This album is a blend of Hip Hop& R&B grooves combined with Gospel Truths,Soulful Singing and a prophetic lyrical content reminiscent of Brian McKnight and Outkast.

15 MP3 Songs
GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel, HIP HOP/RAP: Spiritual Rap



Details:
ARTIST BIO: Derrick A Gilbert

Position: Independent Artist / Producer
Genre: Urban Contemporary Gospel / Holy Hip Hop

Derrick Gilbert is one of those peculiar individuals, a man possessing a vision with a profound range for Urban Contemporary Gospel. With performance and production credits from his hometown of Alexander, AR to the World Famous, Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. From Invites to Prince's Paisley Park Compound in Minnesota to Mitchell's Night Club in Oijungbu, Korea. Derrick has really proven himself as a seasoned and experienced artist in the Urban Contemporary Gospel Genre. His musical influences include Fred Hammond, Brian McKnight, Commissioned and Out Of Eden. While on tour in Korea, Derrick had the opportunity to meet a long time idol, Brian McKnight, at a small club in Oijungbu. "It was a really good acoustic set and I enjoyed myself. He reminded me of the church singers I grew up under. I can really appreciate the art of live performance from my church going experiences, even though I don't attend now as much as I would like, I must say that I first learned about good singers and musicians from Sharon Baptist Church in my hometown. So I thought it was important to dedicate a song to my Grandmother on the album (Greasy) because it tells the story of my musical history. Even back then I was influenced by Hip Hop music. It was considered a sin back then, but
I could never really see a difference in musical styles, either it touches you or it doesn't. The power to me has always been in the lyrics. Because lyrics give you the power to say what's on your mind freely and unapologetically. I see hip hop as a form of preaching or prophesying, and I think that when a singer sings from the heart, they allow the Holy Spirit to move and yokes are destroyed. It's never really been a goal to be a cover artist , but I do understand the many lessons and ideas that derive from cover songs.

In 2005 Derrick participated in the Military Idol, at Fort Hood, were he made it to the final round. Also, he performed to a packed house at "The Belton County Expo" in
Belton, TX in October and another packed house at People's Choice Worship Center in Killeen, TX. Derrick introduced a new blend of Holy Hip Hop to a particularly young audience and has been on the go every since.
In late April of 2006, Derrick was accepted as a Lead Vocalist in the First Cavalry Division Band, he is currently on tour in Iraq serving his country as a vocalist in the band and actively involved with the church music scene at Camp Liberty, Iraq.