J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise

The 2004 release of Thank You For The Change continued in the same stride with songs “Up There” and “He Rose”. However, it was Live: The Praise, The Worship, released in 2005 that put YP on the map. Producing the anthem, “Incredible God, Incredible Praise,” YP received two Stellar Award nominations, peaked at #6 on the Billboard’s gospel singles chart, and was also #27 on Billboard’s hottest gospel songs of 2006.

It was difficult to imagine how YP would top such a massive hit but they did with the live recording of Exalted…Live In Baltimore. The project was highlighted for “bringing it all together” with praise and worship, rock and R&B inspired tunes, and church music. This album created a more personal message from the choir and particularly Hairston with “You Are” and “Freedom.” On the same album was the track “Everything Has Changed” which was as a precursor to the message of Change that Presidential candidate Barack Obama (now President-elect) spread throughout his campaign.

The newest project in their legacy is a hybrid of the “ole’ school” YP sound with some new school edge, which adds an additional stamp to the YP imprint. The choir shares their transparency while allowing listeners to visualize the results of their faithfulness. During this time of disparity, RESTING ON HIS PROMISE gives a message of hope and the ability to believe in something or someone bigger than us. The new single and title track, with its mid-tempo swing, shares that “I’m resting on His promise/I know He’s working it out for me/I’m resting on His promise/I know that God is covering me.” In YP tradition, their complex lyrics and harmonious melodies have been tightly packaged into their new anthem, “Powerful God”. Best described as a musical testimony, the song starts asking simply, “How did I make it out of all the things that I was in?” yet resolves boldly with “I should have never doubted you/my Savior/always being able.”

The project also boasts appearances by Gospel greats; Dorinda Clark-Cole with the jazzy yet traditional “Still Mighty”; singer, songwriter and producer, Myron Butler ministers on “Great Expectations”; and Pastor Shirley Caesar gives “High Praise” as she graces the album.