Biography of Erica Campbell

Erica Monique Atkins-Campbell is one-half of the gospel singing duo Mary Mary. Along with her sister Tina, Erica has released 4 studio albums and won numerous award and accolades, including 3 Grammy's. She stars with her family on the We TV reality show, Mary Mary. The duo's latest record was Go Get It.

Erica Campbell is the younger sister of Tina Campbell. Beside Tina as Mary Mary -- a duo produced by Warryn -- Erica was among the most successful contemporary gospel artists of the 2000s and early 2010s. From their 2000 debut through 2012, each one of Mary Mary's studio albums either topped or narrowly missed the top of Billboard's Gospel Albums chart. 

 

In addition to earning numerous Stellar Music and Dove Awards they have also received 4 Grammy Awards, 3 NAACP Image Awards, 2 American Music Awards, a Soul Train Award and a BET Award. In 2011, Mary Mary received the ASCAP Golden Note Award for their extraordinary songwriting accomplishments. Erica's first solo album, the eclectic Help, was released in March 2014. Almost all of its songs were co-written by Erica and Warryn, while Warryn handled all the production work. Led by the singles "A Little More Jesus" (a rustic, triumphant shouter) and "Help" (a steady, organic shuffle with a guest verse from Lecrae), it entered Billboard's Gospel Albums chart at number one and peaked at number six on the all-genre Billboard 200.

With seven Mary Mary albums under her belt, Erica Campbell spreads her wings flying solo for the first time in 2013. Having spent 13 years as part of the groundbreaking duo Mary Mary, Erica fearlessly takes a step in a new direction.

The new direction is a bold one that forges a new path and journey for Erica Campbell, opening up a world of possibilities rooted in her desire to expose her heart and soul through music.

Where there were two, it is now one voice that stands alone revealing all of Campbell’s emotions, desires and sentiments. For Erica, musical messages are universal. “We all want to inspire, to connect people to God, to encourage them and to see people delivered. But the distinctive nature [on my project] will be people hearing just my voice and hearing the heart of who I am, which is a little bit different from Mary Mary.”

Erica says of her decision to go solo “It’s hard to not be Mary Mary, because I’ve been that for so long. But I think God is requiring ME to be ME. We don’t have a twin ministry we just happen to be side by side. I think He has an individual ministry for me and for her [sister Tina]. You stand by someone for so long you don’t even know if you’re capable of standing on my own two feet. This is my chance to stand on my own.”

Her heart is what drives her. She is passionate about people. Reaching them, hearing and understanding their stories, praying for and loving them, it is what ultimately makes Erica’s music relevant and relatable. “I have a serious heart for people. I care about the wounded, the broken hearted people, the downtrodden. I’m a regular girl trying to reach regular people with an extraordinary message: that God cares.” Her first single, the upbeat and powerful “A Little More Jesus” is exactly that - Campbell tapping into what people are feeling and thinking. She unites us with her honesty and enthusiasm.

“I have a job to do … I want to bring the gospel to all aspects of the world. I want to use the platform to bring it to the people on the corner, outside of church,” - said Erica.

Expect a wide range of music from Campbell. From her foundation in church to her classical training and musical influences, Erica describes her solo sound as blend “think Motown meets gospel meets rock & roll,” all of which are her nod to the power and uniqueness of live vocals and live bands.

“The songs will be different,” said Campbell. “I want to reach back into what music has gone away from which is live instrumentation. I want Gospel music to take full ownership of what music really is. There will be a lot of live instruments – strings and horns. It will be music that is relevant and appealing with a message that is just as moving, necessary and compelling.”

Erica is guided in her personal and professional lives by a boundless desire to please God and her eternal love for her family. These are driving principals that are what is most important to Campbell. “I want the people that raised me, the pastors and all the people that spoke into my life … I want them to see that I listened and that I got it. That I represent God well and when they hear my name I want them to say we’re proud of her. That will mean the world to me.”
In 2001 Erica married Mary Mary producer Warryn "Baby Dubb' Campbell. Together the couple has 3 children; daughter Krista Nicole, son Warryn III, better known as Wozie, and newest daughter Zaya Monique. The two have recently started their ministry hosting a growing monthly prayer and bible study in North Hollywood, CA. “The responsibility of the people and the weight is so heavy,” Erica said of the call to ministry. “But what God has called you to, He also equips you. Warryn and I both have a sincere heart for the disenfranchised in church. We put too much focus on people; we need to get back to God; serving Him and loving Him.”

Biography of Canon

Aaron McCain (born March 1, 1989), better known by his stage name Canon, is an American Christian rap artist from Chicago, Illinois. Canon is best known for his appearance on Lecrae's Rehab: The Overdose and his collaboration with Derek Minor from Reach Records. Canon also was mentored by Lecrae who then took Canon on the road with him to be his full-time hype-man. After touring with Lecrae, Canon signed with Reflection Music Group and recorded his first EP entitled Loose Canon which was released in 2012. In 2014, Canon experience his first taste of success by reaching the Billboard 200 charts with the release of Loose Canon Volume 2.

Years Active: 2009 – present
Genres: Christian Hip – Hop.
Label: Reflection

An alias representative of the greatest book in all of literature and reminiscent of rapid-fire weaponry carries lofty expectations and growing anticipation. Yet, this Midwest-born rapper's aim is not to leave people in awe of his knowledge and delivery but to offer words of life.

Aaron "Canon" McCain was born in Chicago, Illinois in a lower middle class area, but violence and crime would soon force his parents to journey throughout the state in hopes of finding a safe environment for their family. As an employee at Moody Bible Institute, Canon's mom introduced him and his siblings to God at a young age, and he found himself in his grandfather's church along with the rest of his family. While his heart hadn't been changed, his religious surroundings often kept him from turning to a life of crime common to those in his neighborhood. Nevertheless, Canon's penchant for mischief would eventually turn into rebellion against authority, skipping school and involvement in violent activity.

Yet, in between misbehaving in school and around the neighborhood, Canon grew more curious about God and interested in merging his growing faith with his desire to rap. Hoping to finally have the opportunity to bridge the two, Canon began attending a church called The House where Hip Hop shaped the culture and the service. Within a year, under the guidance of the lead pastor and several others, Canon had left behind his childish ways, was performing regularly and had an ever-growing desire to know more about the Lord.

After high school, Canon left Illinois and headed to Memphis to attend Bible college. Having previously met Lecrae at The House, when Canon moved South, he linked up with the Reach Records frontman, Derek Minor, Chad Jones and others in Tennessee. He eventually had to leave school, and although he was now surrounded by budding rappers, Canon's focus was still on maturing in the faith. But his mentors encouraged him to take all he'd experienced and learned and share it through music. 

Canon took their advice and in 2009 dropped "The Great Investment" mixtape, which went viral and garnered favorable reviews and caught the attention of listeners around the world. His mixtape was followed by a feature on Lecrae's Rehab: The Overdose, and he began touring the world with Lecrae before officially signing with Reflection Music Group in 2011.

Canon officially made his mark in the genre with the release of his free album Blind World featuring the popular tracks "10 Toes Deep," "Good to Go," and "Poppin Off" with Suzy Rock. He soon became a sought after performer by exciting audiences around the country with his acrobatics and rapid delivery. His first EP, Loose Canon, released the following year, built even more anticipation for his debut album as did his presence on RMG's collective album Welcome to the Family. Now, with Mad Haven, Canon's first full-length album--set to hit stores this October--he plans to offer a more personal look into what has shaped him as a person and artist. "A haven is a place of restoration, peace, covenant, security and where you might find your hope and joy. I'm going to tell you how I got to that place," he shares.

Now calling Atlanta home, Canon's desire is to contribute truth to culture while being true to who he is as an artist and a young person that is also influenced by culture. He hopes his music and his life inspires others to look to Christ but also encourage believers to "be you in light of a biblical worldview."