The Overflow (Gospel News Round-Up): Ashmont Hill, Faith Evans, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett, & More

Ever keen to broaden our musical scope, recent months have seen That Grape Juice venture into a number of new musical landscapes including, most recently, gospel.

Spearheaded by well-received interviews with gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Israel Houghton, and more, TGJ is now offering readers ‘The Overflow’ – a collection of the top gospel-themed news stories from the week.

Tuck in below for the latest news on Ashmont Hill, Faith Evans, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett, Vashawn Mitchell, and much more…

Preview: Ashmont Hill’s New Album ‘The Maze’, Available August 20th

Anticipation is reaching a feverish pitch as the days lead to the August 20th release of Contemporary Christian quartet Ashmont Hill‘s new album ‘The Maze’. Featuring the smash hit ‘Love Lifted Me’ (which stayed aboard Billboard’s top 20 for 18 consecutive weeks), the project is filled with stirring numbers much like ‘Love’ that traipse over a number of musical genres from pop and rock to more Urban-tinged and traditional gospel numbers.

Before you can get to Itunes to get your copy of the digital release, however, the group is inviting music lovers in for a taste of their forthcoming offering. Through a recently unveiled album sampler, check below to get your first listen at the gems that make up ‘The Maze’…

To celebrate the release, Ashmont Hill has teamed with That Grape Juice for an exclusive interactive online chat! Want your chance to talk to Ashmont Hill? Join us on Tuesday, August 20th at 9/8c. Click here to get more details…

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Faith Evans Enlists Karen Clark Sheard For New Album

TV One’s ‘R&B Divas’ has proven itself to be the much needed revitalizing force for some of R&B’s finest acts – namely Faith Evans. As a spearhead of the show’s Atlanta-segment, Evans has certainly regenerated interest in her solo offerings off the buzz of the cast’s fall 2012 album ‘R&B Divas: The Album’ (see: ‘Tears of Joy’, ‘Dumb’).

Now, turning back to her own project due in coming months, the ‘You Gets No Love’ songstress whipped fans into a frenzy when she revealed the guest list for her forthcoming album. A list that, per her announcement, will feature a new duet with legendary gospel songstress Karen Clark Sheard (@officialkcs):

As fans may recall, the twosome’s first duet came as the Urban groove ‘Nothing Without You’ listed aboard Karen’s 1997 debut solo album ‘Finally Karen’. As such, we can say with certainty, the reuniting of these two powerhouses can yield nothing but pure fire on a track.

Unfamiliar with the tune? Check it out below:

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New Video: Vashawn Mitchell ft. Israel Houghton – ‘Greatest Man’

As reported here, gospel hitmaker Vashawn Mitchell appointed ‘Greatest Man’ to act as the latest single from his 2012-released album ‘Created4This’. Preceded by the gospel radio smash ‘Turning Around For Me’, ‘Greatest’ enlists the help of fellow Stellar Award winning gospel hitmaker Israel Houghton to match its momentum.

Press ‘Play’ above to check out its accompanying music video to tell us if it’ll do the trick.

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Tye Tribbett Tops Billboard Charts With New Album ‘Greater Than’

‘Victory’ craftsman Tye Tribbett has yet another reason to proclaim such as this week’s Billboard chart evidences. For, after smashing Itunes upon its debut, Tribbet’s newest album ‘Greater Than’ has shot right to the top of Billboard gospel charts with a whopping 30k sold in its first week.

To put in perspective how impressive that is, the album will landed at #9 on the Billboard 200 – a placement not many gospel albums can attest. Furthermore, with no Hot 100 singles, major radio airplay, and barely a fraction of the promotional possibilities, the album still managed to outsell top R&B and pop acts’ weeklong sales.

To that, we say bravo!

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Fred Hammond & The United Tenors Lift Lid On New Single ‘Love You Like That’

On the hems of their top-selling single ‘Here In Our Praise’, Gospel supergroup United Tenors, comprised of Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Eric Roberson, and Courtney Wilson, saw their debut album soar to the top of Billboard charts upon its March 2013 release.

Now, to the collective is looking to keep buzz brewing by unveiling its follow-up single ‘Love You Like That’. Take a listen below:

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Chanel of Trin-i-Tee 5:7 Readies Solo Album

Chanel Haynes, former member of top-selling gospel trio (now duo) Trin-I-Tee 5:7, is forging ahead with a solo career. With new label and distribution deal in tow, the contralto beauty shows off her prized vocal stylings aboard this Urban-tinged tune touched with just a hint of old school, hand-clapping gospel.

Does Haynes have her hands on a hit? You tell us:

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Throwback Gospel Jam of the Day: Vickie Winans – ‘Shake Yourself Loose’