Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, June 2011: Christian Hip Hop Pioneer, The Ambassador Returns With "Stop the Funeral" CD Release on July 12th, 2011

Christian Hip Hop Pioneer, The Ambassador Returns
With "Stop the Funeral" CD Release on July 12th, 2011

Christian hip-hop pioneer and Xist Music artist, The Ambassador, debut's new recording with widespread distribution through 220 Entertainment Group/Universal Christian Music Group

NEWS SOURCE: Durand PR
June 7, 2011

New York, NY (June 7th, 2011)-Christian hip hop pioneer and GRAMMY® nominee, The Ambassador, has signed with Xist Music and will release his intensely anticipated album, "Stop the Funeral," on July 12th, 2011. The project is The Ambassador's first in three years since spending nearly two years away from the Christian music industry. He returns with powerfully vibrant messages about his renewed faith and his new focus on restoration. He is ready to connect with even larger audiences through his new label, Xist Music, a leader in urban gospel music, film and other media projects. Xist Music's innovative relationship with 220 Entertainment Group and Universal Christian Music Group is revolutionary for Christian hip hop and is positioned to introduce The Ambassador and his message of "redemption and restoration" to more mainstream, new audiences that consume hip hop.

The album's title, "Stop the Funeral," is metaphorically what The Ambassador believes God did in bringing him through a season of diminished peace and progress in the areas of relationships, music and ministry. In spite of this unrest, by the grace and power of Jesus, he is not simply "not dead," but rather vigorously alive, choosing musically to proclaim lessons learned, victories experienced and offer encouragement and caution to others. The title also serves as an appeal for others, not to "turn the page" so fast on those who may have fallen because God is known to "leave 99 in order to retrieve and restore one" solely because of His grace.

Produced by innovative producer and vocalist Sean Simmonds, Stop the Funeral, from beginning to end, is consistently a celebratory interruption of a funeral procession, which is demonstrated most definitively through the personal proclamations from The Ambassador on infectious solo tracks. However, the unique collaborations with an eclectic list of artists from all genres of Christian music, successfully displays the heights to which this pioneer has taken Christian hip hop. Included on the "funeral guest list" are everyone from Urban Gospel singers Mali Music and Jessica Reedy, multiple GMA Dove winner KJ52 and Urban Contemporary singer Michelle Bonilla, to Australian pop sensation Charmaine, BEC Recordings newcomer Ryan Stevenson, and the electrifying Canton Jones. The Ambassador's signature scripturally relevant lyrics, booming base and flawless flow shine on every track.

Says The Ambassador: "My current relationship with Christ has depth and breadth that did not previously exist, even as the awareness of my great need and the appreciation of His great grace have significantly increased. Funerals have a way of sobering us up, and being rescued from one has a way of waking us up. I am revived and reenergized by the truth that our feebleness, failures, faults and falls don't have to be the end of the story, but that a Life-Giver can impart life and light into a darkened soul. 'Stop the Funeral' is the musical celebration of me now living consistently in that restorative light."

The energetic track, "Up Down," will be the first single released from this lively "funeral program" on June 7th. And this Fall, The Ambassador will embark on an electrifying national tour with his Xist Music label mates, multiple Stellar Award winner and GRAMMY® nominee Da' T.R.U.T.H. and acclaimed gospel hip hop vocalist, Sean Simmons. The MISFIT Tour event will also feature urban gospel phenomenon Mali Music, fellow hip hoppers Rhema Soul, dynamic spoken word artist Oraia, and Zondervan Publishing's author of the book MISFIT, Pastor Chris Durso. Along with The Ambassador and his label mates, the entire MISFIT line-up will be ministering in word and song in venues around the country as well as in local communities, by making a lasting impact through volunteer service in each tour city. For more information please visit www.theambassadoronline.com and www.misfittour.net.

About Xist Music
Xist Music is the recording label of Xist Worldwide, which produces innovative projects from award-winning artists who are leaders in the inspirational urban music industry. Xist Worldwide was founded by Terverius Black and Sean Simmonds to become the leading producer of inspirational urban entertainment, lifestyle and media content. With properties in music, film, publishing and other lifestyle projects, Xist Worldwide acquires, produces, markets and distributes inspirational urban content. Visit Xist at www.xistmusic.com for more information and follow them at www.twitter.com/xist_music.

About 220 Entertainment
220 Entertainment Group, a Black Fuel Music, LLC company, is a multi-layered entertainment entity led by partners CEO Jeff Adams, COO Martin Lovelace and Executive Vice President and General Manager Al Marks, encompassing several mutually beneficial enterprises that work to deliver success for the artists, clients and companies it partners with and represents. 220 Entertainment Group’s management division, Streetlight Artist Management, represents some of Christian Music’s hottest new artists including Group 1 Crew (Fervent), Rachael Lampa, Ryan Stevenson (BEC), Hyland (Tooth & Nail), Charmaine (in:cite), Rhema Soul and more. 220 Entertainment Group is now also partnering with several record labels, providing distribution and other services. Black Fuel Music, LLC is the parent company of 220 Entertainment Group, Streetlight Artist Management and the concert and artist event booking entity, Upstream Artist Agency.

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