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Still I Rise is an album by 2Pac + Outlawz which is released as the third posthumous studio album of 2Pac, and the first album by the Outlawz as a group (not to be confused with their debut Ride wit Us or Collide wit Us). The album excludes some of the original line up of the Outlawz and Hussein Fatal, who had left the group as he had refused to sign to Death Row^[1] The album contains all previously unreleased, albeit remixed material. It was released on December 21, 1999, by Interscope Records, under the Death Row label. It was certified platinum by the RIAA. And eventually sold 1,617,000 by 2006, according to Nielsen Soundscan. ^[2][3] The album debuted at #7 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold 408,000 on the first week.^[4]

The album features production from 2Pac's close producers Johnny J and QD III and appearances from Big Syke and Nate Dogg.

The song "Letter to the President" featured in the film "Training Day" (2001). The album includes the single "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)".

Track listing[link]

Leftovers[link]

• "All Out" (was released on Until The End Of Time)
• "Runnin' On E" was released on Until The End Of Time with original verses). This version was originally recorded for the Outlawz Death Row album Retribution, which was never released. It had a new verse by Napoleon & Storm, replacing a verse by Hussein Fatal, and a rerecorded verse by Young Noble.
• "Good Life", which has a new verse by EDI Mean, was released on Until The End Of Time
• "M.O.B." was released on Until The End Of Time

Samples[link]

• "As the World Turns"
  • "Sounds Like a Love Song" by Bobby Glenn

• "Teardrops and Closed Caskets"
  • "Love Ballad" by L.T.D.

• "U Can Be Touched"
  • "Piano in the Dark" by Brenda Russell

Chart history[link]

Album

Singles

References[link]

Still I Rise may refer to:

• And Still I Rise, a 1978 collection of poetry by Maya Angelou
• Still I Rise: A Cartoon History of African Americans, a 1997 book coauthored by Roland Owen Laird Jr. and Taneshia Nash Laird
  • Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans, a 2009 update of the 1997 book
• "Still I Rise", a song from 1998's Songs from the Heart (Yolanda Adams album)
• Still I Rise (album), a 1999 album by 2Pac and the Outlawz
• "Still I Rise", a song by Shadows Fall from their 2009 Retribution (album)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams performing at the National Memorial Day Concert in May 2010.
Background information
Also known as	First Lady of Modern Gospel
Born	(1961-08-27) August 27, 1961 (age 50), United States
Genres	Gospel, R&B, soul
Occupations	Singer, record producer, actress, radio host
Years active	1979 – present
Labels	Sound of Gospel (1987-1989) Tribute/Benson (1991-1996) Verity (1996-1998) Elektra (1998-2004) Atlantic (2004-2007) Columbia (2007-2009) N-House Music Group (2011–present)
Website	YolandaAdamsLive.com

Yolanda Yvette Adams (born (1961-08-27)August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, record producer, actress, and radio host. As of September 2009, she had sold 4.5 million albums since 1991 in the United States, according to SoundScan.^[1]

On December 11, 2009, Billboard Magazine named her the #1 Gospel Artist of the last decade.^[2] In the same chart, her album Mountain High...Valley Low was acknowledged as the best gospel album.^[3]

Life[link]

The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979.^[4] After graduating from Texas Southern University, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas.^[5][6] Eventually she gave up teaching to perform full-time as a lead singer.

Musical career[link]

Beginnings[link]

Adams first attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records as a lead singer with Houston's Southeast Inspirational Choir affiliated with the Church of God in Christ, under the direction of Carl Preacher, Brenda Waters, and Shirley Joiner. The choir released the single in 1982 "For My Liberty" with Adams as the featured vocalist. In 1986, Adams was featured on the Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar Choir release Give Us Peace, with a performance entitled "My Trust Lies In You". Later, she signed a recording contract with Sound of Gospel which yielded her first album Just As I Am in 1987.^[7] In 1990, she was discovered by producer/keyboardist Ben Tankard, and signed to his independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm. Tankard's goal with Tribute Records during this time was to develop an audience for a smoother gospel/jazz sound. He featured Yolanda's jazzy vocals on his album and concept video single "You Bring Out The Best In Me" on his 1994 release Play Me In Your Key. The collaboration received positive response from gospel,jazz and "quiet storm" formats.

One year later, Adams followed with Save the World, which included her first signature song "The Battle Is The Lord's". Her next release was 1995's More Than A Melody, which featured more production work from Tankard with contributions from O'Landa Draper, and BeBe Winans. The single "Gotta Have Love," from that album featuring Tony Terry on background vocals, gained mainstream notoriety and was her first single and music video. Yolanda... Live In Washington, released the following year, featured versions of material from her first three albums. The footage from this recording was released as a collection of two videos on VHS initially, and later as a single set on DVD and CD. During this time Tribute Records' parent company Diadem Music Group merged with Benson Music Group, which was eventually bought by New York-based Zomba/Verity Records.

	"How Great Thou Art" Yolanda Adams performs "How Great Thou Art" at the White House Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement in 2010. "How Great Thou Art" audio only file
Problems listening to these files? See media help.

Songs from the Heart was her final release for Verity Records, including "Only Believe", which was popular songs on contemporary radio. The album also included "Still I Rise," a dedication to Rosa Parks, which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.

Mainstream breakthrough[link]

Adams' first significant attention outside the urban contemporary gospel arena came with the release of Mountain High... Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records. Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the production of this album including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), James "Big Jim" Wright (Mariah Carey, Nicole C. Mullen), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy), and Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans). The album went 2x Platinum in 2000 and won Adams a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include "Yeah", "Fragile Heart", and "Open My Heart". "Fragile Heart", was dedicated to the memory of Adams' long-time road manager, who died in 1998.^[8]

In 2000, Adams released a Christmas album, and in 2001 she released a live album (The Experience). The Experience netted Adams a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Believe, which included the hit "Never Give Up" was released in 2001 and reached gold status according to the RIAA. She would later go on to perform this song at "The Salute to Gospel Music" at the White House during President George W. Bush's administration. In 2001, Adams also released a compilation CD entitled The Divas Of Gospel; it included the legendary Grammy Award winner Albertina Walker, who is considered the "queen of gospel music."

Adams recorded a song for the 2003 film Honey entitled "I Believe", which played during the last scene in the final dance.

Adams was also a judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.^[9]

[edit] Day By Day

After nearly four years without releasing an album, Adams returned in 2005 with Day By Day. Although charting higher than Mountain High...Valley Low on the Billboard 100 and Billboard R&B Albums chart, it did not receive RIAA certification. The album featured the singles "Be Blessed," "Someone Watching Over You," "This Too Shall Pass", and "Victory" (which was prominently featured in the movie The Gospel).

After ending her long association with Atlantic Records, Atlantic released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of Me in May 2007.

Adams signed with Columbia Records in 2007. Columbia released What a Wonderful Time, her second holiday collection, in October 2007. "Hold On" was released as the lead single.

Morning radio show and book release[link]

After the release of "What a Wonderful Time", Adams embarked on the radio market with her "The Yolanda Adams Morning Show." The show proved to be a huge success, taking over 26 markets in just two years. Currently, the show is heard in 39 markets.

On December 25, 2009, Adams performed on BET's The Mo'Nique Show, where she sang "Already Alright," from her 1999 Mountain High...Valley Low album. Mo'Nique stated that the song is one of her favorites.

In 2010, Adams released her book "Points of Power", based on one of the segments of her radio show.

Yolanda Adams appeared on the 2011 BET Honors to sing her signature song "The Battle Is the Lord's" in honor of Cicely Tyson. Later, Adams appeared at the 53rd Grammy Awards, taking part in a tribute to Aretha Franklin, along with Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, and Martina McBride. Adams performed "Spirit in the Dark" - Franklin's classic from 1970. On several occasions, Franklin stated that she "especially loved" Yolanda's performance.^[10][11] On May 29, 2011, Yolanda sang at the prestigious National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, DC, to honor the U.S. soldiers.

[edit] Becoming

Adams' eleventh studio album, Becoming, was released on 3 May 2011. The new single, "Be Still", produced by Drathoven, debuted on Tuesday, 19 April on the Yolanda Adams Morning show. Becoming was released by Walmart as an exclusive deal.

Book release[link]

Adams released her first book Points of Power in 2010. It is a Christian book in reference to living a pure, spirit-filled Christian life.

The Yolanda Adams Morning Show on radio[link]

The Yolanda Adams Morning Show

Genre	Comedy, talk, urban contemporary gospel
Running time	approx. 4 hours
Country	United States
Starring	Yolanda Adams
Website	and TheYolandaAdamsMorningShow.com

Adams is the host of The Yolanda Adams Morning Show, which currently airs on Urban Gospel stations owned by Radio One.

Morning Show cities and affiliates as of 7/21/2009[link]

Personal life[link]

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In 1997, Yolanda Adams married former NFL player Tim Crawford. The couple divorced in August 2004 after seven years. Adams and Crawford had one daughter, Taylor, born in 2001.^[13]

Adams served as a spokesperson for the FILA Corporation's Operation Rebound, a program that addressed the concern of inner-city schoolchildren.

Discography[link]

• 1987: Just as I Am
• 1991: Through the Storm
• 1993: Save the World
• 1995: More Than A Melody
• 1997: Live in Washington
• 1998: Songs from the Heart
• 1999: Mountain High...Valley Low
• 2000: Christmas With Yolanda Adams
• 2001: Believe
• 2002: The Experience
• 2005: Day By Day
• 2007: What a Wonderful Time
• 2011: Becoming

Awards[link]

In total, Adams has won four Grammy Awards, sixteen Stellar Gospel Music Awards, four of the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards, one American Music Award, seven NAACP Image Awards, one Soul Train Music Award, and three BET Awards.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Yolanda Adams

• yolandaadamslive.com Official Website
• theyolandaadamsmorningshow.com Official Radio Show web site
• Yolanda Adams at Allmusic
• Yolanda Adams at the Internet Movie Database

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Stick to Your Guns is an American hardcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 2003. They are currently signed to Sumerian records, and have released three full-length albums to date.^[2] "The Hope Division" was released June 1, 2010 through Sumerian Records, "Diamond" was released in March 2012.^{[1][3][4][5][6]}

Biography[link]

Origins and signing with Sumerian Records (2003-2008)[link]

Stick to Your Guns is a five-piece hardcore band from Orange County, CA. The group began in the summer of 2003 when vocalist Jesse Barnett was inspired to form a band that would provide him with a medium to express his points of view. STYG blends melody, heaviness, and sincerity into one solid sound that will cater to fans of Comeback Kid, Throwdown, Ignite, Stronger Than Ever, The Four Llama Mafia, and Rise Against.

Ash Avildsen of Sumerian Records first noticed the band, he put them on as the opener for Ignite's Anaheim House of Blues show that drew over 850 people. After the incredible response and passionate performance, he immediately signed the band on as their agent and the hype began to spread. STYG then completed a Westcoast tour with Caliban and The Acacia Strain in October, as well as a 7 week co-headline tour in November and December with Too Pure to Die and As Blood Runs Black. STYG headlined all of the Texas and California shows with all of the turnouts being between 300 and 500 people. STYG also holds the record for the highest attendance ever at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim, Orange County's premier all ages venue. Even before signing to Sumerian Records, the amount of momentum behind the band was so powerful that they were chosen to open a Terror tour in January and February 2007 that also featured, The Warriors and All Shall Perish.

The Hope Division (2008-2011)[link]

Stick to Your Guns caught the attention of many independent labels in the music community. Rather than jump into a deal, the band continued their relentless touring schedule and headlined a 6 week US tour that firmly planted their stake in the US touring business by drawing on average 423.5 people a night. The tour ended in San Diego at a New Year's Eve show where over 1,200 people were in attendance.

STYG's diehard touring work ethic combined with their passionate and infectious live show undoubtedly brought the band success and many exciting opportunities in 2008 including a massive US tour with good friends As Blood Runs Black as well as a large portion of the 2008 Warped Tour.

On January 20, 2010, Stick To Your Guns announced that they will enter the studio within the next week to begin recording their new album 'The Hope Division' for a June 1, 2010, release date through Sumerian Records. The album hit #172 on the billboard top 200 chart, and #5 on the billboard heatseeker albums chart.^[7]

In November 2011, Stick To Your Guns posted a picture on their Facebook of an Arizona fan after several of his friends got tattoos of the heart that is on the cover of "The Hope Division" as a tribute to their friend. Along with the tattoo was the words "At least he died a lion." This was due to his long and painful battle with a brain tumor that he fought bravely against. The fan was Samuel Perkins, a 20-year-old who everyone loved and had died from a brain tumor. They call him the best person they had ever met. Stick to Your Guns saw the unity in that and decided to pay tribute to him by performing as the headliner at Sam's memorial show. It was greatly appreciated by all of his friends.

New single and Diamond (since 2011)[link]

Later, the band released a new song titled "Bringing You Down (A New World Overthrow)", a new digital single inspired in the Occupy Wall Street Movement. They also reveal that a new album is in the works. On February 10, 2012 they released a video on YouTube announcing that their new album will be titled 'Diamond' and will be released that same year on March 27.^[8] On February 20, a new single named "Against Them All" was released on iTunes and through the Sumerian Records YouTube account.^[9] The video for "We Still Believe" premiered on March 21st and is the first official single from Diamond. ^[10]

Band members[link]

Current members

• Jesse Barnett – lead vocals, programming, guitars (since 2003)
• Josh James – guitars, backing vocals (since 2012)
• Chris Rawson – guitars, backing vocals (since 2009)
• Andrew Rose – bass, backing vocals (since 2008)
• George Schmitz – drums, percussion (since 2008)

Former members

• Reid Haymond – guitar, backing vocals (2007–2010)
• Casey Lagos – drums, guitars, bass, backing vocals (2003–2008)
• Baximiliano Romo – guitars, backing vocals (2003–2011)
• Darel McFadyen – bass, backing vocals (2007–2008)
• Curtis Pleshe – guitar, backing vocals (2003–2006)
• Justin Rutherford – guitar, backing vocals (2003–2007)
• Elliot Sellers – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006)

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Stick To Your Guns Myspace Page
• Stick To Your Guns Blog