Deitrick Haddon Presents Voices of Unity: All Star Edition

By Cherisse Stephens

Tyscot Records

Remember all the great hits from Chain Breaker, Live the Life and Lost and Found? Well, now you can add Deitrick Haddon Presents Voices of Unity: All Star Edition to your collection of awesome music. Believe me when I tell you that Deitrick puts it down once more and again on this hot as fire CD. Some call him Dee-Dee, some call him Baby (his wife and Mom), some call him D-Haddy, I call him a MUSICAL GENIUS.

The Voices Of Unity (VOU) are comprised of seven incredible team players to include Sean a.k.a. U Kno, Kelly a.k.a. Smile, Kristi a.k.a. Holla, Horace a.k.a. Tone, Clareta a.k.a. Re-Re, Charles a.k.a. Chuck and Candice a.k.a. Can-Can! And Can-Can sums up the potential of this talented group of singers, musicians and producers! They Surely Can-Can Sang…. Let me fill you in on some of the highlights.

If you feel like dancing, then turn up track #1 entitled Are You Ready. If you’re not ready, then… get ready, get ready, get ready to dance, dance, dance! This power-packed song is led by powerhouse vocals Deitrick and Damita [Haddon]! The funky bass lines and clap tracks will have you forming that Soul Train line in your livin room! Deitrick asks, “Damita…where you at?” in the song and she responds with clear, smooth vocals! For all you rappers out there, you’ve got to check out Natalie Sims, Brian Hippolite and Andrew Hall. They are representin’ The holy hip hop scene fo real! Get your shoutin’ shoes and lets give GOD some praise on this one.

Who Is It is my jam sho nuff! Deitrick and Damita do it again on this head-bangin cut. This is one of those songs that your young folks at church can enjoy. The message is as strong as the beat. Who can separate me from the love of God! Clubs, that girl or that boy, money, TV, etc…. don’t let nothing separate you from the love of God! Horace Jackson and Kelly Kinney keep it real with the vocals.

Standin’ In The Need Of Prayer needs to be sung in every church, park as well as on television (I see a video…glory.) It’s such a real song for a time such as this. Deitrick’s team speaks to God and tells him “Lord, we need you.” This is one of those ‘raise your hands in the air, sway from side-to-side and just call on the name of the Lord’ songs. Deitrick beckons God to answer the prayers of his people everywhere. Each lead vocal, in their own way, declares they need God to hear their cry. I’m feeling this one and you will too.

My Soul Say Yes is that up-tempo Latin number led by one of my favorite female vocalists, Damita. She demonstrates range, clarity and strength on this track. The All Stars slow the track down and just tell God “Yes” like old times. Any C.O.G.I.C. folks in the house? You’ll appreciate this one.

We Invite You In is a praise and worship number with wonderful piano tracks that keep the song fresh and simple. Clareta Jackson ‘sings’ on this track. The song simply says, “We invite You in and we won’t take Your glory!” That’s a powerful statement. How many folks do you know always trying to take God’s glory! But if you want to get to the next level… You’d better invite God in and give Him the glory.

I Can’t Praise You Enough flips the script and gives an little R&B feel! Rhythm and Bible that is!! Deitrick preaches on this track. I think R. Kelly’s been listening to D. Haddy, ‘cause if you close your eyes and listen…they sound sooooo much alike. Production is so tight on this tune. I love the fact that Dietrick is a combo artist; bridging the old and the new school.

I Will Bless is so uplifting and has a sound all it’s own. This number is written by Clareta Jackson and Horace Jackson. These singers are multi-talented…they write, produce, sing and how to dance with all this great music. I agree totally with the lyrics to this song… (I will bless the Lord at all times! No matter what I’m going through…I will.) I will!!

Wonderful Change is just a testimony of what God has done for all of us! This collabo-effort is flawless and exemplifies the talent this team has. It’s clear the vocals in this group belong together.

Deitrick, Damita and Natalie twist it up on Encourage Yourself. Ever heard of neo-soul? I immediately heard that Jill [Scott], Angie [Stone] indie sound. If you don’t know who they are… don’t worry about it - it’s all good. This song can be played on urban radio fo real. It has a universal message that appeals to everyone. The song simply tells you to encourage yourself when life gets you down. “Even the best of us have those days when we feel like giving up…but that’s okay my friend God is with you even when times gets rough.” Andrew Hall is doin’ it with the rap! And all of a sudden; I hear this familiar powerhouse voice that is unmistakably recognizable….yes, yes…. It’s Vanessa Bell-Armstrong teasing us on the end of this one. More, More….. Keep on pressin ya’ll.

Jesus Is A Rock is written by Deitrick and led by Sean Hardin. Sean is singing it like he feels it…and you’ll feel it too. No wonder Deitrick wants to put a record out on Sean. He is a gift to the body of Christ. We’ll definitely be on the look out for him!

Jesus Our Lord, written by Deitrick, is a pure song with instrumentation that is so melodic and creative. Does he have time for anything else? He is giving up some awesome music for the All Stars. Kelly Kinney sings beautifully on this track and lets us know that Jesus is Lord and that He loves you right where you are. T. Herd plays skillfully on the keyboards and Derrick Hollaway does a lovely solo piece with his acoustic guitar.

When God- Didn’t I tell you that Deitrick mixes it up. Old and new school. When God gets through with me takes me back to the days of James Cleveland. But as only Deitrick can, he has flipped the script! Natalie, okay girl, you are representin' on this one. And it’s no wonder that Deitrick is giving up the praise for vocalist Candice. This track is co-produced by Horace Jackson for Stage Life Productions.

VOU doesn’t disappoint on All Star Edition! Buy it today!!!