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CONFLUENCE 
   I think we'll be looking back on 2009/10 as one of
  those weird event confluence years in UK gospel
  music.
 
  For reasons I'm sure history will make clear at
  some stage, many long-standing acts are calling
  time on successful runs.
 
  On the Pop/Rock front Delirious? kicked things off
  by annoucing their retirement in 2009.

Fast-forward a few months later and BlushUK and TheBandWithNoName are in the middle of final tours even as I write. I think I've seen a couple more stories and/or press releases kicking about in my inbox on the same subject from other groups.

Closer to home veteran Hip-hop group GreenJade also announced they'll be hanging up whatever it is that Hip-hop artists hang up - I imagine it'll include microphones, pens and notepads.
 
I’d heard about GreenJade's retirement plans a few months back (in this instance I'm not sure I’d describe this as one of the ‘perks’ of the job, but hey...). Wizdom had been kind enought to share the information, but - with news of this kind and weight – I couldn’t say anything until the official announcement.
 
'CROSS OVER'
Like many others that have been around this scene for a bit, I’ve been a GreenJade fan from way back when.

They were a 'crossover' group way before the concept gained currency in the Black scene, equally present in the music mainstream, the wider (read 'White') Christian movement, as well as being a group that really sought to make a practical difference beyond church walls - a great example of which is the significant 'Gunz Down' project... Boris Johnson was suitably impressed with it long before he became London Mayor...

DISTINCT MUSIC
Their music was always distinct too: a genuinely unique Hip-hop style, built on the classic structures of the genre, and even as they evolved their sound it remained true to the Old School much more than the now-commonplace commercial derivatives...

As a result (and in my very personal view) the GreenJade sound became something of a double-edged sword: almost universally garnering huge respect from their peers for artistry, but less commercially successful for a group of their stature.

HANG TIME
They were one of the few groups I took time out to actually spend time with on the road, writing what ended up being one of my all-time favourite articles ever on UKGospel.com version 1: 'Hang Time: On The Road with GreenJade'.

This is going to be the first in a series of features celebrating the work and unnoticed graft of one of the UK gospel scene's hidden heroes. As part of the series I'll also republish the Hang Time story, as well as bring you a moving video tribute recorded by Smooflow, featuring some of UK gospel Hip-hop's best.

Following is the official GreenJade press release about their retirement. You can read the whole thing in their words.

UKGospel.com GREENJADE SPECIALS
In the meantime I'll be running a few specials: in the week beginning 19th July I'll publish Smooflow's video feature, and then I'll run the 'Hang Time' story sometime in August - and possibly even put out a podcast in September.

Feature overkill? Possibly. Deserved celebration...?

Most certainly.

Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UKGospel.com

THE END OF GREENJADE: As We Know It!

We would like to announce that after 18 years
GreenJade will cease activity as a hip-hop group in
December 2010!

We would like to thank everyone who has supported
us since 1996, coming to shows, buying music,
giving us words of encouragement and generally
supporting the movement.

We are changing GreenJade from a hip-hop group
to supporters of the next generation of Urban Christian musicians by sharing the experience we have gained in over 15 years of rocking shows and spreading love.

But we aren’t finished just yet and if you don’t know about GreenJade, there’s still time.
Download the FREE, “ Give A little Love” mixtape!

The first single from the new album, “Fathers Day” featuring Bold and Kelli-Leigh is available online now and you can see the video at IAMtheDAD.com. The last album “LIFE AS We Know It”, featuring Kick Off Ya Shoes and Gunz Down is still available on iTunes.

Our fourth and final album, “Movement To Progress” will be available digitally from Sunday 10/10/10.

For more information and tour dates check our website www.GreenJade.co.uk or visit GreenJade on Facebook and MySpace.

And we will doing a number of performances including GreenBelt, Soul Survivor, Blessed Souls and GL Live 8 in the build up to our “GreenJade Forever” event on Friday 3/12/10 at Mass in Brixton for which tickets are available now on theTicketSellers

We look forward to seeing you between now and December and you can book us for shows between now and then by emailing booking@greenjade.co.uk

God Be With You!
GreenJade

Yinka Awojobi

Founder, UKGospel.com
and the UKG Group of sites.

That's really all I have to say...

See the rest of the UKGospel.com Team

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Yinka Awojobi

Founder, UKG/ UKGospel.com group of sites. 

I really didn't want my picture here, but I'm bowing to pressure.

George Luke

Freelance journalist, all-round nice guy.

Has a weird obsession with international gospel music.

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