Face to Face with Tedashii....sort of

As I got ready to fix supper for my Family, I got a Tweet - @djmistuhkleen. So as I'm checking what's "the haps" in the Gospel Music world - I get a retweet from @reachrecords about Tedashii making an online appearance tonight in 60 minutes..... WHA? 60 minutes? Let's see - what do I need to get done so I can sit down and catch the interview?

• finish supper
• eat
• hang out with the wife n kid a bit before she puts the kid to sleep
• o man.... that water still running in the bathroom.... I really need to fix that
• check FB, check Email
• get prepared for the interview

Done - with about.... 10 minutes to spare. Time to login.

Unable to connect. Ok. Maybe I put the password in wrong. Try again, Unable to connect. Reopen email to make sure I still have internet connection - it's a Go. Retry connect to Interview - No Go. HA HA - I'm only laughing because, my alter-ego is Soopah Nerd - Tech Support Professional. There is no way the company, westcoastfiya.com, would be able to handle everybody trying to connect and show/view cams - at the same time. Let's face it - very few servers can, really.

Eventually, I was able to connect. But, I wasn't the only one with issues. I knew going in that 'tethering' my laptop would pose a HUGE obstacle in buffering / playback, what I didn't expect - was others having the same issue and knowing they were on high-speed. Yes, very few of us tether nowadays - but hey - I like being portable in the event of a zero-wifi zone. Which happens alot where I am (the boonies).

Anyway - 9:30 time for the T-man to hit the scene! Pulled up Word, popped in my earphone and.............no T-man. Not something that bothers me, things happen. I've hung out with enough Worldy Celebs to know - you work on their time. Just be happy, IF, they show up.

10p - still hanging out in the chatroom, remembering the days of IRC - gauging the overall morale of the room

1030p - ok, I have to chuckle a bit inside. You know the folk wanna start the 'TDot' chant, as he's known to the Chatroom. I kinda feel the same way - I mean, I just ran outside and turned all the water off in the house so I could work on some plumbing.

1040p - of course, why WOULDN'T my wife ask, "Babe, is the water still off? I need to get ready for bed." O wait, it gets better - TDot has OFFICIALLY signed in. Only me.....Only me - but Thank God - I have a peaceful home...... off I go to turn the water back on.

1047p - WHEW, back in my chair and the Interview has officially started.

....now, if only it didn't freeze every 5 seconds

I know, I know - what about DC Talk, SFC or many of the other Gospel Rappers of the 1990's.  I say this - Time, she is a changing.  Much love and respect to the Rappers of yesterday, but you can't play Run DMC's "Walk This Way" at a 2011 High School Prom without someone saying - Walk this way?  I thought it was "Walk It Out"?

So yes, in today's ever-evolving Music Game, Tedashii has proven himself to be a Pioneer.  On Tracks like Go Hard, he and Lacrae throw up a challenge to all of us who claim to proclaim the Gospel. 

"Lord, kill me if I don't preach the Gospel.  I'm still in my twenties - but I'll die if I got too.  A man I'm already dead - man forget my Flesh.  I done been crossed-over, see that full court press.  I'ma full court mess - if the Lord don't use me." - Lacrae

"I know you done it/da-done it, da-done-and heard it all. You was going hard for the Lord before you heard this song. But don't play yourself to save ya self/and walk in fear -  Scripture's like a mirror/the truth is closer than it appears" - Tedashii

The Truth is closer than it appears - Go Hard, or Go Home.  This is one song that, when I get the chance - it gets Spin Time.  Not because it has a hard beat, not because I like the lyrics - but because we should say "Lord, use me up".  The only way He can show us Favor is if He uses us up.  The Blessing comes as a reward for enduring.

Other great songs, particularly from the Identity Crisis album include Make War and I'm a Believer. 

"So what you think I'm bout to do?  I'm bout to do what I can do.  TRUST the One that brought me through and fight like it was after-school" - Tedashii, Make War

Remember them after school fights?  Some of us ran home hollering "Momma!" Some of us? "I'm gonna go tell my big sis/brother"...  c'mon - we know we did it.  We didn't win *every* fight.  And even if you did win every fight, did it *really* make you feel better?  You see, I fight Flesh day in and day out.  Sometimes I win...Sometimes I lose.... but I can always trust The One to never leave nor forsake.

Now, even though it was rough staying connected - I *was* able to get a few answers from "TDot". 

Tedashii - "This was a ministry for me, way before music – doing an album was not on my list.  Kingdom People took months of Prayer and seeking advice from Leadership."

Tedashii - "On the current album I definitely want to keep some of the hardness the brashness, but, like I said earlier that’s not all of me.  As I develop more as an artist, you’ll get more than just the “Make Wars.” "

So why do I consider Tedashii a Pioneer?  Simple.  Being the 1st to do something doesn't automatically *make* you a Pioneer.  Pioneering is an endurance test - a test of Love and Patience.