Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 7

When God's People Pay Tribute

If I were to say that gospel award winning producers and artists such as Donald Lawrence, The Clark Sisters, Kiki Sheard, J. Moss and other modern gospel industry artists were gathering themselves together to give a special tribute to someone, many of us would ask which gospel personality, minister, singer or otherwise would they be coming together to commemorate? That would be a good question.

But what if I said that they were not coming together to celebrate anyone or anything that had to do with the gospel in any manner. What if I said that gospel artists were going to render their gospel talents in celebration of a person and group who has never preached one gospel word, saved one soul for Jesus Christ, and in fact have consistently contributed to the kingdom of darkness spanding for over 32 years???

Well, here it is. In another of the more strange developments within the gospel community, Frankie Beverly, founder of the secular group Maze, (who has never won a secular industry music award) has chosen Donald Lawrence as a member of his production team to place together an all star cast of individuals to pay special tribute to Frankie Beverly and the works of the group called Maze, called the "Silky Soul Music...An All Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly". As part of this homage, top gospel music producer, Donald Lawrence, has also agreed to rewrite and release a Maze song, "I Want To Thank You".

Now, there is some confusion over when the song (I Want To Thank You) was originally presented to the world and I think I know why. The song that Donald Lawrence is rewriting, wrapped up as a gospel song, was originally released with another song called "Southern Girl" in 1980 on a 12" 33.5 RPm Promo through Capitol Records. The song was re-released in 1983 on the album 'We Are One' by Capitol Records and later by EMI Music (Netherlands) Although my accounting of release dates and times are listed on their website, the following is stated in the Press release:

• Beverly has also secured an “all-star” production team to join him in the studio with this collection of great artists, including Grammy nominated producer Rex Rideout and Grammy and Stellar Award winning producer Donald Lawrence. Lawrence is producing a gospel rendition of the Frankie Beverly classic, “I Wanna Thank You,” originally released on Maze’s 1983 “We Are One” LP.

Whether Beverly knows it or not, there is a message being sent through this song and it's rewrite and the association of the rewrite with the 1983 date. This song and this event will effectively make many of the top gospel artists ONE with the world for and during this event. That has happened on occasion and many of the gospel artists themselves promote such currently. Kirk Franklin produced a project based off of the same standard of 1970's and 1980's rewrites, so this is nothing new. The problem here is that Maze has an unusual intoxicating appeal partially because of the subject matter that the group enjoins and also because of the spirit of seduction and mysticism that he (the group) promotes.

(Update 3/30/2010: Thanks to Paul, you can see the gospel singers pay tribute to this idol for themselves: HERE is the video. All I can say is what a SHAME!)

Who Is Frankie Beverly & Why Should Gospel Celebrate Him?


Born Dec. 6, 1946, Frankie's claim to early fame arises from a thoroughly disputed assertion that he sang with a group called The Silhouettes. Though Mr. Beverly says he was a lead singer for a time, nobody, but nobody even remembers him neither is his name documented as being a part of the group other than in his mind.

Later, before leaving Philadelphia, Frankie founded the group "Raw Soul". After moving from Philadelphia to California and after contemplating renaming the group names such as "Karma" and "Charisma", Frankie was encouraged by the gentleman that gave him his first big break, the late Marvin Gaye, to change the groups name to Maze. As if Marvin Gaye's intervention wasn't telling enough, the music style that Maze pioneered became known as "Quiet Storm". The Quiet Storm genre, which has given way to Neo Soul, was played late at night as lover's music and as relaxation grooves. The music was slow, rhythmic, and also known as soul ballad style of music.

As most popular singers, Frankie's singing career began in church as confirmed in his following comments:

• "like most black artists, I was influenced by going to church. You know, it was like anyone that could sing was featured in a Sunday program! So I did my share of solos in church...a lot of singing!"

At age 9 he fell in love with secular music. He recounts this:

• "The first record I can remember was Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy." I heard it and said, 'what's this?' I loved it! But it was Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers who really turned my world upside down. In fact, I was so blown away by Frankie that I changed my own name - my birth name is Howard! But after I heard Frankie and the guys, I was totally bitten. I knew every one of their hits - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," "I Want You To Be My Girl," "Who Can Explain?," "The ABCs Of Love"... Every time they appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," I was glued to the t.v. and whenever they came to town to appear at The Uptown Theater, I was right there. In fact, seeing Frankie was the catalyst for me to want to get into music. He was young, just like me, and he was up there doing it, making a living in music..."

His efforts and work gave rise to many secular artists such as Natalie Cole (during her comeback years in the mid-'80s), Anita Baker, Regina Belle, and Toni Braxton. Frankie Beverly says this about creating secular stars:

• "...and it makes me feel great to see how each of those artists has gone to have great success..."

When Gospel, Pagan & Secular Paths Cross

To illustrate the path that the gospel industry is trodding with its interaction with Maze, one of Frankie Beverly's songs, "Lady Of Magic", appears to have been dedicated to the enlightenment found in the Egyptian goddess ISIS. Remember, In Hip-Hop, Idolatry, & The Church Pt. 1 we discovered that early hip-hop, and even modern hip-hop was replete with all kinds of ancient Egyptian deity overtones and messages. According to the ISIS myth, ISIS became known as the "Lady Of Magic" after she used her magic to save Ra (the Egyptian sun god) from a "holy" cobra's poisonous wound, and tricked him into revealing his name to her. Before actually using her healing powers to save Ra she demanded a promise from him that her son would be given a high position. By providing Ra life through her saving actions, and finding out his name, she also secured a place for herself as one coequal and in even greater in power than Ra himself. She then casts a spell of magic and saves Ra from sure death therefore establishing her power as a woman among gods who were previously and exclusively all men. Frankie Beverly was so influenced by ISIS and her abilities that he wrote a very popular song that many are enamoured by even today. Here are a few of the lyrics from that song:

"There ain't a thing ooh that she can't do
Boy she's proved it time and time before
I think she's special in so many many many ways
I'll be her friend forever more"

"She always knows when somethings wrong

Her smile just helps me move along
To her I dedicate this song
To my lady my lady of magic she's so good"
Lady Of Magic Frankie Beverly & Maze ~ 1977

Upon reading with spiritual glasses, one cannot help but notice that this song is an ode to ISIS indicating her omnibenevolance (universal goodness), omnipresence (universal presence and existence), omniscience (unlimited ability to know all) and her unlimited ability to do anything. These lyrics, intoxicating as they are, aren't about a human, they're about a defeated and defunct goddess. Over the years Maze has managed to place together a host of songs revolving around mysticism and the soul. remember the tribute name "Silky Soul" which is also another of Maze's songs.

So here we have a person that has never contributed to the gospel, is at best confused about the history of his own career path, and has never done ANYTHING to build the Kingdom of God, but has left plenty of evidence of songs possibly dedicated to the remembrance of mythical gods, goddesses and idol deities. How can it be that a person that can do this will be receiving a tribute by and from certain gospel music industry personalities and everyone thinks it's all right and not a problem???


What's In The Power Of The Maze or Labyrinth


A maze and labyrinth are distinct in that the maze is designed to be difficult to navigate, thus encouraging one to become lost. Being lost in flesh is what is what seems to be happening and have happened to some of gospel's elite music personalities. This is intriguing because the Maze design of this group is actually a heated double wall maze/labyrinth, with 7 extensions. This type of design is symbolic of the journey between death and life and is reflective of holding the mind, away from outside disturbances, placing it in a status of peace, contemplation, and isolation.
Here is a brief description of the culturalization and how the maze or labyrinth was and is currently used:

• "Labyrinths can be thought of as symbolic forms of pilgrimage; people can walk the path, ascending toward salvation or enlightenment. Many people could not afford to travel to holy sites and lands, so labyrinths and prayer substituted for such travel. Later, the religious significance of labyrinths faded, and they served primarily for entertainment, though recently their spiritual aspect has seen a resurgence. Many newly made labyrinths exist today, in churches and parks. Labyrinths are used by modern mystics to help achieve a contemplative state. Walking among the turnings, one loses track of direction and of the outside world, and thus quiets the mind."

One of the most interesting things about this group is that they have never won and industry award but are known as the group who consistently sells out every concert or venue in which they perform, drawing large crowds to listen to and enjoy their performances and partake of their "spirits".
These observations cannot be overstated because now even those who promote gospel are being introduced similarly to this group along with all the influences that this group may have spiritual or otherwise.These events naturally lead to much greater questions and observations. Some are as follows:

• Do these gospel artists believe that they are remaining true to the orientation of the gospel?
• Are these artists preaching and teaching "another gospel" through their works?
• Should the gospel music industry even be an industry?
• What should the church response be to these type of displays and events where minstrels are used in the secular world to promote secular and ungodly causes?
• How can the church cause these singers, some of which are homosexuals, to turn, seek God and stand for righteousness?

These are some of the questions I plan to address in Part 8 of this series. I will conclude with this observation from scripture:

2 Kings 18:13-16 also Isa. 36:1~ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 14-And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15-And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. 16-At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria."

I'll explain this better in part 8 also, but just know that over $288,000,000 couldn't pacify the devil then and it won't pacify him now. The true gospel only worships the TRUE and LIVING God and doesn't need to pay for it's place.

Blessed!