Thi'sl releases 'Against All Odds: Life Application' e-book for free

St. Louis-based artist Thi'sl released an Against All Odds life application e-book following up his autobiography and album by the same name. 

He not only wrote the e-book for people with a similar background as him, but also as a resource for inner-city ministers.

"What good can come from the hood? Some would say nothing," Brian Dye, director of Legacy Conference and elder at Legacy Christian Fellowship in Chicago, said. "Against All Odds is the real life story of what God can do when Christians believe differently. While trapped in a life of hustling, God transformed Thi'sl through the love of Christians that wouldn't give up hope. They knew that God didn't abandon the hood, and neither would they. It is in this same spirit, Thi'sl created this resource for those seeking to escape the trap but not knowing the way out.

"Thi'sl always gives the raw and uncut in his music, and this book is no different. Pick it up, read it and be encouraged. Maybe you aren't the one caught in the trap of the hood life, but you know those who are. Then this is a much-needed resource to pass on to others. Let them hear from someone who walked in their shoes and came out the other side."

In Against All Odds: Life Application, Thi’sl "lays out a spiritual and practical road map that will lead men from living the lies that culture says they were born to be, to living life the way God intended for them in creation," reads the description of the e-book, which tackles the following topics.

• Faith
• Prayer
• Forgiveness
• Stewardship
• Paying off child support
• Surrendering to God’s will
• Building and following a plan
• Being created in God’s image
• Sacrificing to reach your goals

VIDEO: Thi'sl - Redemption

Thi'sl has released a music video for his Against All Odds single "Redemption". 

The St. Louis-based artist dropped his seventh studio album on March 22 alongside his first retail book, both of which were titled Against All Odds.

Watch It Below

Buy Against All Odds iTunes.

Music: Thi'sl - Redemption

Thi'sl released the first song from his upcoming album, Against All Odds, on Monday, track No. 10, "Redemption". 

Against All Odds, Thi'sl's seventh studio album, will release on March 22 alongside his first retail book by the same name.

“The album is a musical autobiography,” Thi'sl said. “It’ll take the same approach as my Chronicles of an X-Hustler album, where it has narration between songs, mid-tempo, heavy-hitting beats and songs which talk about specific situations that lead up to redemption.”

Buy "Redemption" and pre-order Against All Odds iTunes.

Listen To Redemption Below:

Thi'sl tells story about his grandmother scolding him for trying to pick cotton

On Friday, Thi'sl dropped the first of a four-part video series called "Road to Redemption" which will lead up to the March 22 release of his album and book titled Against All Odds. 

"One of the most unique things about my life that most people wouldn't know about me that I didn't even trip off of growing up," he said, "was the fact that I was born on a plantation."

Thi'sl explained that much of his family still lived on a plantation in Minter City, Mississippi until the mid-to-late 1980s, so he visited his great grandmother there yearly as a child.

In episode No. 1 of "Road to Redemption," he told a story about how he — at around seven or eight years old — saw his cousin making about $10 an hour picking cotton and wanted to make money, too. When Thi'sl asked if he could do the same, his grandmother yelled at him.

"Let somebody tell me you put your hands on some cotton," Thi'sl said, quoting her. "She said, 'I picked cotton, my momma picked cotton, my kids picked cotton, my grandson is not gonna touch no cotton. That's why I moved you off of that plantation.' She was just like, 'If you want money, you call me.'"

Watch episode No. 1 of "Road to Redemption" below.

Thi'sl announces release date of new album and autobiography 'Against All Odds'

Gang leader turned Billboard-charting rapper Thi’sl is set to release his first retail book, an autobiography titled Against All Odds, which he will self-publish on Feb. 23.

“I just wanted to share what God has done for me with others,” Thi’sl said, “hoping people will read this and see that no matter how much has happened to you, or how much you’ve done to others, there’s still room for God’s grace to change your life.”

The release of Thi'sl's seventh studio album, which is also titled Against All Odds, will follow on Feb. 26.

Facing the devastating odds of poverty, fatherlessness, gangs, drug dealing and an arrest for first-degree murder, Thi'sl overcame to become a successful independent artist, business owner and a local and national leader.

“I've known Thi'sl for years and seen his story and voice impact people all around the world,” Grammy Award-winning artist Lecrae said. “There are only a handful of people in our day like him, who came out the fire and have turned back around to run back into it to pull people out. His voice is special, unique and challenging. He reminds us of what we should all be doing with our lives — living for something greater than ourselves.”

“Listening to Thi’sl’s music and hearing him speak shows how people can change for the better,” two-time Masters champion golfer Bubba Watson said. “He has seen the worst, and now he is seeing the best in people. Thi’sl’s story has inspired and will continue to inspire people all across the world.”

The foreword of Against All Odds is written by fellow St. Louis-based, Grammy-nominated rapper Flame, who played perhaps the most instrumental role in Thi'sl's dramatic change. The Against All Oddsbook and album will be available in select stores nationwide and all digital outlets.

"I'm excited for people to hear the album," Thi'sl said. "I think it's some of the best music I've ever made. The album is actually like a soundtrack to the book. And I'm even more excited for people to read the book. It's my most honest work ever. It was scary and therapeutic at the same time."

Source: Rapzilla

Audio: Thi'sl - Pull Up (Beating)

Thi'sl our Artist of The Week released the third single and music video off of his mixtape, Heavy is the Head, which dropped on Aug. 14.

Listen to the audio below

Source: Rapzilla

Music: Thi'sl reveals tracklist and cover of 'Heavy is the Head'

Thi'sl announced more details on Tuesday about his mixtape Heavy is the Head, which will be released on Aug. 14. 

“The situations in Ferguson, Baltimore and throughout the nation were weighing heavy on me," Thi'sl said in a press release. "The burden that I felt was so heavy, that I couldn’t pretend I didn’t feel this way and go on being an artist. I’ve always known that God didn’t create me to be a regular artist, but that He called me to talk about weighty issues that artists typically stay way from. Heavy is the head of the one who wears a crown.”

Above is the cover of the project and below is the tracklist with features and production credits. Two versions of Heavy is the Head will be available — one free and another on iTunes with two exclusive songs.

Mixtape Tracklist

1. Intro (Honorable C-Note Speaks)
2. The Come Up (prod. by DHood)
3. The Delay (prod. by Mr. Inkredible)
4. Flex (Drop 40) feat. Dee 1 (prod. by Honorable C-Note)
5. Cadillac Riding feat. Bhird (prod. by DHood)
6. Pull Up (Beating) (prod. by Geeda)
7. It's All Good feat. Ashthon Jones (prod. by Tone Jonez)
8. What Are We Fighting For feat. Tolu (prod. by D-Flow)
9. Brother performed by Courtney Orlando (prod. by Courtney Orlando)
10. Lean On Me feat. Courtney Orlando (prod. by Courtney Orlando)
11. Jay and Bey feat. Aloha Mi’Sho (produced by Mr. Inkredible)
12. Straight Out The Trap (Interlude)
13. Straight Out The Trap (Dopeman Remix) (prod. by DJ Official)
14. Lord Help Me (prod. by Bag$ for Honorable C-Note)
15. Yesterday feat. Theresa Payne & Scarface (prod. by Tone Jonez)
16. Jesus Wept feat. Jai (prod. by Tone Jonez)
17. We Here (prod. by D-Flow)

iTunes CD Tracklist
1. The Come Up (prod. by DHood)
2. The Delay (prod. by Mr. Inkredible)
3. Flex (Drop 40) feat. Dee 1 (prod. by Honorable C-Note)
4. Cadillac Riding feat. Bhird (prod. by DHood)
5. Pull Up (Beating) (prod. by Geeda)
6. It's All Good feat. Ashthon Jones (prod. by Tone Jonez)
7. Dreamers feat. Tone Jonez (prod. by Tone Jonez)
8. What Are We Fighting For feat. Tolu (prod. by D-Flow)
9. Brother performed by Courtney Orlando (prod. by Courtney Orlando)
10. Lean On Me feat. Courtney Orlando (prod. by Courtney Orlando)
11. Jay and Bey feat. Aloha Mi’Sho (prod. by Mr. Inkredible)
12. Yesterday feat. Theresa Payne & Scarface (prod. by Tone Jonez)
13. Jesus Wept feat. Jai (prod. by Tone Jonez)
14. Kingdom Come (prod. by Tone Jonez)

Source: Rapzilla

Video: Thi'sl - Pushes back mixtape new single.

Thi'sl announced on Monday that his mixtape, Heavy Is The Head, will not be released on July 31 as previously planned. 

Instead, it will drop on Aug. 14. Thi'sl also released a music video today for his new song "It's All Good" featuring Ashthon Jones, which will be on Heavy Is The Head. Buy the single on iTunes.

Watch the Video below:

Source: Rapzilla

Thi'sl announces release date of mixtape alongside new music video

Alongside his new single "Delay," Thi'sl announced the release date of his upcoming mixtape. 

The project, which is titled Heavy Is The Head, will be released on July 31.

Here is the music video for the lead single.

Source: Rapzilla

Biography of Travis Tremayne Tyler (a.k.a Thi'sl)

Travis Tremayne Tyler, (born March 17, 1977) better known by the stage name Thi'sl is an American Christian hip hop producer and songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri. In 2007 Thi'sl was signed to the record label X-Hustler where he recorded three studio albums entitled, After This House I Shall Live, Chronicles of an X-Hustler and Beautiful Monster. In 2012 he was featured on Lecrae's album Gravity which won a Grammy award 

Years Active: 2007 – present

Genres: Christian Hip – Hop.

Label: Reach, Full Ride

At the corner of street life and honest living stands Thi’sl (thizil): an ex-hustler turned urban missionary who brings the Truth to the hood and urban struggles to the Church.  A look into his past reveals the authenticity of his gritty, in your face lyrics and God’s grace, which spared his life and gave him a clean slate to begin anew.  

Travis “Thi’sl” Tyler moved to St. Louis with his mom and brother to one of the worst neighborhoods in America at the age of 2. Living on the Westside of St. Louis, without a father present, his grandmother stepped in to help raise Thi’sl and his brother, while his mom constantly worked. Disaster soon followed—Thi’sl was expelled from all St. Louis public schools in the 8th grade for having a weapon, his mom and other relatives got hooked on drugs and he found himself struggling just to survive.  He moved to live with his grandfather and attended high school for one year, until it began interfering with his hustle: selling crack. “I was a monster. I did whatever I had to do to survive,” he recalls.  By the age of 18, narcotics began to consume every aspect of his existence. With his life spinning out of control, pains and hurts being drowned in a variety of drugs and an identity grounded in the streets, Thi’sl was headed for destruction. 

But then came his awakening—through the murder of one of his cousins. “It rocked my life and it made me look to God for answers,” he remembers. Thi’sl began attending church and reading the Bible, and his conscience was awakened to his sin. He knew he had to leave the street life behind him. He even parted ways with a childhood passion—rapping. While Thi’sl had relocated and experimented with different drugs quite frequently as a youth, rap had remained constant since the age of 11 as a means to vent his pain and struggles and extol the things he valued in life. In light of his awakening, Thi’sl now hated what he promoted in his music, so he walked away from the game and didn’t plan on coming out of retirement. Of course, God had other plans.

After a year and a half of studying Scripture and serving in his church, Thi’sl had a burning desire to reach his generation and culture. He prayed for direction, and God impressed upon his heart to return to rap. Initially, he tried to mimic the heavily theological raps he had been exposed to, until finding his own lane.  He eventually started an independent label and released his national debut album, Chronicles of an X-Hustler, which debuted at No. 4 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart.  Chronicles is a self-described “autobiographical” look into Thi’sl’s life as he addresses real life situations through a biblical lens and provides practical solutions to everyday situations.  That’s his mantra—let his biblical knowledge meet real people in their current realities.  Having been featured on several albums since his national debut, Thi’sl is gearing up to release his sophomore album Beautiful Monster. Driven by his mom’s words, “While people are sleeping, I’m working,” Thi’sl is dedicated to making the most of his platform and changing the world.

He currently resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife and kids as he serves faithfully at New Direction Christian Church. Ultimately, Thi’sl stands as a voice crying out to hoods and suburbs across the globe, “There is hope in Jesus. No matter how messed up you are, what jail you’re in, or how many people have told you that you will fail. There is hope! I found that hope in Jesus.”

Thi'sl is very involved in the Ferguson, Missouri shooting of 18-year-old man Michael Brown. He recently addressed the public about justice issues in the St. Louis, Missouri area and he put together a peace response, calling out the community and church to take part in the healing of the community. On Demember 13, 2014, Thi'sl teamed up with Bubba Watson and donated $25,000 to repair vandalism and stolen technology at local Ferguson school Griffith Elementary.

Official Website

 Label Websites: Reach Records, Full Ride

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