Author: s2
Published: December 31, 1969
Tool: [ email ]
Last night I had the opportunity to witness not one, but two rap groups within a two-hour drive of my home. That may not be a big deal where you are from, but here in the sticks of the W-V it's nothing short of miraculous. Especially when the groups are Nuwine and Gospel Gangstaz. Yup, you guessed it I was at the Supertones' "Chase the Sun" tour in Altoona, PA. Of course the music was bangin' (we'll get to that), but I also got to speak with the godly men behind it. The following is the transcripts from my conversation with them:
- S2: This is S2 here with Nuwine. Just wanted to talk to you a little bit about what you're doin'. How'd you get hooked up with the Gangstaz man, I didn't even know you were hooked up with them?
Nuwine: I been knowin' the Gangstaz since the early part of '97. I've been a part of their music 'cause some of their music is what helped me when I was in the streets.
- S2: Praise God man! Praise God.
Nuwine: Right when I got saved.
- S2: The Bloody 5th album.
Nuwine: Yeeah.
- S2: That was some good stuff. Lemme tell you back in the day when that album came out I was up in MA and we were playin' that pretty hard on WCUW 91.3 FM Joyful Noize (www.noize.net). We were really spinnin' that stuff 'cause it was good. How 'bout how'd you get hooked up with my man...
Nuwine: Evander Holyfield?
- S2: Yeah. I gotta hear this story man.
Nuwine: I met him back in '95 at this outreach. He hated rap. And he heard my rap. He said it was tight. And I have him my CD "The Bloody 5th". And I remember sayin' "I hope the first part of this album don't scare him."
- S2: That's hardcore stuff man.
Nuwine: For real. 'Cause it's the streets know what I'm sayin?
- S2: Yeah.
Nuwine: So later on we just kept bumpin' into each other. And when he was in Houston we'd do outreaches together. Whole time he was just watchin' to see if I was real. How long would I continue to do what I was doin'. Well, back in the beginning of '99. I got a call and he told me "Look, I'm startin' my own record label". And we just started negotiatin' from there, so I got wit him. I helped him form the label. And it's been good dude.
- S2: Praise God. I mean it's excellent how God works, ya know? And the one thing, lemme speak on Evander a little bit you know what I'm sayin'. The whole Michael Tyson thing. It was just such a blessing to see how he handled that.
Nuwine: He's a man of God.
- S2: Exactly and I was just like THAT'S what Christians need to be doin' out there. Instead of beatin' down people or whatever.
Nuwine: We need to help each other, especially when we fall. Lotta times Christians, say like you have the ministry in what you do reachin' out to people and lettin' hear stories and the Truth. Say while you doin' this you trip and you fall. Lotta times Christians say "Ah look, he fell!" such and such and they mouths get on 'em. Instead of somebody helpin' ya "Hey get back up buddy." If you have a ministry that's effectin' lives, then God is with you.
- S2: Exactly. That reminds me of kinda what Kirk Franklin has been doin'; I listen to alot of his stuff too. I think he has a neat ministry just bein' out there and talkin' to people and havin' the opportunity to effect peoples lives ya know? But then when he ministers to somebody and they're not perfect or don't become saved people are like "What's up with Kirk Franklin?"
Nuwine: That's what ministry is about. Reachin' out to those who don't know God. Reachin' out to the sick, the rebellious, the angry, the hurting. That's what it's for. Jesus did it. He spent very little time in the synagogue. Why do the well people need a physician? It's the sick people that need a physician.
- S2: Amen.
Nuwine: We distort the Truth based on what we think and not what God's word says.
- S2: That's exactly right. Well, I tell you what lemme ask you a few questions for the people. This is gonna be on the internet. What I'm wonderin' is where can people get a hold of your music? I know on the internet www.nuwine.com they can get a hold of two CDs from '98. You came out with and album in '99?
Nuwine: I got a whole bunch under my own record lable Wine-O Records. The Bloody 5th, the original album.
- S2: It's different than the Grapetree album right, it's a little harder, a little ruffer mix or somethin'?
Nuwine: To be honest, the Grapetree one was bootlegged so that's a whole 'nother story; we won't talk about that. So I got the original album, I have "As the World Turns" I and II. And I have Basshead Bangin' Beats.
- S2: Oh sweet, so it's just like beats? Now what's the best way for people to get a hold of all this stuff?
Nuwine: Get on the website www.nuwine.com. Or they can call 1-800-596-6312 and speak to someone that can send the stuff out.
- S2: I tell you what the ministry you do really touches me a lot 'cause I work with a lot of youth. And right now I don't work with innercity youth, but I have in the past. It's just amazing to see how God touches people. 'Cause I'll be honest I'm just some whiteboy from the suburbs. From farm country you know? But God has put in my heart a desire to reach people in the city for Him.
Nuwine: Suburbs it's the same thing. I live in the suburbs now. I stay in a 7,000 square foot house. And I'm around "Bill" and everybody else. And the kids in the neighborhood it's the same. They all hurtin' and they need Jesus. Some just got money, some don't. That's the only difference.
- S2: And to be honest "The Bloody 5th" was the only album of yours I've heard but you had some stuff that just touched peoples hearts. Especially if they are from that area. You know people from the ghetto. This is where people are. And that's where Jesus would be.
Nuwine: That's where he would be. In the ghetto. On the streets.
- S2: I just wanna say this has been an excellent opportunity to visit you. God bless your ministry and I know He will continue to bless you.
Nuwine: God is good.
Ok, so I'm long winded. I come by it honestly, ask my Dad. The Gangstaz interview will be in the next email so I can break it up a little bit for you all.
God Bless and I hope this interview blesses you as it did me.
S2
