Warryn Stafford Campbell, Jr. (born August 21, 1975) is an American record producer . He has worked with a number of gospel , hip hop and R&B artists. Campbell originally got his start as a session musician and producer under the tutelage of DJ Quik on his third album Safe + Sound .
42-442: Mary Mary is an American urban contemporary gospel duo composed of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (born April 29, 1972) and Trecina Atkins-Campbell (born May 1, 1974). Formed in 1998, Mary Mary was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling debut album, Thankful (2000), which contained the hit single " Shackles (Praise You) ". Their followup album Incredible (2002), reached number one on
84-458: A Day to Pray . In July 2016, Mary Mary released a new single called "Back to You" from the upcoming Ben-Hur movie soundtrack. In August 2017, Tina released a deluxe edition of her first album, titled It's Still Personal . In 2018 Mary Mary made their reunion as a duo on the 2018 Stellar Awards on TV One , performing a medley of their hits. Erica Campbell and husband announced their upcoming series premiering on TVOne. This announcement came on
126-426: A compilation album " Go Get It " in 2012 before going on hiatus. In March 2012, they premiered their own television series, Mary Mary , on WE tv . Mary Mary has sold more than eight million records worldwide to date. The duo have been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, winning four times including once Best Gospel Performance and for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album . The duo are often credited for broadening
168-447: A contemporary jazz influence (though some say it goes the other way around). Gospel artists had collaborated with secular artists in the past, but in the 2000s and 2010s, this became far more pronounced. Kirk Franklin is widely known for this, working with Kanye West on his gospel album, Jesus Is King , and with Lil Baby on the song "We Win" for the movie Space Jam: A New Legacy . Franklin also sung with Stevie Wonder on "Why" in
210-430: A distinctly Protestant-American touch, artists in this genre are expected to pray publicly, to "testify" about the artist's personal, emotion-driven conversion, and to make an effort to convert non-Christians to Christianity. The secular version of this music is urban contemporary music, which is musically indistinguishable, but which takes non-religious subjects for its lyrical content. Urban/contemporary gospel music
252-691: A pronounced beat with a syncopated rhythm . Compared to modern praise and worship music, urban/contemporary gospel typically has a faster tempo and more emphasis on the performer. Like traditional black gospel music, the performer's emotional connection to the audience and the lyrical content of the song is valued highly. The genre includes Christian hip hop (sometimes called "Christian rap"), which has lyrics with Christian ideals and themes. Rock & roll, country and rhythm & blues were influenced by traditional black gospel music, and these forms, as well as disco , funk , jazz and many secular genres, influenced urban/contemporary gospel music. Perhaps
294-477: A solo album titled Help , which won Best Gospel Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards . Her follow-up album titled Help 2.0 was released in March 2015. Erica also hosts a morning radio show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell owned by Radio One with comedian Arlen "Griff" Griffin. In May 2015, Tina released her debut solo album It's Personal . The album coincides with the release of her memoir I Need
336-446: A variety of R&B acts, including Brandy . After meeting producer Warryn Campbell , a publishing deal was reached with music conglomerate EMI . This led to a series of their songs being on movie soundtracks; they wrote "Dance" and performed it with Robin S. for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle , they performed "Let Go, Let God" for The Prince of Egypt , and several of their songs were recorded by 702 . However,
378-421: Is contemporary Christian music . Although the racial lines have blurred in some areas, particularly with urban musical styles, these divisions are still evident in the industry. The color line divides artists with extremely similar musical styles on the basis of their race, and unites artists with divergent styles (such as rap and pop) on the same basis in industry reporting, marketing choices, and awards like
420-400: Is also a member of the modern quartet-styled traditional gospel group The Soul Seekers signed to GospoCentric Records . As a record executive, he served as vice president of A&R for Elektra Records briefly. He appears in the 2019 movie Strive as "The Pastor" as well as composing the music for the film. Campbell is the son of Warryn and Sandra Campbell. His younger sister
462-886: Is an evangelist and choir director at the Church of God in Christ . Their father, Eddie A. Atkins, was also a member of the Church of God in Christ , and a youth counselor, before he died in 2013. Due to their proximity in age, the two sisters grew up closer to one another than to any of their siblings: Darrell Atkins (born 1965, the only living boy – the second boy died as a child), Maliea Atkins (born 1967), Erica (born 1972), Tina (born 1974), Delisa Atkins-Brown (born 1977), Thomasina Atkins (born 1978), Alana Atkins-Jamison (born 1985), and Shanta Atkins (born 1986). Later, they would work creatively with over half of their siblings; Thomasina, Alana, Delisa and Shanta Atkins all sing background on Mary Mary's albums and during stage performances and Delisa
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#1732773407498504-462: Is characterized by dominant vocals, usually performed by a soloist. Common instruments include drums, electric guitar, bass guitar, and keyboards. The lyrics very often have an explicitly Christian nature, although "inspirational" songs feature lyrics that can be construed as secular in meaning. For example, a song about a father's love for his son may be interpreted as God the Father 's love for God
546-462: Is singer-songwriter Joi Campbell . On May 26, 2001, he married Erica Atkins of the gospel/R&B duo Mary Mary . They have a daughter, Krista Nicole Campbell, born September 13, 2004. On April 24, 2010, the couple's second child, Warryn Campbell III was born. On July 19, 2011, Erica announced on Good Morning America that she was pregnant with their third child. She gave birth early to a girl, Zaya Monique Campbell, on January 24, 2012. Campbell
588-604: The Billboard's Gospel Album Chart for over six months since its release. Warryn Campbell produced the album and collaborated with many professionals: Kierra Sheard-Kelly , David Banner , Marvin Winans , Daryl Coley , Andrae Crouch , The Rance Allen Group , Dorinda Clark-Cole , Joe Ligon, Walter Hawkins , Tramaine Hawkins , and Karen Clark-Sheard . In spring 2009, " God in Me " achieved crossover success by reaching number five on
630-839: The Gospel Albums Chart and entered the Top 20 of the Top 200 album chart. Incredible was later certified Gold for selling 500,000 copies in the United States. The album's singles were "In The Morning" and "I Try". While this album charted higher than their debut, sales were lower. The duo attributed the lower sales to less aggressive promotion due to label switch-overs and the advent of music piracy . In November 2003, they released their biography Transparent . After taking time off to have children, Mary Mary released their self-titled third album Mary Mary in July 2005. It became
672-728: The Gospel Radio Chart with a third, "Yesterday," becoming a hit on the Adult R&;B Chart and peaking at number 10. On the R&;B/Hip Hop Chart , the song became their second biggest hit since " Shackles (Praise You) " in 2000 reached number 50. The album's final single, "Believer," indicated testimonies of being a Christian and hit number 33 on the Gospel Radio chart . On October 21, 2008, they released their fifth studio album, The Sound . The lead single, " Get Up ,"
714-579: The R&B top ten and gained wide exposure on MTV . Their debut album Thankful was released in May 2000; it peaked at number one on the Gospel Album Chart and climbed to 59 on the overall Top 200 chart. Overall, the album was certified 2X Platinum for shipments of two million copies in the United States, it went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album . While
756-536: The R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and number one on the Hot Dance Club Play . In 2009, Mary Mary began recording their sixth studio album. In April 2010, they released a book entitled, Be U via Simon & Schuster . In the fall of 2010, they released "Walking" as the lead single from their forthcoming album. Originally titled OMG , the project was renamed Something Big after the success of R&B singer Usher's hit single, " OMG " in 2010. Their album
798-515: The Top Gospel Albums chart. Their self-titled third album, Mary Mary (2005), which contains themes the public interpreted as a channel to the group's experience,. That album also contains the worldwide hits "Heaven", "The Real Party", and "Yesterday". Their fourth album The Sound (2008) spawned the number-one singles " Get Up " and " God in Me ". In 2011, they released their fifth studio album " Something Big " and followed up with
840-450: The 1980s and 1990s, some gospel groups (such as The Rance Allen Group ) emerged by singing with elements of Motown sound , emulating quartets such as The Temptations but still propagating biblical messages. The members of many such groups later established their own gospel music careers (but still returned for occasional reunions). For example, Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond started out in
882-579: The 2000s, many gospel artists from the previous two decades began establishing records and gaining established places in the gospel music canon, as recognized by annual WOW Gospel albums (after beginning in the late 1990s). They were accompanied by younger gospel artists/groups like Mary Mary , Sheri Jones-Moffett and Brian Courtney Wilson , who leaned the genre towards hip-hop, funk and '90s R&B, respectively. Groups like Tye Tribbett & G.A. and Myron Butler & Levi released songs with more complicated instrumental riffs and melodies that hint at
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#1732773407498924-591: The Grammy and Dove awards. During the 1960s and 1970s and 1980s, hit songs like The Clark Sisters ' " You Brought the Sunshine " Edwin Hawkins ' " Oh Happy Day " and Andrae Crouch 's " Take Me Back " were significant milestones in the development of urban/contemporary gospel music. Edwin Hawkins is called the "godfather of contemporary gospel" and Twinkie Clark is called the "Mother Of Contemporary Gospel". In
966-453: The Son , or as a human father's love for his human child. This lyrical ambiguity echoes the double-voicedness of 19th century spirituals, and may have musical crossover appeal to the larger secular market. Common themes include hope, deliverance, love, and healing. In comparison with traditional hymns, which are generally of a statelier measure, gospel songs are expected to have a refrain and
1008-777: The Southern and Southeastern US serve a fiercely loyal core of listeners from all age groups and income demographics in the African-American communities. Compared to traditional black music, whose sales are steady, urban/contemporary sales are rising, as a result of more significant marketing efforts. Warryn Campbell His work includes production and songwriting credits for Mary Mary , Kanye West , Alicia Keys , Xzibit , Yolanda Adams , Mos Def , Missy Elliott , Kierra Sheard , Brandy , Dave Hollister , Men of Standard , Mario , Kelly Price , Shanice , Dru Hill , Dorinda Clark-Cole , Musiq Soulchild and more. He
1050-413: The division between rigorous academic study of music versus the popular musical world. "We had to study classical and sing arias , which was fine," Erica told Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument." In 1995 the two toured with Michael Matthews' traveling gospel shows, Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky . Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for
1092-526: The duo's first album to enter the Top 10 on Billboard and was later certified Gold for selling in excess of 500,000 copies. The first single, "Heaven," contained a sample from seventies song " Want Ads " from soul trio the Honey Cone 's. "Heaven" made history and broke chart records as it had an unprecedented nine-week run at number one on Billboard's Gospel Radio Chart . Their second single, "The Real Party (Trevon's Birthday)," debuted at number 43 on
1134-634: The fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music , hip hop , funk and jazz . The group's name is inspired by two famous Marys from the Bible: Mary, mother of Jesus , and Mary Magdalene . They also performed at the White House in 2005. The Atkins sisters, born Erica Monique and Trecina Evette , grew up in a large family with seven siblings in Inglewood, California . Their mother, Thomasina Atkins,
1176-463: The first gospel act to record for the industry giant Columbia Records since Tramaine Hawkins in the mid-1990s. Their first single " Shackles (Praise You) " became a crossover hit; enticing gospel, R&B , and pop audiences. It ranked Top 5 in R&B , Top 10 for pop hit, and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became the first gospel song in five years to crack
1218-426: The former's 2005 album, Hero . Rance Allen sung with Snoop Dogg on the song "Blessing Me Again" in 2018. Eventually, secular artists began releasing gospel albums full of such collaborations. Examples include PJ Morton’s 2020 album Gospel According to PJ and Snoop Dogg's 2018 album Bible of Love . Like most forms of Christian music in the last two centuries, artists have been criticized by Christians who see
1260-415: The genre was well established by the end of the 1980s. The radio format is pitched primarily to African-Americans. Christian hip hop can be considered a subtype of this genre. Protestant hymns and African-American spirituals make up the basic source material for traditional black gospel music, which in turn is the most significant source of urban/contemporary gospel. Urban/contemporary gospel has kept
1302-577: The group Commissioned . Other groups and individual artists such as Hezekiah Walker took gospel congregational songs from the 1950s and 1960s and adapted them to a more upbeat feel similar to '80s and '90s pop. Examples of this include "99 ½" by Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir . Many artists who began in the 1960s and 1970s (like the aforementioned Andrae Crouch and The Clark Sisters) also continued to release influential songs and albums in this period. In
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1344-524: The heels of Mary Mary ending their WeTv reality show. MaryMary, accompanied by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, performed " Lift Every Voice and Sing " at Super Bowl LVI and had a tribute to honor Black History Month gospel music 2022 by Faith City Music, Tim Bowman Jr. and Kim Burrell . Mary Mary performed at a special Easter Verzuz in 2022, competing against gospel duo BeBe & CeCe Winans . Both sisters are married to musicians with
1386-431: The most significant musical influences on urban/contemporary gospel are hip hop and R&B . Like contemporary gospel, R&B developed from traditional black gospel music. Soul music and Christian rock are also significant influences on contemporary gospel. The gospel market is smaller than the secular market, but popular artists have sold millions of units. The radio stations that program UC Gospel, primarily in
1428-400: The new forms as too similar to secular music styles or insufficiently focused on traditional religious sentiments. Artists in the urban/contemporary styles have taken a variety of approaches to address these concerns from their fan bases. Artists in this genre are expected to convey a committed Christian religious viewpoint and to treat their musical performances as a sacred service to God. In
1470-523: The same last name: Warryn Campbell and Teddy Campbell . Tina married Teddy in 2000. Together, they have four children: Laiah Simone (born September 9, 2003), daughter Meela Jane (born June 11, 2007), son Glendon Theodore II (born October 20, 2009), and son Santana (born August 4, 2012). Erica married their record producer Warryn on May 26, 2001. They have three children: Krista Nicole (born September 13, 2004), Warryn III (born April 24, 2010), and Zaya Monique (born January 24, 2012). The following year, Warryn
1512-580: The second single " I Sings " features rapper BB Jay , both were hits in the UK and Europe. Their only Top 10 UK hit to date is " Shackles (Praise You) " which reached number five on the UK Singles Chart in June 2000. The follow-up " I Sings " peaked at UK number 32. With their second album, Incredible , the duo was able to maintain their success. Soon after its release in July 2002, it was number one on
1554-464: The sister's profile really started to rise in the gospel industry when their songs "Time To Change" and "Yeah" were recorded by Yolanda Adams on Mountain High... Valley Low . During this time, Mary Mary as a musical entity formed. The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia Records and decided to perform under the name Mary Mary, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus , and Mary Magdalene . They were
1596-470: The spiritual focus of the traditional black gospel music, but uses modern musical forms. Urban/contemporary gospel derives primarily from traditional black gospel music, with strong influence from, and strong influence on, many forms of secular pop music. Due to strong racial divisions in 20th century American culture, urban/contemporary gospel developed specifically out of the African-American musical traditions. The equivalent music from white American culture
1638-545: Was ordained as a pastor. In 2015, the couple founded the California Worship Center in North Hollywood, Los Angeles . Urban contemporary gospel Urban/contemporary gospel , also known as urban gospel music , urban gospel pop , or just simply urban gospel , is a modern subgenre of gospel music . Although the style developed gradually, early forms are generally dated to the 1970s, and
1680-480: Was originally a member of the group but left before they started recording professionally due to pursuing college. Eventually, all eight Atkins children united on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET . During this time, Erica and Trecina entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and television productions. The sisters enrolled at El Camino College to study voice. There they encountered
1722-461: Was released digitally via ITunes on July 15, 2008. Mary Mary's The Sound achieved great success in the mainstream market and sold over 37,000 copies in its first week, making it their best charting album to date. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 , number two on the US R&;B chart , and topped both gospel and country music charts. The album held the number one position on
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1764-725: Was released on March 29, 2011. Mary Mary debuted the title track "Something Big" on the BET 's Celebration of Gospel 2011. In efforts of promoting "Go Get It," Mary Mary announced a Go Get It Tour . The tour was in ten different cities across the United States, beginning in Jacksonville, Florida , on October 25, and ending in Hampton, Virginia , on November 17. Supported acts included: Isaac Carree , VaShawn Mitchell , Anthony and Group Therapy , and Sunday's Best finalist Jessica Reedy and Anita Wilson . In 2014, Erica Campbell released
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