The Gospel Gangstas started with four members : Mr. Solo,
Chilly Chill, Tic Toc and DJ Dove. Chilly Chill is later
known as Chille' Baby. Tic Toc is later written as Tik Tokk.
Duo
The year 2007 would be a turningpoint, since the
Gospelgangstas would become a duo consisting of Solo Da
Coach and Chille Baby.
Gangmembers
Three ex-gangmembers met in church after a life of crime and
turning their lives to Jesus.
The union of the three is quite unique as Mr. Solo and
Chille' Baby were both former Crips while Tik Tokk was a
Blood. These two streetgangs are enemies.
Crew
DJ Dove was part of the crew for the first two albums: Gang
Affiliated (1994) and Do Or Die (1995). The even more
succesful album I Can See Clearly Now (1999) is made without
him. Tik Tokk would leave the crew in 2004. His last
contributions can be heard on The Exodus (2002) and as a
solo artist on the compilation album Higher Ground (2004)
with the track Reformed & Reborn.
Arrest
On July 6th, 2006 Tik Tokk, the former member of the Gospel
Gangstas, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a Bibb
County, Georgia shooting, Chille' Baby said, "It was a
major, major shock."
Ex-member
Professionally, Mr. Solo and Chille' Baby had not been
associated with Tik Tokk, since 2003. They gave him their
blessing. when he asked to leave the group over a year and a
half ago. They have not recorded with him since then and Tik
Tokk had not performed with the group for years.
Future
When asked about the future of the Gangstas, Mr. Solo said,
"We are moving on with our ministry with the vision God has
given us. Even though Tik Tokk parted from the Gospel
Gangstas, our heart still goes out to him, as well as the
families of the victims."
Prime Example
The Gospel Gangstas are one of the first prime examples of
gangstarap in the holyhiphop scene with their debut Gang
affiliated in 1994.
Featuring
The Gospel Gangstaz have featured on albums like DJ Dove's
The Devil's Worst Nightmare (1996) and Woody Rock's album
entitled Soul Music (2002).
Mix album
The Album All Mixed Up (1999) contains remixes of previously
released Gospel Gangstaz songs. KMG Records acquired the
backcatalogue of the obsolete Forefront Records and released
this album without the artistic consent of the crew.
Own Label
They left B-Rite records and started their own label Camp 8
Records and released the album The Exodus in 2002. The
Gospel Gangstas said to have changed their name into Camp 8,
but no album has of yet been released under the new name.
Name
Camp 8 is derived from the significance of the number eight
in the Bible. "The eight represents the new beginning, the
seven days of completion," Mr. Solo says. "When the Father
destroyed the whole world, he only spared eight: Noah, his
wife, three sons, and their wives. David was the eighth son.
He killed Goliath and set Israel free."
Awards
- One Grammy Nominated 2000 for I Can See Clearly Now
(1999).
- Four time Dove Award Nominees 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006.
- Three time Stellar Award Nominee 2001, 2004.
Nominations
On February 20th, 2007 it was announced that the Gospel
Gangstaz album The Flood (2006) is nominated for the 38th
Annual GMA Dove Awards in the category Rap/Hip Hop Album of
the Year.
Nominations: Songs
The Gospel Gangstaz track "Let's Go" from the album The
Flood (2006) is nominated for the 38th Annual GMA Dove
Awards in the category Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
on February 20th, 2007.
New Album
After four years the Gospel Gangstas released a new album
called "The Flood" in 2006. It was first released as a
digital download.
Movie
A documentary about the Gospel Gangstaz is scheduled for
release on DVD "Street Disciples" in 2007. The movie is
about the ganglife in the United States, how the Bloods and
Cribs started, to the Gospel Gangstaz' salvation testimony
and the rise of their musical career. Ending in the phase of
their life, where they are currently at.
Videos
The crew released the video "Late Night" featuring rapper
E-40 on October 28th, 2007.
Soundtrack
Together with the movie "Street Disciples" a soundtrack will
be released as well. No title is known as of yet.
The DVD is scheduled for release in 2007.
The movie is about the ganglife in the United States, how
the Bloods and Cribs started, to the Gospel Gangstaz'
salvation testimony and the rise of their musical career.
Ending in the phase of their life, where they are currently
at.
The movie also features: E-40, Yolanda Adams, Kurupt, Kirk
Franklin, Alan Houston, and many more.
The album was first released as a digital download only with
no artwork.
1. What it do
2. Conscience
3. Stand up
4. Back then - featuring Knine
5. My life - featuring J Ro
6. City lights
7. Playin games
8. Krazy
9. Let's go
10. Raise up roll out
11. My G'z
12. Only Jesus can save us
Rating:
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The CD version is released in August 2006.
Production by H20 Productions and Camp 8.
1. What It Do
2. Stand Up
3. Raise Up
4. My Life
5. Back Then
6. Let's Go
7. Playin Games
8. Conscious
9. Crazy
10. City Lights
11. My G's
12. Only Jesus
Rating:
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The album got nominated in the category Rap/Hip Hop album of
the year for a Dove award in 2004.
1. Gangsta'd up
2. Troubles don't last
3. A-O
4. Caught up
5. Heaven awaits us
6. Change
7. Come bounce with us
8. My lessons
9. Watch, pray, live, holy
10. Gangstaz don't dance
featuring Bootsy Collins
11. Bad company
12. Scream
Rating:
Our users rated this release: 10 out of 10 (Number of votes: 2) Sign up or login to submit your vote
1. Amazin' grace
2. I can see clearly now
3. I call your name
4. Once was blind
5. Questions
6. One way
7. Whatcha gonna do
8. They don't believe tha...
9. Interlude #1-roll call...
10. Operation liquidation
11. Live it up
12. Let us pray
13. I'll be good
14. Interlude #2-we can't ...
15. Once was blind
Rating:
Our users rated this release: 9 out of 10 (Number of votes: 3) Sign up or login to submit your vote
Remixes of previously released songs. KMG Records acquired
the backcatalogue of the obsolete Forefront Records and
released this album without the artistic consent of the
crew.
1. Do or die
2. CMC's meet OGG's
3. Gospel gangsta voyage
4. Y can't da Homiez hear me?
5. Gospel gangsta thang
6. Mobbin' (gang affiliated)
7. Tears of a black man
8. Testimony
9. Before redemption
10. Tha holy terra
Rating:
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1. Ghetto sermon
2. O double g's go on
3. Maybe if
4. Y cain't da homiez hear me? - (remix)
5. Demon killa
6. Do or die
7. Gospel gangsta thang
8. Truth and funk
9. West coast roc
10. Backslider
11. Anutha gruuv fo sum preechin'
Rating:
Our users rated this release: 5.3 out of 10 (Number of votes: 3) Sign up or login to submit your vote
1. Death for life (intro)
2. Before redemption
3. O.G.G. intro
4. Mobbin' (gang affiliated)
6. Ain't nuthin' changed
7. Vengeance is mine
8. Interrogation 1
9. Y can't da homiez hear me?
10. Tha holy terra
11. Interrogation 2
12. One time
13. Trial by error
14. Tears of a black man
15. Da gangsta' prayer
16. Gospel Gangsta voyage
17. A gruuv fo sum preechin'
Rating:
Our users rated this release: 9.3 out of 10 (Number of votes: 10) Sign up or login to submit your vote