Author: Calvin R. Evans
Published: December 1, 2005
Tool: [ email ]
Manhunt: Today I am interviewing my brother, my frat brother, my sands, my boy James Bethea. What’s going on sands?
Bethea: What's going on man, it's good to talk to you.
Manhunt: Hey man I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. You know we go way, way back. Brothers of A Phi A, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Old school.
(Both laugh).
Bethea: Very old school.
Manhunt: (laughs)Yeah man I wanted to talk to you about some of the things that are going on with you right now. You're a songwriter as well as a singer.
Bethea: Yes sir.
Manhunt: Very talented. You've been doing this for a very long time. When did you first start writing songs?
Bethea: Actually I tried to write songs back during the college days, but it was nothing that I could say I was proud of. The first time that I noticed that I had an anointing to write was around 1996. It came out of a frustration of hearing gospel take a back seat in the music industry, as far as recognition.
Manhunt: Ok.
Bethea: I'm a member of World Changers Ministries; my pastor is Creflo A. Dollar.
Manhunt: Ok.
Bethea: And we have a man of God who is a stickler for living according to the Word. And we know that a lot of times in gospel music there are a lot of songs that may make us feel good, but when you really listen to the lyrical content, a lot of the songs may have a little doubt and unbelief in them or they may not be exactly lined up with the Word. And being under the teachings that I am under, our man of God is like, "Hey if it's not of the Word, we've got to watch what we speak."
Manhunt: That's right.
Bethea: So when you say you are in the business of ministry and music, and we are talking about the incorruptible Word of God, what you are saying in your lyrics has to be according to the Word.
Manhunt: Exactly.
Bethea: You know, it doesn't matter if it makes somebody clap their hands and stomp their feet, if you aren't giving them something from the incorruptible Word of God; you are not ministering to them.
Manhunt: Exactly.
Bethea: I find a little frustrating in finding material that you could listen to, either the lyrics were dynamite but the music was sub par, or the music was slamming and the lyrics were sub par. So that was my own frustration that I was dealing with, so I began to seek God for songs that come straight from the throne. Not knowing that He would give them to me, I was looking to find who was out there doing it.
Manhunt: Right.
Bethea: And in this frustration of seeking Him for good music, the Father began to drop songs in my spirit and I began to write them down and praise God people are being blessed by it.
Manhunt: Amen man that's all right. Now you co-wrote Love Song with Canton Jones.
Bethea: Yes.
Manhunt: That's big, very big. How is that song doing on the charts?
Bethea: Amen, well the last time I looked at Billboard's Radio Monitor on the Gospel charts it made the charts on the Top 40 it was number 37, and I believe God it's going to continue to move up. It's still a trip to hear something that I wrote on the radio.
Manhunt: (laughs) How does that feel?
Bethea: It feels good man. (Both laugh) I give all the glory to the Father because He could've chosen anybody to be in that place to write that song. I am just grateful.
Manhunt: Amen, that's all right. So how did you hook up with Canton Jones?
Bethea: Well CJ (Canton Jones) is a member of my church and he was a part of the music ministry. I have been a part of the music ministry for over 12 years at World Changers. I remember when he first joined the music ministry I didn't know he was an artist, a producer or a writer. Then one day in passing, he brought me a copy of his independent CD. When I heard it I was like, "Yo, this cat is no joke." (Manhunt agrees). Because when you listen to his material, he is given our kids an alternative. In the hip-hop today, even as we call ourselves the grown folk, we know that as far as the beats and the production of hip-hop if you were ever into the music at all, I could see an older person feeling it. But the lyrics and what they said is nothing that we want our children listening to if you are a member of the body (of Christ).
Manhunt: Certainly.
Bethea: But you find so few alternatives for our kids and I listened to the stuff CJ had and the kids were eating that stuff up. His music is current, his production is no joke, and then he is a great storyteller with his lyrics, whether he is rapping it or singing it, it was awesome.
Manhunt: Right.
Bethea: But like I said, we just knew each other from the music ministry itself, and God opened doors that we had the opportunity to speak to each other as writers. At the time that we first hooked up, I was in the process of attempting to start my own label and produce a compilation CD. I had a couple of artists signed to the label, we were starting fresh and didn't really have any knowledge of how to do this thing we just wanted to get it done and get it recorded. And CJ agreed to help me out; he said that he would produce a couple of tracks for me, so the day he was working on Love Song, I came over to his studio because I was scheduled for a session for him to produce one of my tracks. But when I got there he was working on this track, and as an artist you know how it is when you are in the zone, you really don't want to stop that flow. So I was feeling what he was doing and I told him to continue doing what he was doing and I would just sit and listen. And as was producing it, lyrics started popping into my head and I was like, "Ok calm down, this is not my song so let me be quiet and let this man handle his business." (Manhunt laughs) And finally he turned to me and he was telling me the concept of the song and he was like, "Come on James, what you got? I know you got something for me." Well at that point I said, " Well how about this?" And I began to spit out the lyrics for him and within thirty minutes, we had the complete song. He was so hyped about it that what you hear on the radio now is that one take.
Manhunt: Wow, that is awesome.
Bethea: Reading the lyrics off the paper, he recorded that in one take and that's what you hear on the radio now. So like I said, God could've used anybody.
Manhunt: That's evidence of the anointing flowing right there.
Bethea: Amen.
Manhunt: No what are you working on right now? Are you doing anymore writing for anyone else or are you working on something for yourself right now?
Bethea: Well right now, I been writing pretty regularly since '96, I have a lot of material, but this year I began the process of recording my own solo project.
Manhunt: Ok.
Bethea: And we have a few tracks done, and we are moving as God makes the provision. But what we are doing, the name of my publishing company is Nothing But Word Music...
Manhunt: Ok great...
Bethea: And a lot of the materials that I write are not for me to sing, so at the same time that I am writing to complete my project, I am also writing for other artists that are interested in some of my materials. I've talked to people like Debra Killings, she has heard some of my material, I would love the opportunity to write for her and that just might happen very soon.
Manhunt: Amen.
Bethea: There is another artist coming out soon named Timothy Williams and I wrote a song that we are in the process of getting the paperwork together for so he can put it on his debut release.
Manhunt: Amen!
Bethea: There is another artist that I have worked with, his name is Adrian the Rock Star. I guess he would put you in the mind of a gospel Usher.
Manhunt: (Giggles)Ok.
Bethea: And I co-wrote a song with him that he is trying to put on his album. So in the city of Atlanta, these are a lot of artists that are about to hit the scene, and we all network because we have all crossed paths in one way or another. Folks are real excited about hearing these individuals sing or minister live, and now everybody is dropping their projects. But I'm working with people like Canton Jones on my project, he's helping me out on a couple of tracks, there's another gentleman by the name of Carl Reeves, I'm telling you, you are going to hear this brother...this brother is a bass player for our music ministry and he has his own production company called Boots Music. This brother is going to blow the scene up because anybody who hears his licks on the bass wants him on their project.
Manhunt: (Laughs)Really?
Bethea: Yeah man. I'm working with him, another brother named Vernon Messum. This brother has worked with a number of artists across the board and played for them and, these names that I'm telling you right now are going to be regular, standard names in the industry so just be prepared.
Manhunt: So you're working with big dogs huh? (Laughs) You are doing big things man, that's all right. So in terms of marketing your CD, do you plan on doing this independently or do you plan to approach labels about it?
Bethea: Well I'm planning to do it independent. We want to move some units independently. We may entertain the idea of picking up distribution later on, but I believe in trusting God. The Lord orders my steps so when I step into this thing we have a plan in place and as God makes the provision we will move into it. Nothing is etched in stone right now. If a label approaches us and the terms are adequate, and we are able to still minister freely as we choose and are not bound to a contract that will limit our ministry, then we may go for that. But right now, we are looking at doing it independent and we just want to bless people man. I just want to be in God's perfect will.
Manhunt: That's great.
Bethea: Some of us put ourselves in a box and I believe that there is a takeover that is about to take place.
Manhunt: All right!
Bethea: There is no way that the gospel, or anything of God, should be sub-par to that of the world.
Manhunt: You're right.
Bethea: So you know music, it affects every aspect of life. I mean music is the most influential thing there is. Just think of the movies, you look at a movie and depending on the scene of the movie, if it's scary, the music makes it even scarier. If it's a love scene, the music sets the tone for the love scene. If it's action, they've got the music to get your adrenaline flowing. So music was created by the Father to glorify the Father. So that's what we are doing. And for the industry right now, with the gospel taking a second seat, that's going to change. We are about to take over this industry with good music and lyrics that can bless you.
Manhunt: Amen. Brother I am excited about the things are happening for you right now and the way that God is using you. You know what our motto is, so just keep holding up the light.
Bethea: Amen. You know that.
Manhunt: Yo all I want to know is when are you going to hook me up with some tickets. (Both laugh)
Bethea: Well you know quiet as it's kept, I waiting to get a ticket to your show.
Manhunt: I don't know about all that. We'll talk about that later (both laugh).
Bethea: All right brother.
Manhunt: All right man thanks a lot I appreciate it.
Bethea: Thank you man.
Manhunt: Anytime man. I'll talk to you later.
Bethea: Ok man, you be blessed.
Manhunt: You too.
