a pastor, but
God brought the remaining four of us together when
McGLADIUS moved to London to study, and
DANGEROUS was putting beats together from his
home in Birmingham. By 2000 we were getting bookings
for shows, and by 2001 we had released our first single
BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS. The rest is history!
McGLADIUS: I think what THE 29th CHAPTER
experience, as a full time Rap crew would be very
And now you're doing this full time. Full time!
What's that like, and how exactly does it work?
What's that like, and how exactly does it work?
different from what many people would imagine.
THE 29th CHAPTER is linked to a London-based
Christian youth charity called Acts 29. So as well as being on the road most weekends
doing gigs, THE 29th CHAPTER work alongside the charity's schools project NuSkool.
This involves going regularly into schools across London to perform concerts, take
assemblies and run various Urban arts workshops.
So if we aren't on the road we are in schools, and if we aren't in schools we are in the
studio making bangers, and if we aren't in the studio we are in the 29 office catching up on admin.... You get the picture.
McGLADIUS: When we say Full Time we not only mean the music, we mean the ministry
as a whole.
NAVIGATOR: Full time means a lot of things for us. Obviously in the physical sense of the
THE 29th CHAPTER is linked to a London-based
Christian youth charity called Acts 29. So as well as being on the road most weekends
doing gigs, THE 29th CHAPTER work alongside the charity's schools project NuSkool.
This involves going regularly into schools across London to perform concerts, take
assemblies and run various Urban arts workshops.
So if we aren't on the road we are in schools, and if we aren't in schools we are in the
studio making bangers, and if we aren't in the studio we are in the 29 office catching up on admin.... You get the picture.
McGLADIUS: When we say Full Time we not only mean the music, we mean the ministry
as a whole.
NAVIGATOR: Full time means a lot of things for us. Obviously in the physical sense of the
Define 'full time'. What does it mean in THE 29th CHAPTER context?
word, it means leaving our jobs and the incomes we rely
on and committing our time and resources to build God's
Kingdom and relying on Him to supply our needs.
In the spiritual sense of the word we see it as a call for all
Christians to serve God fully in their lives. In other words,
regardless of what job you do or where you are, as a
Christian you are full time in God's service. It's like Paul
says to Timothy: 'Be prepared in season and out of
season...'
on and committing our time and resources to build God's
Kingdom and relying on Him to supply our needs.
In the spiritual sense of the word we see it as a call for all
Christians to serve God fully in their lives. In other words,
regardless of what job you do or where you are, as a
Christian you are full time in God's service. It's like Paul
says to Timothy: 'Be prepared in season and out of
season...'
The debut album: HISTORY
Does that mean you actually look to earn an income from this?
And is that what it will take to elevate the standard of what the Black/Urban gospel
music industry has to offer? The focus of professionally working on your craft...?
And is that what it will take to elevate the standard of what the Black/Urban gospel
music industry has to offer? The focus of professionally working on your craft...?
DANGEROUS: We have been doing this as a full time job since January 2004 and
have gradually through the support of individuals giving to us and money raised from
gigs and merchandise been earning a wage. We still have funds to raise as we are on
low income but by the grace of God we are managing to survive.
NAVIGATOR: I'm not sure that is what it will take. I think if people were able to earn
good money from it then a lot more people would go full time and I know the standard
would be raised, because obviously if you have more time to work on your product
then it should be of higher standard.
The problem is though that a lot of people are waiting for those opportunities to drop
into their laps when actually we have to be prepared to make sacrifices and work hard.
We cannot wait for big incomes to produce a higher standard of music or it might
never happen.
have gradually through the support of individuals giving to us and money raised from
gigs and merchandise been earning a wage. We still have funds to raise as we are on
low income but by the grace of God we are managing to survive.
NAVIGATOR: I'm not sure that is what it will take. I think if people were able to earn
good money from it then a lot more people would go full time and I know the standard
would be raised, because obviously if you have more time to work on your product
then it should be of higher standard.
The problem is though that a lot of people are waiting for those opportunities to drop
into their laps when actually we have to be prepared to make sacrifices and work hard.
We cannot wait for big incomes to produce a higher standard of music or it might
never happen.
And how has it been so far?
DANGEROUS: We are in the
business of raising standards.
God called us right from the
beginning to be history makers
and that is what we strive to
do.
That is why we work hard and
long hours. That is why we are
happy to take steps and walk
out of comfortable jobs into full time ministry. And that is why with every new season
we walk into, mouths will drop and eyebrows will be raised and you'll hear people
saying 'these guys are not playing!'.
business of raising standards.
God called us right from the
beginning to be history makers
and that is what we strive to
do.
That is why we work hard and
long hours. That is why we are
happy to take steps and walk
out of comfortable jobs into full time ministry. And that is why with every new season
we walk into, mouths will drop and eyebrows will be raised and you'll hear people
saying 'these guys are not playing!'.
What's the grand plan for 29 in 2005? What more can we expect...?
NAVIGATOR: Well seeing we're already halfway through the year we should already
be halfway through the plan. Initially, our plan was to promote the album and move
forward with our crew vision, which in itself has many facets.
2004 was a year of establishing ourselves as a full time ministry so this year is about
maintaining and increasing what we have established. We have started writing some
new material so look out for a hot new single around Christmas time. We're also
revamping our website which is set to be launched sometime this summer.
And of course, if the Lord wills, just look out for 29 storming across the UK and
beyond at various festivals, events and shows...
be halfway through the plan. Initially, our plan was to promote the album and move
forward with our crew vision, which in itself has many facets.
2004 was a year of establishing ourselves as a full time ministry so this year is about
maintaining and increasing what we have established. We have started writing some
new material so look out for a hot new single around Christmas time. We're also
revamping our website which is set to be launched sometime this summer.
And of course, if the Lord wills, just look out for 29 storming across the UK and
beyond at various festivals, events and shows...
LINKS
29th Chapter was in conversation with YINKA AWOJOBI
29TH CHAPTER
HALCYON SOUNDS
CROSS RHYTHMS
SOUL SURVIVOR
29th CHAPTER WINS! SOUL IN THE CITY
HALCYON SOUNDS
CROSS RHYTHMS
SOUL SURVIVOR
29th CHAPTER WINS! SOUL IN THE CITY
UNDERDOGZ ALBUM
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How does a Hip-hop group get mixed up in something like a HALCYON SOUNDS'
'Battle Of The Bands'..?
How does a Hip-hop group get mixed up in something like a HALCYON SOUNDS'
'Battle Of The Bands'..?
