| See if this sounds familiar… A young New Yorker teams with a childhood friend to become a rap star. With links and support from a multi-platinum producer, he seemingly hits the “Big Time” with nationwide tours and television appearances. Then, at what some would define as the height of his celebrity, he finds God and steps away from the game. Our Yankee friend withdraws for a season to develop spiritually, often blaming his former hip hop lifestyle as a tool of the Enemy. Later, the MC returns to the mic with a goal to infiltrate the mainstream market with a clearer head and cleaner tongue. Although not taking an evangelistic approach to his lyrics, when asked, he points to the God-man of Jesus as the reason for the change. Is Whuteva the new Murda Ma$e? Can Desmond Douglas avoid some of the pitfalls that have seemingly haunted Mason Betha’s post-salvation public image? The similarities are striking. Ma$e grew up with Cam’ron, was produced by Puffy, and “retired” at the pinnacle of his career. From there he enrolled in Bible college, became a pastor, and blasted his rap past in a book titled “Revelations: There's a Light After the Lime.” Roughly 365 days from the hardback’s publication, he returned to Bad Boy and released Welcome Back – a clean rap record created by a Christian. A year later he dropped the Crucified 4 Da Hood mixtape with G-Unit and sounded decidedly less family friendly. For Whuteva it was 50 Cent (the boyhood buddy) and Rockwilder (noted producer for Redman, Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera and others). Despite touring with the bullet-proof vested, spinning-chain crew and making soundtrack and other guest appearances, he felt he was repeatedly hitting the proverbial glass ceiling. Frustrated, he returned to his faith and retreated to Long Island to get away from the temptations of his old life. Now, back with Rock, he’s aiming for the mainstream market as a “rapper that’s a Christian” and trying to learn from what some might term The Pastor Ma$e Project. “That’s my brother so I really have nothing to say or judge because we’re all faced with the same things in some form or fashion,” Desmond “Whuteva” Douglas said. “I think he could’ve just stayed with the Puff Daddy situation and did his thing. If he was just able to maintain his lifestyle, being saved and a pastor or a minister, he could’ve done whatever he wanted to do lyrically. “It’s a shame that a lot of Christian people don’t feel the same way, but I’m not going to get caught up in all that. I don’t do this for the streets and I don’t do this for the church. I do it because of what God’s done for me.” The “this” that Whuteva’s doing is living out his faith around non-Christians without a typical holy hip hop pulpit. He’s a lead performing artist and writer with Rockwilder’s Fuel Records Blue Octane project that works as a soundtrack for professional wakeboard riders on extreme sports tours. He’s also composed a theme song for UFC’s Mike “Quick” Swick that will introduce the fighter’s ring entrance at future events. In addition, he’s loading up for the release of The Wilderness – his next album that will be executively produced by Rock. |
“I think those are some of the things that will allow us to expand as a community of Christian rappers,” Whuteva said. “So you might see me do a Ma$e type of situation and then I’ll do stuff that really is Word-based. I love to express myself in many different ways but more so, I believe your life is your ministry.” But what safe- guards are in place to avoid that gravity-like pull back to his old crew? After all, even Pastor Ma$e couldn’t avoid the grab of the Gorilla Unit. “I go to church consistently and prayer [service] as much as possible,” Whuteva said. “I’m definitely accountable. I have pastors that are more like parents that keep me close.” Whuteva also admits that he and Ma$e had different levels of success and that, while initially disheartening, God may have actually used it to protect him and his reputation. Now he can hit the mainstream rap scene as a new artist who can establish his faith base from the jump. He said he feels many people knew the old Ma$e, watched the radical conversion, and felt defensive whenever the renewed version came around. In addition, Whuteva credits his literal move away from his previous environments with helping to keep him grounded and out of harm’s way. “I don’t even play the hood too close,” Whuteva said. “I say what’s up to my friends and keep it moving. I stay out here in the ‘burbs somewhere right now.” “If I was still living out in Queens around the midst of the action it probably would have been more of a challenge for me. In the Bible you even see Jesus pull off to the side to pray and get away from it all. If you stay in it everyday, all day you definitely have a higher chance of relapsing or falling back into some of the same temptations.” Christian proselytization often uses war imagery to rank, recruit, and rile. A unique spiritual battle stage like the one to which Whuteva feels drawn is no different. “If you’re fighting on the front lines, and that’s your calling, then you better believe those shots are whizzing right past you,” the artist said. “You’re not in the barracks somewhere. Recognize what it is and if you’re not built for that then I wouldn’t even suggest playing around with it.” Whuteva said that he and artists like him can benefit most from the prayers of gospel rap fans and strong believers who are asking for the Holy Spirit to correct and guide their paths. A quiet public tongue doesn’t hurt either. “Even in Ma$e’s situation, I saw what happened and had an opinion, but I just kept it to myself. At the same time, I didn’t want to criticize him but I actually did want to pray about it and asked God to keep him strong and not let anything discredit His name,” he said. One can imagine Whuteva is looking for the same sort of attitude and action from today’s Christian rap fans as he moves forward. Avoiding the Failures of “The Pastor Ma$e Project” Whuteva interview By Sketch the Journalist |
FUEL RECORDS CO-FOUNDER ROCKWILDER ENTERTAINS CROWD AT RAIL JAM
ORLANDO, FL – SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 - 2x Grammy Award winning producer and co-founder of Fuel Records and Board Beats of Orlando, FL entertained the Surf Expo crowd of approx. 7,000 on Wall Street in downtown Orlando. Prior to entertaining on Wall Street RockWilder attended the House of Blues Concert where Fuel Records newly signed band Joan Red performed.
RockWilder was the DJ on stage similar to how he does it on tour with Missy Elliott. Mike Mantis rocked out on the drums and Fuel Records hip hop Artist Whuteva also entertained the crowd by performing the title track “Hustler” off his new album. Kyle Albert’s made a world record behind the stage while RockWilder and Mantis performed on stage. Kyle jumped a 40 gap over a bus making Saturday night’s performance phenomenal.
“I have never seen anything like it!” said pro wakeboarder Nick Weinacker. “All of Wall Street was focused on these guys on stage the whole night, the energy was amazing.”
RockWilder came into the extreme sports scene in January of 2008 after watching pro wakeboarder Shawn Watson ride while rocking out to his favorite tunes. “It was a wrap after that, I moved down from NYC to Orlando and brought 18 of the top pro wakeboarders into the studio to co-produce a song with me that would inspire them to ride,” commented RockWilder. The next album will focus on co-produced music from the world’s top skateboarders.
Orlando, Florida based Fuel Records has offices in NYC and Los Angeles. An independent record label that is distributed via Warner Music Group | ADA and Embraces all genres of music offering the artist and producer creative freedom in order to maximize their ability to write and record music. Fuel also focuses on identifying market trends within the music industry and specifically recognizes the musician's need to compete in the digital age, Fuel utilizes cutting edge 3D viral marketing campaigns and digital album cards distributed to big box retailers along with traditional distribution of CD’s, marketing, radio promotion, internet retail distribution, including iTunes and tour support. Fuel provides high octane music from high octane artists.
Fuel Records also operates an action sports music division of our label. Top athletes from around the world in action sports come into the studio to help write and co-produce their own music which inspires them to perform in their sport. This is accomplished in the best studios and alongside 2x Grammy winning producer RockWilder. The music from the athlete is then offered for purchase. Many Athletes use the song to help promote themselves, their sport, their sponsors and their favorite charities. Digital album cards are also used by the athlete to attach to apparel or other athlete endorsed products and offered at venues where they perform, online retailers and in stores. Fuel is building an impressive track record completing projects with over 30 different athletes ranging from the UFC to Skateboarding and many other types of action sports and the number keeps growing. Fuel provides high octane music for high octane athletes.
Contact:
Emmy Ledbetter
Coming up on Hot List...
Wednesday – 9 PM ET/PT: Whuteva's Favorites (Premiere)
T-Bone, Pettidee, Israel & New Breed and others make the cut on this Gospel rapper's top video picks.
Lisa Kimmey counts down great Gospel videos within a specific theme, everything from songs of prayer, the greatest choirs, and southern gentlemen, to Gospel classics, the world's loudest videos, top 10 female artists and many more. Every night a new list – every night great videos.
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RockWilder™s Blue Octane Pro Wakeboard Edition Album Release a HIT |
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April 28, 2008 – Orlando, FL –The album Blue Octane Pro Wakeboard Edition Release Party was hosted by Hip-Hop Legend RockWilder. 2x Grammy award winning producer RockWilder has come together with 18 of the top wakeboarders in the world to customize music for them that will inspire their ride. Over the past 4 months he has collaborated with these 18 riders customizing beats and lyrics and bringing in his camp of writers and artists to help create the album. Rev Run, formerly of Run DMC is featured on a track on the Blue Octane Pro Wakeboard Edition. RockWilder was inspired to make music for the riders when he was down to Orlando from his home in New York. After watching Shaun Watson ride he was amazed at the sport that he knew nothing about. He was intrigued by the tower speakers and This has been the most amazing experience. I feel like this is my Pink Floyd The Wall album because of endless creativity and different genre's of music, RockWilder. RockWilder has been in the picture from the beginning helping create Fuel Records, Inc; an independent record label and Board Beats, Inc. Shane Bonifay said, I have never made music so stepping into the studio with one of the best producers in the industry was insane! The Blue Octane Pro Wakeboard Edition album can be purchased at www.boardbeats.com and it can be downloaded off of iTunes also. The riders on the Blue Octane Pro Wakeboard Edition album include Shawn Watson, JD Webb, Aaron Rathy, Shaun Murray, Adam Errington, Rusty Malinoski, Brandon Thomas, Dallas Friday, Nick Weinacker, Chad Sharpe, Shane Bonifay, Parks Bonifay, Brian Grubb, Erik Ruck, Danny Harf, Randall Harris, Sonja Scheffler and Amber Wing. The next two albums will be released later this year and they focus on customized music for the top skateboarders and snowboarders in the world. About Fuel Records - Co-founded by 2 time Grammy winner and MTV music award winner Dana Stinson aka RockWilder and is an Independent label with offices in NYC and Orlando, Florida. Boardbeats.com is the action sports side of the label. Offering no limits on creativity and supportive of all genres of music. Fuel Records is distributed by Warner Music Group | Ryco. Digital distribution is directly with The Orchard. Fuel provides high octane music from high octane artists. Contact: Emmy Ledbetter |
how each rider had their own tunes to play during their set. It was a wrap after that. Rock moved down to Florida and started to get to know the riders and created 19 amazing tracks. “Music is such an intrical part of their sport so it only made sense to make each rider their own music. Randall Harris really impressed me and wrote his own song then we rap on it together RockWilder.
"FROM G-UNIT TO GOD"
by Duane Swing
Check out ya boy WHUTEVA in the next issue of S.O.U.L. MAG. Whuteva touches topics on everything from his transition from secular rap into the Christian industry, his experiences with the "Unit" and the new projects he has brewing. Stay tuned and check it out!! Pick up S.O.U.L. Mag at every Christian bookstore across the nation.
read more at souldmag.com
Rockwilder’s transition into Christian Music
Long time friend, and one of Rockwilder's first artists WHUTEVA, is the key factor in Rockwilder's decision to make the transition into Christian hip hop.
"When I saw that WHUTEVA was serious about doing this Christian music, I was in full support as I always was of his career. Lord knows we've done everything under the sun as far as the parties, shows, touring and different types of music.
If he feels this is something that he wants to do, then that's what it is. This isn't anything that's foreign to me. I also had a church upbringing, like most of us out here."
WHUTEVA, close friend of 50 Cent and former G-Unit member (see his cameo appearance on HUSTLA video), reconcentrated his focus and energies of music to his roots in the church, and since partnering with Rockwilder on such projects, has taken this music to the next level.
CHECK OUT THE "HUSTLA" VIDEO featuring Rockwilder, and cameo of 50 Cent:
WHUTEVA'S MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/whoiswhuteva
ROCKWILDER'S MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/theironeye
or WHUTEVA's website: www.whuteva.com
BE APART OF THE NEW MOVE IN HIP HOP.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE, AND SPREAD THE WORD!
WHO'S NEXT TO MAKE THE TRANSITION, 50 CENT????????
STAY TUNED AND GOD BLESS.....
Kingdom Inner-tainment Kompany
"...the Kingdom of God is within you." -Luke 17:21
