NASHVILLE, Tenn.—GRAMMY®, Stellar and Dove Award-nominated FLAME, one of Christian music's leading rap/hip-hop recording artists, returns October 1 with Royal Flush, his seventh full-length release. Featuring appearances from such names as KB, vocalist V.Rose, and NF, among others, Royal Flush is one of the genre's most anticipated recordings this year.
Highlights of the project include the debut single, "All In" (feat. KB); the urban-flavored "Read Em & Weep" (with V.Rose); the creed-like "Believe"; and "Start Over" (feat. NF), a deeply personal anthem for FLAME and a reminder that second chances are always found in Christ.
"In the game of poker, the highest hand you can receive is a royal flush, which is a ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace," FLAME explains of the album's title. "When I thought about the concept, I said, 'Man, I think about what Christ has done in the life of a Christian. He set us up to win.' We've got the highest hand. If you're not a Christian, you can receive the royal flush through Christ."
FLAME will debut selections from Royal Flush around the country this fall, stepping out to headline a tour with special guests 7eventh Time Down and Kerrie Roberts in November. Additionally, FLAME is slated to co-headline dates with Salvador and Family Force 5, respectively, later this year. He will appear alongside Francis Chan and Lecrae, among other leading speakers and artists, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this month, and will be a featured speaker at the Flavor Fest Urban Leadership Conference in Tampa, Florida, in October.
A leader in today's Christian rap/hip-hop scene, FLAME's best-selling 2010 release Captured and last year's The 6th both debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts. With three Stellar Award nominations and six GMA Dove nominations to his credit, FLAME's Our World: Redeemed earned a 2009 GRAMMY®-nomination for best Rap or Rock Gospel Album. The St. Louis native has appeared on BET and "The 700 Club," as well as in Vibe magazine, The Huffington Post and Hip Hop Weekly, among other top publications.
Emerging from the drug and gang culture of inner city St. Louis, FLAME (Marcus Gray) gave his life to Christ following a near-fatal car accident as a teenager. In addition to founding and operating Clear Sight Music, FLAME holds a degree in biblical counseling from Boyce College and is currently pursuing a master's degree at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Royal Flush (Clear Sight Music) will be available October 1 from Infinity Music Distribution.
