Marvin Sapp - Be Exalted

By Rene Williams

Verity Records/Zomba Gospel

Marvin Sapp often calls himself a preacher who sings, not a singer who preaches. Although that may be true, Sapp has delivered some memorable songs during his singing career. Not The Time, Not The Place, One Thing, You Are God Alone and the ever popular I Believe have defined his music ministry. A former member of Commissioned, joining after the departure of Keith Staten, Sapp has released a number of solo projects including Grace & Mercy, Nothing Else Matters and Diary Of A Psalmist.

But it’s not just his singing career that has grown tremendously. He’s recently moved from the role of preacher to pastor. He is now the pastor of the Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It seems that pastoring hasn’t slowed his music career down a bit as he just released his sixth project, Be Exalted.

Veering a bit from the expected, Sapp makes the majority of this album a high-energy praise project. He himself says, “I kept it churchy…but funky. It was a different recording process for me this time around. I am used to being able to draw from the energy of the people in live settings, but the producers on the album were able to recreate and capture that same energy and spirit that I’m used to.” That being said, this is Sapp’s first all-studio project.

He introduces us to Be Exalted with the lively cut, Be It Unto Me. The recurring theme of God’s faithfulness and His unfailing ability to keep His promises permeates Sapp’s music. Be It Unto Me is no exception. This song finds the Christian calling those things that aren’t as though they are. The horn‑powered, energetic track, penned by Aaron Lindsey and produced by Lindsey and Israel Houghton, is a strong one.

Do You Know Him? (Trendsetters Mix) is one of the best tracks on this project. It’s a feel-good, funk‑filled song. This is a definite one for the gospel workout tape. With The Trendsetters sitting in the production room, it’s certainly to be expected. The song is so good Sapp includes another remix, The TommyGunn 1965 Mix, at the end of the project.

Be Exalted , a slower track as compared to the two tracks before it, is all about lifting His name on high. Still in great voice, Sapp sings about the wonder and awesomeness of God on this tune. He flows into a well-known worship song, We Exalt Thee during the 9-minute recording. In the closing beats of the title track, Sapp exhorts and speaks from heartfelt emotion for the Lord.

Trust In You is a fabulous, encouraging song. Taking moments to talk throughout the song, Sapp makes sure the listener leaves the song knowing that God will come through. Changed, written by Steve “Supe” White and Ted Winn (Ted & Sheri), is another one for the dance floor - the holy dance floor, that is. Sapp also dusts off the classic Perfect Peace. Originally made famous by Keith Pringle, Donald Lawrence brings it into the new millennium with a beautiful arrangement.

Giving us another gem with a remix vibe, Sapp sings about one of God’s most notable attributes on the Trendsetter’s track, Holy. Lovers of Marvin Sapp’s ministry will love the mellow Everything That I Am, the uplifting Smile and the Latin-flavored That Name. The praise-driven, band-jamming track, Strong Tower, written by CCM artist Ricardo and Israel Houghton, is certainly worthy of lifted hands. Respected gospel songwriter Percy Bady contributes the moving song, He Won’t Fail. Sapp lets the Spirit take over and sings this one “to pieces”.

Marvin Sapp is back!

For more information on Marvin Sapp, go to www.marvinsapp.com.

Feedback - Rene Williams is a freelance writer for Gospelcity.com, GTM Magazine and Charisma Magazine. She also is the author of the Gospel News Update, a bi-weekly e-zine about what's happening in the Christian music industry, and the D.C. Gospel News Update, a weekly newsletter about gospel events in the Washington, D.C. area.