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"THE CIRCLE INSIDER" Presents...
IN THE SPOTLIGHT- INTERVIEW WITH Children Of God (COG and Grippwood Entertainment)
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Praises to the Almighty King, Jesus our Lord. It honors me to have all of you, our dear readers, join us for another edition of The Circle Insider. This time my friends, we are taking a little step down Memory Lane, in order to bring you up-to-date on what has easily become my personal favorite group of young people who are representing for Christ. Holy Hip-Hop is how they refer to their sound, and if you'll recall while reading here, back when we fist spoke to them your Editor knew next to nothing about the gendre...but how that has changed! This collection of singing, rapping, and spreading the Gospel of Christ Jesus has held me more than captivated, it has proven without question that the word must and will indeed be spread in the ways needed to reach ALL the people!
So, without further ado, I again present to some, and now introduce to others the dynamic, and truly anointed music and message of Children Of God (C.O.G.) brought to you by GrippWood Entertainment.
I'm speaking with: Sister Remaka Ashford
WHO SHE IS
Welcome again Sister Remaka, and thank you for taking a few minutes to tell us what has been happening with Children Of God since we last spoke. Let's get a little history first... tell us about yourself. Where you're from, a little bit about your family, and how long you've been involved with recording professionally?
A. Well, Ms. Leola, I was born and raised in Starkville, MS. Both of my parents are from Starkville and they still live here today. I have three siblings and I am the youngest of the tribe. My sister lives in Memphis, TN, one brother lives in West Palm Beach, FL and one brother lives here in Starkville. I just graduated from Mississippi State University, in Political Science, in May so, I'm just happy about that. The first time I stepped into a studio to actually record something, I was about 19 years old and I was putting together an R&B demo. I was just trying to show people that I had talent and a couple of people wanted me to get on their songs to sing hooks or whatever, but it wasn't anything serious. When I gave into my calling, I was 21 years old and that was when I started doing music that God had commanded of me.
Now, tell us something about the Group. Where are you located, how many of you are there, names, ages, and how you came together?
A.
C.O.G., which stands for Children Of God, is the name of the group and we're all from Starkville, MS. There are 3 members in the group, I'm Remaka and I'm 26 years old, JB3 and he is 20 years old, and Lil' Shawn and 19 years old. In case you are wondering, they are brothers. How did we come together? We were at church, for mime practice, and I turned on some beats and asked them could they rap. Juan grabbed the mic turned his back to me, sat behind the wall that separated the pulpit and choir stand, and just started going. I was totally shocked like, "Man, I didn't know that you could flow like that". So, I was like, hey you wanna get on a couple of songs with me and of course, he said yes. When he got home, he told Shawn and Shawn called me and informed that he could rap too. So, I went by and heard Shawn and the rest is history.
Since we last spoke you all have been very busy...talk to us about some of the productions and engagements you've had?
A.
The last event that we organized was Club Unashamed Part 2 in June and we have been traveling different places to perform and such. The last thing will come from us before I leave will be COG: The Kingdom Representas' Mixtape Vol. 1. Lately, we have just been more focused on studying the Word more and more.
Wow, you have indeed been at work in the Kingdom! Are there any events for the Group coming up that those close by might want to know about?
A.
Just that the Mixtape will be ready later on in the week and that is about it for right now. As you know, we were blessed to be given a Christian entertainment company called, GrippWood Entertainment and God has been really speaking to me more and more about what he wants this company to be about. GrippWood Entertainment is getting prepared to sign an artist by the name of Royalte and she is an on fire for God young lady. She kind of reminds me of myself when I was younger, but I am so excited about the new addition to the family. You can actually hear her on two of my new solo songs on the myspace page, www.myspace.com/childofgod so, everybody be on the look out for her in 2010 and 2011.
So now Sister Remaka, isn't there a specific event coming soon for you yourself? I've heard something of a deployment overseas? You must be very excited, tell us about that?
A.
I am in the Army Reserves and I am deploying overseas again. This is my third time going and hopefully my final time for a while. This is the reason GrippWood Entertainment won't be doing anything until late next year and early 2011. I'm not sure if excitement is what I feel, but I'm ready to go over there and do my mission and come back home. I just ask everyone to pray for me.
What will be happening with the Children Of God in the meanwhile?
A.
Children of God will be on hold for a year, but I am definitely encouraging Lil' Shawn and JB3 to work on solo projects because sometimes when you're in a group, there are some topics that you may be moved to write about so, I'm encouraging to do their thing. Don't get me wrong, C.O.G. will still be a group because we all are GrippWood Entertainment, but there may be some solo projects in the future.
Finally, let's talk a bit about your music. You all are producing a very unique sound, is it inspired by your youth and where you grew up, or a collaboration of ideas from those involved? How do you feel it's impacted those who are listening to it, and what sort of feedback have you been getting?
A.
Our sound is definitely impacted by youth and by ourselves and what definitely speaks to us. Before, I got into the Word, I listened to all types of music because I am a music lover and I'm very passionate about music. I used to listen to everything from Pastor Troy to H-Town and so, when I surrendered my life to God, I just couldn't listen to choirs every day of the week. I felt that I needed something other type of sound so, I started listening to Mary Mary, Deitrick Haddon, but I needed some rap and banging beats because I am from the South and we love banging beats. I began to research about gospel rap and that is when I found out about Canton Jones, Lecrae, Trip Lee and artists like that and I saw these young men and women who dressed like every other young person, but they served God really spoke to me even more!! God had been calling me to do music for Him for a while, but I was like I'm not sure how I'm gonna do this, ya know? But, after I found out that I could be young fly and still be saved, I was like, this is it!!! This is what my folks need right here!!! Young people have told us that they are really feeling our music and that is a wonderful feeling!! People have told us that they are really feeling what we are doing and they like it because they didn't know that we could still be young people, but serve God. We always tell young people that you are not going to stop everything, cold turkey, but it is a process. When you are handing your life over God, it is definitely a process and every day is a new day to please Him!!!
Tell our readers where on the web your music can be found? Is it being sold there, and can it be downloaded?
A.
You can find our music on www.cog4life.com or you can download it on snocap.com or www.myspace.com/yocog. You can find us on the web by just googling GrippWood Entertainment and it will take you to three different myspace pages.
You are a tremendous inspiration for young people Sister Remaka, all of you are, and we are so pleased and honored to have you visit with us again. Thank you so much, and know that you are welcome Inside The Circle anytime! God Bless you and keep you during your deployment, and in your work for His Kingdom.
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