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UPDATE
Publication date: 23 December 2005
BEHIND THE BEAT...
Anyone who knows me well - or knows of my work through here - knows I'm a HUUUGE fan of TRYUMF. I was feeling his INCENSE RHYTHM project back in the day, have always been deeply appreciative of his distinct production style (something very difficult for independent artists to pull off in these days of FARRELL/TIMBALAND etc, clones) and have a particular affinity for his deft use of words - again something uniquely his, as his flow successfully mixes the deeply sacred and the undoubtedly street, to create something that is - in my view at least -
representative of some of the best work in contemporary UK gospel.
But the truth of the matter is that sometimes you get so wrapped up in what you think is really good that it comes as a bit of a disappointment (or indeed a shock) when other people don't quite see what you see. However TRYUMF's debut CD, GHETTO SCRIPTURE, has topped the UK Gospel.com MP20 (the most 20 played twenty tracks on UKG Presents.com) for two months straight, and - I've just checked the figures for December - it's also looking like he's going to be there or thereabouts again...
And there's more: anyone who's into the interesting dynamic between retail and radio in Black music (outside of the mainstream) can identify with the fact that what people listen to and what
representative of some of the best work in contemporary UK gospel.
But the truth of the matter is that sometimes you get so wrapped up in what you think is really good that it comes as a bit of a disappointment (or indeed a shock) when other people don't quite see what you see. However TRYUMF's debut CD, GHETTO SCRIPTURE, has topped the UK Gospel.com MP20 (the most 20 played twenty tracks on UKG Presents.com) for two months straight, and - I've just checked the figures for December - it's also looking like he's going to be there or thereabouts again...
And there's more: anyone who's into the interesting dynamic between retail and radio in Black music (outside of the mainstream) can identify with the fact that what people listen to and what
they actually buy are usually two different things. Again TRYUMF seems to be unique, as GHETTO SCRIPTURE is doing well on UKG Shop, and will be coming in as one of the best sellers on the store for 2005.
...I tell you, it's a good feeling when people see what you see..... :-)
Anyway, time to justify the 'BEHIND THE BEAT' title of this update piece. You may recall something I did with LAIN a while ago, which was to ask him to take me on a track-by-track journey through the creative process behind his album, BROTHER SOUL (another one that's done VERY well on UKG Shop in 2005). I found it a very interesting experience, coming into the
very personal and creative world of an artist.
TRYUMF emailed me his 'BEHIND THE BEAT' piece last night, and while I've always considered GHETTO SCRIPTURE to be an incredibly honest and intensely personal journey, his story of the project revealed just how much it was. Sometimes all I need to do as a writer is step aside and let my subject tell their story. This is definitely one of those times...
...I tell you, it's a good feeling when people see what you see..... :-)
Anyway, time to justify the 'BEHIND THE BEAT' title of this update piece. You may recall something I did with LAIN a while ago, which was to ask him to take me on a track-by-track journey through the creative process behind his album, BROTHER SOUL (another one that's done VERY well on UKG Shop in 2005). I found it a very interesting experience, coming into the
very personal and creative world of an artist.
TRYUMF emailed me his 'BEHIND THE BEAT' piece last night, and while I've always considered GHETTO SCRIPTURE to be an incredibly honest and intensely personal journey, his story of the project revealed just how much it was. Sometimes all I need to do as a writer is step aside and let my subject tell their story. This is definitely one of those times...
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UK Gospel.com
HOW GOOD HAS 2005 BEEN FOR TRYUMF...?
It's been a good struggle. The struggle has made me stronger and
through the trials I've seen many triumphs!
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE THE LAUNCH OF 'GHETTO
SCRIPTURE'?
Been giggin' all over the gaff and selling CD's at the gigs, sending out
promos to DJ's, just straight grinding.
HOW HAS IT GONE? WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN LIKE...?
Fantastic, CD's shifted more than expected, KISS, CHOICE, GALAXY and others have played
Content Development
UK Gospel.com
HOW GOOD HAS 2005 BEEN FOR TRYUMF...?
It's been a good struggle. The struggle has made me stronger and
through the trials I've seen many triumphs!
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE THE LAUNCH OF 'GHETTO
SCRIPTURE'?
Been giggin' all over the gaff and selling CD's at the gigs, sending out
promos to DJ's, just straight grinding.
HOW HAS IT GONE? WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN LIKE...?
Fantastic, CD's shifted more than expected, KISS, CHOICE, GALAXY and others have played
the tracks on their shows and there is a buzz stirring in the US with stations like HOLY CULTURE RADIO, RADIO Y, 88.3FM (MIAMI), DJ FRESH, KINGDOM RADIO...
IT'S BEEN ONE OF 2005's BEST SELLERS ON UKG SHOP. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT SO MANY ARE PICKING UP THIS CD WITH LIMITED MARKETING BEHIND IT. PEOPLE JUST SEEM TO BE RESPONDING TO THE
MUSIC AS THEY HEAR IT. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON WHY IT SEEMS TO CONNECT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE...?
Cause it's real. All of the tracks on the album show you different stages of my Christian walk: love, lust, anger, defeat, triumph, and these are things we all experience at some point, but how we deal with it is what sets us apart.
AND YOU'VE NOW UPGRADED THE PACKAGING ON IT AS WELL! WHY?
Initially this album was just a CD I burned for a friend who wanted to listen to my stuff, then his friends heard the CD and started asking for copies. After that the CD became very popular in my church and people started saying I should have it for sale, I only made them one at a time (hence it was just an EP) but the demand became so great that I had to go into mass
IT'S BEEN ONE OF 2005's BEST SELLERS ON UKG SHOP. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT SO MANY ARE PICKING UP THIS CD WITH LIMITED MARKETING BEHIND IT. PEOPLE JUST SEEM TO BE RESPONDING TO THE
MUSIC AS THEY HEAR IT. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON WHY IT SEEMS TO CONNECT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE...?
Cause it's real. All of the tracks on the album show you different stages of my Christian walk: love, lust, anger, defeat, triumph, and these are things we all experience at some point, but how we deal with it is what sets us apart.
AND YOU'VE NOW UPGRADED THE PACKAGING ON IT AS WELL! WHY?
Initially this album was just a CD I burned for a friend who wanted to listen to my stuff, then his friends heard the CD and started asking for copies. After that the CD became very popular in my church and people started saying I should have it for sale, I only made them one at a time (hence it was just an EP) but the demand became so great that I had to go into mass
production, so I added a bonus track on the CD to make it an album instead of an EP. After this batch has shifted I will repackage the album again for a wider release. It was like a bud, a blossom and then fruit!
OK, 2005 IS COMING TO A CLOSE: WHAT HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS BEEN FOR YOU...?
Getting my song played on Kiss 100, joining my church CALVARY CHAPEL SOUTH LONDON (holla!), becoming more grounded in God and going to an area called Hume in Manchester and seeing the kids touched by God and going crazy over my CD!! (They knew the words by the second day!) My heart melted for those guys!
AYO, MY 12 YEAR OLD SON (AS YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ARE HUUUGE FANS) SAYS TO ASK YOU THESE TWO QUESTIONS: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SONG IN THE COLLECTION, AND WHAT MADE YOU BECOME TRYUMF...?
Dat's a tuff one, but it's between HOLDING ON and GHETTO SCRIPTURE... But HOLDING ON
takes it by a nose dive!
The name TRYUMF came about when I was watching a WU TANG CLAN music video called
OK, 2005 IS COMING TO A CLOSE: WHAT HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS BEEN FOR YOU...?
Getting my song played on Kiss 100, joining my church CALVARY CHAPEL SOUTH LONDON (holla!), becoming more grounded in God and going to an area called Hume in Manchester and seeing the kids touched by God and going crazy over my CD!! (They knew the words by the second day!) My heart melted for those guys!
AYO, MY 12 YEAR OLD SON (AS YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ARE HUUUGE FANS) SAYS TO ASK YOU THESE TWO QUESTIONS: WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SONG IN THE COLLECTION, AND WHAT MADE YOU BECOME TRYUMF...?
Dat's a tuff one, but it's between HOLDING ON and GHETTO SCRIPTURE... But HOLDING ON
takes it by a nose dive!
The name TRYUMF came about when I was watching a WU TANG CLAN music video called
"TRIUMPH". I saw the title on the screen and liked it and thought that it should be a name, then I looked at my typewriter and the make was called Triumph. As I looked at it the thought came to me that I should be called Triumph! I changed the spelling because I knew the name was quite popular and I then found out that the way I had spelt it was how Triumph was spelt in Polish!
AND FINALLY, LET'S END WITH THE STORY BEHIND 'GHETTO SCRIPTURE'. I GIVE YOU THE SONG TITLE, AND YOU TELL ME WHAT THE BACK STORY IS...
AND FINALLY, LET'S END WITH THE STORY BEHIND 'GHETTO SCRIPTURE'. I GIVE YOU THE SONG TITLE, AND YOU TELL ME WHAT THE BACK STORY IS...
Interview on REVELATION TV...
GHETTO SCRIPTURE INTRO
I made the beat after a four day fast (no food) the sample in the back is taken from the PASSION OF CHRIST film at the point when he was taken down from the cross. Many times people focus on the death of Christ but forget that he actually "Rides again!" All what is mentioned in the verses is because he "Rides again!"
THE LIMIT
THE LIMIT came about when I nearly got married based on lust and not love. The repercussions of my actions in that relationship were very, very painful both financially and emotionally. A lot of people turned on me and hoped my ministry would fail but "Who God bless no man curse...." If only I could turn back time... Boy. Which leads nicely on to track 3
OPEN UP YOUR HEART (ft DAVE FISHER)
This song is like an answer to the situation I just mentioned above, I wanted to build a relationship properly hence the line "We don't need lust it's love..." I fell in love again but really I was jumping from one relationship into another but another relationship was not what I needed. This led me to write track number 4 "HOLDING ON"
I made the beat after a four day fast (no food) the sample in the back is taken from the PASSION OF CHRIST film at the point when he was taken down from the cross. Many times people focus on the death of Christ but forget that he actually "Rides again!" All what is mentioned in the verses is because he "Rides again!"
THE LIMIT
THE LIMIT came about when I nearly got married based on lust and not love. The repercussions of my actions in that relationship were very, very painful both financially and emotionally. A lot of people turned on me and hoped my ministry would fail but "Who God bless no man curse...." If only I could turn back time... Boy. Which leads nicely on to track 3
OPEN UP YOUR HEART (ft DAVE FISHER)
This song is like an answer to the situation I just mentioned above, I wanted to build a relationship properly hence the line "We don't need lust it's love..." I fell in love again but really I was jumping from one relationship into another but another relationship was not what I needed. This led me to write track number 4 "HOLDING ON"
HOLDING ON (ft TYRONE HENRY)
After two broken relationships every situation said to me "give up", but deep inside my heart as I was walking home one night I started singing the hook "Holding on, holding on". Through the pain and heart ache I was determined to keep holding on because of the strength of Christ in me, hence the line "I called the Messiah and Love lifted me higher".
I REMEMBER YOU CALLING ME OVER SUMMER WHEN YOU WERE MIXING "THE LIMIT ALL STAR REMIX" (ft JUDAH, JAHAZIEL, DON P AND MARGA MAN) AND TELLING ME THE TRACK WAS SERIOUS. WHEN I HEARD IT, I TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU MEANT!...
With this track I just wanted the best MC's I could think of to feature on the track, and MARGA MAN brought the comic relief at the end!
THE REASON (ft RAMIYAH)
THE REASON again came about after having made a lot of enemies. I had to remind myself why I loved God; David said it best in the Psalms 103:2 "Forget not all His benefits". I think that about sums up the song. Getting permission to use the sample was a drawn out relay of emails
After two broken relationships every situation said to me "give up", but deep inside my heart as I was walking home one night I started singing the hook "Holding on, holding on". Through the pain and heart ache I was determined to keep holding on because of the strength of Christ in me, hence the line "I called the Messiah and Love lifted me higher".
I REMEMBER YOU CALLING ME OVER SUMMER WHEN YOU WERE MIXING "THE LIMIT ALL STAR REMIX" (ft JUDAH, JAHAZIEL, DON P AND MARGA MAN) AND TELLING ME THE TRACK WAS SERIOUS. WHEN I HEARD IT, I TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU MEANT!...
With this track I just wanted the best MC's I could think of to feature on the track, and MARGA MAN brought the comic relief at the end!
THE REASON (ft RAMIYAH)
THE REASON again came about after having made a lot of enemies. I had to remind myself why I loved God; David said it best in the Psalms 103:2 "Forget not all His benefits". I think that about sums up the song. Getting permission to use the sample was a drawn out relay of emails
and phone calls but in the end they gave me 50% and I asked for nothing really. My advice: always get clearance before even recording the vocals; it'll save you a lot of time and money!
WHERE D'YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING (ft PROGRESS)
This is the first Gospel rap I ever wrote. I had to present it under the disguise of spoken word poetry to my church at the time before they would let me perform it. Then I rapped it to the church over a beat and everyone loved it (the Pharisees were too late to stop me by then!) I wrote and produced the track back in 1999 when I was in a rap duo called WAYNE AND DWAYNE. WAYNE's rap name was PROGRESS. We were in a rap group b4 we became Christians and both got saved about the same time.
THE RAPTURE (ft PROGRESS)
The music for this track was made back in 1998. When we wrote the song we just wanted to make folks aware that the return of Christ was a reality and not just some story. Everywhere we performed the song crowds were loving it!
WHERE D'YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING (ft PROGRESS)
This is the first Gospel rap I ever wrote. I had to present it under the disguise of spoken word poetry to my church at the time before they would let me perform it. Then I rapped it to the church over a beat and everyone loved it (the Pharisees were too late to stop me by then!) I wrote and produced the track back in 1999 when I was in a rap duo called WAYNE AND DWAYNE. WAYNE's rap name was PROGRESS. We were in a rap group b4 we became Christians and both got saved about the same time.
THE RAPTURE (ft PROGRESS)
The music for this track was made back in 1998. When we wrote the song we just wanted to make folks aware that the return of Christ was a reality and not just some story. Everywhere we performed the song crowds were loving it!
...There isn't much more to add, really. Except to give you the EVEN BETTER NEWS:
Actually, that's not quite true. I have a few copies of version 1 of GHETTO SCRIPTURE left, which TRYUMF and I have agreed to discount quite heavily. So if you haven't got your copy
of one of UKG Shop's best selling CDs for 2005, here's the deal:
I need to get the new batch in, but I can't do anything until my current stock is cleared. With TRYUMF's agreement (I'm not going to sell at a price that doesn't benefit the artist), we're bringing the price down from £6.99 to £4.99 for the last few copies of the CDs I have in stock, to make way for the new batch. So head on down to UKG Presents.com to listen, or UKG Shop
to buy. This is done on a first come, first served basis, so if you want one, buy it now! All links below...
Actually, that's not quite true. I have a few copies of version 1 of GHETTO SCRIPTURE left, which TRYUMF and I have agreed to discount quite heavily. So if you haven't got your copy
of one of UKG Shop's best selling CDs for 2005, here's the deal:
I need to get the new batch in, but I can't do anything until my current stock is cleared. With TRYUMF's agreement (I'm not going to sell at a price that doesn't benefit the artist), we're bringing the price down from £6.99 to £4.99 for the last few copies of the CDs I have in stock, to make way for the new batch. So head on down to UKG Presents.com to listen, or UKG Shop
to buy. This is done on a first come, first served basis, so if you want one, buy it now! All links below...
FREENESS!!
29 JAN 06: VERSION 1 SOLD OUT!
'GHETTO SCRIPTURE 06' NOW IN STOCK!
'GHETTO SCRIPTURE 06' NOW IN STOCK!
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