1032. IJLMI: Into Testified

[00:00:00] What's up everybody? It's your girl, Lish Speaks. And welcome back to another episode of my podcast, I'll Just Let Myself In. It's the podcast where we don't wait for an imaginary permission slip or some seat at an imaginary table. We let ourselves into our God-given doors. Today we're going to jump right in because I have a guest who ministers to people through music. He is the worship leader at Change Church in New Jersey. He has a single that's coming out today called Testified.

[00:00:28] It's a funky little joint. I'm excited to get into it. He's a husband. He's an artist who really is trying to blend what he knows as music into what we know as gospel music. And so I'm excited for you guys today to hear from none other than Kentrell Reagan. Welcome. What's up? Welcome, welcome. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited, man. I'm super excited to be here. We're going to have a good time. Kentrell, you are a worship leader, right?

[00:00:56] So you get up every Sunday, got to muster it up, got to get it up. You have more than one service? At my location. So you have more than one service. Two services. And so you are ministering to people through music while also being an artist, right? What's the most difficult thing to balance? I would say maybe just being regular, you know? Tell me more. Just being, you know, balanced out, like, you know, and I'm literally learning that this year.

[00:01:26] Yeah. You know, it's okay to not be that because usually I will always go to church or be on the road singing, doing something. And I come home, I'm in a studio, you know, still working, you know, because I work on other people's records as a producer too. Gotcha. And mixing and mastering. But like this year, I've literally took on the task to actually live, you know, which I never did. So for years I was always just stuck in music, music, music, music. I had no life. Yeah.

[00:01:56] You know. What does living look like as a somewhat newlywed? You've been married almost three years. Yeah. Like me. We got married a month before y'all. Yeah. Congrats. Yeah. Thank you. Congrats to you too. What does living look like for you? Living? Recently, man, I, like, I joined the bowling league. Oh, bowling. Okay. You know, I love bowling. Anybody with that smoke, you know, call me. Yeah. Bowling league.

[00:02:24] I love going to the country club. Okay. Yeah. We do that a lot. Come on, New Jersey. Yeah. You know. I'm new to New Jersey, so I don't know about the old country club. You gotta put me on. I got you. It's beautiful. Then what else I do? I do biking. So I road bike. Nice. I do that. It's fun. It's very therapeutic, you know? Okay. Yeah. So it's different. I love it. Okay.

[00:02:48] So being married, you know, for three years, how do you feel like marriage has changed the way you worship, if it has at all? Wow. Um, it's, it's a deeper, uh, it's a deeper revelation of who God is, you know? Um, the way I worship, man, I can worship like legit and just with a clear mind, you know what I mean?

[00:03:13] So I love, I love that I can worship with my wife also. Yeah. You know, it's different. Yeah. Sheesh. How did y'all meet? We met. It's crazy. The story is crazy. Um, so right as of right now, it's probably about 14 or 15 years ago. Wow. Um, our kids. Yeah. Our first engagement, um, with JJ Harrison. Okay.

[00:03:39] Both of our first one, you know, we were headed to Toronto with JJ. We met then, you know, I met her when she used to come on a bus with the paper Bible. I've never seen nobody do that. You know, she used to be reading the Bible. Saved. Come on now. Saved. Just included, you know, not talking to nobody. What she sings, you know what I'm saying? I was like, this girl, she, she loud. You know what I mean? She, like she ain't quiet, but years ago, you know, we never, we never had a thing, you

[00:04:08] know, and we were cool. Years later, you know, um, we joined, we joined in my brother, Deion Kivin. Uh, this is all collective group called the huddle worship. And we were, you know, together writing songs and, you know, you know, we started having eyes for each other, you know, years later. And then that's when everything started to spark and it happened. Yeah. We are, you know, that's so sad off, you know, that's so sad. Yeah.

[00:04:35] I think, you know, as a person who ministers myself and music industry, different things. When I got married, I felt a sense of peace and grounding that I really, really needed. Um, because like you said, when you're in this world and you're, you know, whether it's shows or, you know, me hosting things or whatever, you're back and forth with this, you're that. When you're single, you kind of get home, you might eat, you crash. You know what I'm saying?

[00:05:03] Like you're not really, not that you can't build the life for yourself. Cause I definitely did. I traveled and all the things, but that when you're in like grind mode and you're single, it's a different thing than when you're in grind mode and you're married. And I feel like being married has forced me to leave work at work. When I get home, even if the work was in the office in my house, like, you know, I'd be like, that's done. Now I need to spend time with my husband. Now I need to, you know what I mean?

[00:05:32] Pay attention and be intentional with my husband. So I definitely feel that. I definitely feel that. So you got a single out. Let's, let's talk about the single. Yeah. It's called testify. Testify. And, um, you know, this single man is funky. Yeah. It's funky. It feels like a little, I don't want to get you in trouble. We can cut this out. Got a little Prince in it. Got a little Prince sprinkled in it. Let's go. Let's go. Prince liked to sue people. It's his date. So we ain't going. But I felt that.

[00:06:00] I felt that, that, that Morris day in the time. I felt all that in it. Wow. So tell me about your musical inspirations. Period. But also with creating this. You know what's crazy? Um, you, you'll be surprised when I say this. I was never allowed to listen. I'm not surprised. To that type of music. You know, like I grew up on the John P. Keys, the Kurt Franklin's, the, the Clarks. Mary and Mary's. Mary and Mary's commission. You know what I mean?

[00:06:30] Come on, commission. I never, I never had the opportunity or I was never allowed to listen to secular music. You know, I had one secular album growing up. My mother didn't like it, but I just snuck. Yeah. I just snuck and listened to it. Listen. Confessions by Usher. Oh, that's a good one. You know what I'm saying? That's a good secular album. I know what I'm talking about. If you're gonna have one, that's good. You know, so like I, that is the only record that I had that was, you know, secular. Yeah.

[00:07:00] But I think God's given me like the ability to just hear a sound in passing, whether I was in a store, whether I was like just going out of town or a commercial, you know, I was able to pick up on certain sounds and styles. You know, like I'll say one of my favorite bands of all times is Journey. Okay. A rock band. Yeah.

[00:07:29] And I, you know, like my first album was kind of like had that feel to it, but this was different. You know, I never, never used to listen to Prince like that. Morris Day and time. I never heard their music. Yeah. Wow. You know what I mean? But I was able to pick up on a sound and a style and add it to my music. Yeah. I feel like it was God given. Yeah. You know what I mean? Absolutely. And being a producer, you know, like you hear all types of stuff, you know, and like

[00:07:57] legit, I started playing the song. Like I started with, right? I didn't know what it was. I threw it away for a few weeks, you know? Really? I really did. Okay. I threw it away. The week before the recording, I was like, I went back to it. You know what I mean? And- Sometimes you can't let something go. It's because God, yep. I did a layout of everything, sent this to my brother that who always helped me produce the records and stuff.

[00:08:26] And shout out to DJ Brown, man. Yeah. We just came up with a song, like testify. Yeah. You know what I mean? But it didn't leave, it didn't leave the church feel either. Uh huh. You know what I'm saying? Yes. So you gotta have that mix, you know? Yeah, yeah. So who are your inspirations when it comes to gospel music? Man, Dedrick Haddon. Okay. Dedrick Haddon, man. I really, I, man.

[00:08:54] And he's became, you know, a good friend and brother to me lately. Yeah. I grew up listening to him. I was coming home from school. My chore was to always vacuum. Okay. Right? Because I wanted to drown out how I was singing. Cause I wasn't, I really wasn't that good back then, but I copied everything he did on the Lost and Found record. Uh huh. I used to, listen, I'm a big fan. Yeah. Like to, you know, for the longest, man. Yeah.

[00:09:23] So he has a great influence, man. I always listen to Ty Trippett. He's incredible. Yeah. But yeah, that, I didn't, I didn't really listen to a lot of people. Yeah. Yeah. So those two. And I saw that you got to let Dedrick listen to the song. How was the experience of letting someone who you admire so much, you look up to who you've emulated here? Cause I know as artists, like we sensitive about our stuff. Absolutely. Yeah.

[00:09:50] And so, uh, how was it letting him listen to the, to the album? Man, it, it felt great. I'm always nervous. Yeah. I'm always nervous and tensed up about stuff like that, but I really felt great. You know what I mean? Knowing that this was something that God really gave me, you know? And it felt good. I was like, I felt honored and privileged to do that. Cause I felt like I was, you know, paying respect. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like, yo, you're literally the reason I'm doing this. Yeah. You know what I mean?

[00:10:19] If I didn't have that record that listening on my CD player, you know what I mean? Yes. You know, if you make any sudden move it, it's good. How old are you? You know what I mean? I'm 35. Okay. Yeah. I'm 35. You know what I mean? And, you know, I got a little uncle, uncle grades, you know? This is my auntie haircut. When I cut my hair, I said, okay, I'm officially, I'm 38. I said, I'm officially. You look fudge. Official tissue. You 38? Yeah. Yeah. Listen, you look young. Thank you, brother. Very young. Thank you.

[00:10:47] But yeah, like, you know, I, I felt like I was really like paying respect to like one of my heroes, man. Like I really respect it. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. The single is amazing. I feel like it gives us something to dance to. Yeah. It gives us something to bop to. Yeah. I feel like it's, I told you this off camera. I feel like it's a dance challenge needs to happen. You know what I'm saying? Let's go. Because there's not a lot of gospel music that sounds like that. I think you, you did, like I said, it's so funky.

[00:11:15] It's so, it gives you that almost like eighties, but modernized feel that people really love in music. And so I'm excited for the people to hear it. I hope that you get to perform it. Yeah. At church. And like, you know, do your thing. You know, listen, I'm excited. I, I can't wait to do it. You know, I'm still learning how to dance to it myself. Well, you don't gotta do too much dancing. You know what I'm saying? Not too much. You just lead the worship. So you're going to the Stellars. Yeah.

[00:11:44] And you've been before, but I would assume this time is a little bit different because you have a current single that you're pushing. And just from what I know from talking to your publicist and, and talking to you a bit, like you're really trying to move into a different era of Kent Rowe. Right? Absolutely. So what are you looking forward to for the Stellars? And then I also want to know, what are you a little nervous about? Um, I'm looking forward to just connecting, you know, connecting and just networking.

[00:12:13] Um, you know, I don't know what to expect this time around. Um, you know, things have been different lately in the industry, but, um, I'm, I'm just looking forward to being in the midst of, you know, the things that I love to do, you know? You're never too like, just like lucky to get into like rooms and atmospheres. You know what I mean? It's just like what you do and the things, the work that you put in, man, is like, you know, it's an honor to be there, you know?

[00:12:43] It's never by just luck, man, you know, but to, to be surrounded by, you know, people like you, your pairs, man, it's just, you know, to take and see and, you know, to grow and learn from just being in that environment. I'm just looking forward to it. Yeah. You know, nervous. Um, Anything you nervous about? I don't know if I'm nervous, you know? Okay, I like that! I don't know if I'm nervous, you know, I'm kinda, I'm kinda just like familiar with

[00:13:13] being around, a lot of that type of stuff. You know, if, now, if God does something, you know, divine and, you know, flip the script, you know, and, you know, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Don, if he, you know, hear or see something, the producers be like, oh, we need him to open the show. I'm gonna be nervous, you know what I mean? Yeah. You know, do it, God. Do it, be God. It's never too late. It's never too late. And there's so many things going on around the Stellar.

[00:13:41] So many different events and activations. Yeah. Like, you'll do really well there. And, um, my encouragement always to people is just to go with the heart posture of learning Yeah. And of having a good time, enjoying it. Don't let, you know, anything go to your head or don't take things personally if you can't get in or whatever, you know what I mean? Like, just go with the posture of, hey, I'm gonna go and I'm gonna enjoy this. And I'm telling you, it really does make a difference. Yeah. It really does make a difference in your experience.

[00:14:11] You talked a little bit about the music industry being a little different these days. I feel like gospel singers and worship leaders have it the hardest in the music industry, and I'm gonna tell you why I feel this way. Yeah. I think that you are doing something that you have done and would do for free. Yeah. But now you are trying to do it as a business person because that's wise and you're not, you know, going to the studio and going on tour and all of this stuff for your health,

[00:14:41] right? And even worship on Sunday morning, it's a job. You know what I mean? This is not, you know what I mean? Like if you do it well, it's a job. Yeah. And so I find that my friends, my peers, people that I know who transitioned from kind of doing something for the love, for church or even for a salary at church to really trying to do it in the business can have some difficulty. When it comes to ministry versus music industry, what are your thoughts and feelings?

[00:15:11] Well, you know, first we love what we do. Yeah. You know, we love, and I'm crazy thinking, I was having this conversation with my wife last night. I'm like, I think, you know, to a certain extent, you gotta be sensitive on, you know, the favors, you know? And, you know, like you said, it's business, you know? So how we used to do it, you know, we do it for the love of it, you know, still.

[00:15:37] But when we think about it is, you know, like us artists, we're pushing a brand. You know, a lot of things cost, you know, even though- Yep. Everything costs. It costs, you know? And the cost has been so far up the meter, you know, nowadays it's just, man, like, you know, what we used to do back in the day, you know, like, bro, I got you, you know? Come through, sing for this with me. You know? Like even going to sing, you know, it's like, I still, I still, there's times where I go,

[00:16:07] you know, and there's times where I get paid, but I gotta pay my band, my singers. Do I take anything home? No. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? But I, there are times where, you know, you have to be conscious and wise about it because, you know, you building, you wanna do everything you gotta do to get to a certain place, but you also have to understand, yo, like, I'm not young control no more. Yeah. Got a wife at home. Yep.

[00:16:36] Got a home, you know, got a family that, you know, and I got a lot of nieces and nephews, God kids, you know? You got goals. I got, I got records I wanna put up. I got, I got business I gotta handle, you know what I'm saying? So, it's just different. I think there's a balance in it. Yeah. And God will give you, you know, who, he'll give you who you need to help, you know? Yeah. And I don't think money is everything when it comes to everybody. Correct. You know?

[00:17:06] Because, like, I was just working with somebody recently and I did their record and I was like, God told me not to charge. Mm-hmm. Because whatever is on the other side of my obedience is way bigger. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So, it's just being sensitive to God, you know? Yeah. Having that discernment, I think it's so important. And, you know, I recently interviewed Erica Campbell and one of the things I feel like I've learned from her, watching her, watching Mary Mary, watching how, you know, they do things.

[00:17:34] There is a way to show up so excellently in this business that at some point people have no choice. Yeah. You know? Absolutely. But there's a timeline to that. And sometimes we're like, I just want that right now. I know for me. I'm speaking for me. I can't speak for you. You know, I go into certain spaces. I get invited to certain things and I'm like, man, okay, how do I figure out what to do for the love versus what to turn down?

[00:18:00] Like recently I had to turn something down and it killed me. Yeah. Because I really liked the founder. Mm-hmm. I really liked the event. Mm-hmm. And I had been two years prior, you know, to both years. And it was just going to cost me too much money. And this is the way that my husband helped me. I don't know if, who's the financial one in your marriage, you or your wife? Oh, it'll kind of be two of both of us. Well, good. I'm not. I'll spend all the money. My husband is the one that'll be like, nah, let's, no, we're not going to do that. Yeah.

[00:18:30] Um, but this is how he helped me. And I thought this was such a discerning thing. Mm-hmm. He said, break down the cost of everything it's going to take for us to get there. It was in another state that I couldn't drive to. Wow. That's something worth doing. Cause all I'm showing up with is a DJI and a prayer if it's just me, you know? Yeah. And so that's flights for both of us. Mm-hmm. Hotel for at least two nights. Mm-hmm. Right?

[00:19:01] Um, food, Ubers to and fro, or we're going to rent a car. Right? Yeah. Broke it down. Conservatively, it was $2,500. Right? And the, I'm trying not to say too much because of, but the place wanted me to host their red carpet. Mm. Host their red carpet and kind of like be the main correspondent for the night. Gotcha. Um, which great, great opportunity, beautiful gowns, right? Yeah, yeah.

[00:19:30] Like I loved all the people who were going to be there. Great opportunity. And he said, how much would it all cost? Broke it down. It was about $2,500. That was if we were conservative. Okay? He said, okay. So would you hand the person, the founder of the CEO of this, would you hand them $2,500 right now if they ask you for it? Mm-hmm. And I was like, no. He said, well then you got to turn it down. And I was like, I've never thought about it like that. Yeah. You know?

[00:19:58] Now there are other opportunities where it may not cost that much, but if it costs the I understand that. Okay. There's something on the other side that, you know, I had also done this more than one time already, you know? Like, so sometimes you have to just take into account, okay, what, what is good? And even not only that, what is good in this season? Mm-hmm. Cause maybe there's a season where $2,500 won't mean nothing to me and I would do it for the love, you know what I mean? For the relationships and for, just because I really care about this entity. Absolutely. But this is not the season for that.

[00:20:27] We just moved. We're trying to buy a home. Like, you know, just wisdom. And so I think when it comes to church, we are so family. Mm-hmm. Family, family, family. Bro, bro, sis, sis, mother. Yeah. And that familiarity sometime can breed an entitlement or, and I don't think people mean this. I really don't. Wow. But there can almost be like a taking advantage of. Oh yeah.

[00:20:56] Your gift. Oh yeah. Or your ability. I've had opportunities where people have wanted me to come do something for free that they're charging people hundreds of dollars to get into. I'm like, okay. And I get it cause I've thrown events. So sometime you really, you really are cutting even. Yeah. You're not making a whole bunch of profit. Right, right. I understand that. But if you are charging people to get into somewhere, you gotta pay the talent that you want to cover your event. Something. Something. Something. That'll make sense.

[00:21:26] You know what I mean? Now when I do charity or like awards, I don't, you know what I mean? If you're not charging people to get in, I'm not tripping. Yeah. But if you're charging people to get into your event, you know, and I often tell people, I think this opportunity is better suited for somebody else. Yeah. Because there is someone who's just trying to get in their foot in the door. Right, right. Who's just trying to get content. Right. Who just needs to be seen working. Who will do this for free and they will do a good job. Yeah. I don't know where it would be the job that I would have did. Yeah. But that's why I'm charging. Yeah, exactly. You know what I mean?

[00:21:56] And so I give those opportunities away sometime. And then also, as you well know, some things are mutually beneficial. Yeah. Those things can be free. Absolutely. If this is only benefiting you, and chances are for me, I've probably already done a thing or two or three to just benefit you because I'm just cool like that. You got to figure out a way to pay me, you know? And it's ministry too. Yes. That's ministry. Yes.

[00:22:25] Like you see God all up in that, you know? Yeah. And I think gospel artists, what we do as artists, that should reflect that too. Yeah. You know? It may not, not saying everything, but there's times where opportunity would be open for a lot of people that are trying to make it, you know? Like, is there a way we can say, hey, there's times where I suggested somebody to go in place, you know what I mean?

[00:22:55] Because I'm like, I don't think this will work for me and what I would need to bring in order for me to be effective and show up well. Hey, this person, not that they're less. They're just in a different season of their career. Yeah. You know? So it's like, me as a, trying to get to an established place as an artist, you know, me just doing that, you know, it's like, you know, can't, I'm, I look and expect for

[00:23:24] those who have been doing this to do the same, you know, for people that's trying to get there. Yeah. Look out. You know? Yep. Look out for people. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. All right. Really quickly, I'm going to do a little bit of a rapid fire for you with songs. Now you can either sing a little bit of the song or you can just say the title of the song. No pressure. He got to go minister tonight. So you might need to save your voice. I understand. No problem. Okay. Um, so really quickly, rapid fire. What is a song that you randomly find yourself singing?

[00:23:54] And don't try to be all spiritual. It could be a, it could, it don't have to be a gospel. What's a gospel song? Um, I would say, Jesus be the name. I think it's the elevation. Okay. Jesus be the name. Okay. Jesus be the name that makes me cry. I love that song. Okay. You find yourself singing that one. Okay. All right. What is a song that makes you cry? Um, you have need of me. Mmm.

[00:24:25] By Kentra Reagan. Come on your own song making you cry. Yeah, but you know. Tell me about the song and why it, what was that emotion from you? Um, that song, that song was birthed, um, after I lost my dear mom. Hmm. You know, um, right. My mom passed away December 1st, December. Yeah. December 1st, 2019. Wow. Uh, I got the call, uh, after church. Wow. Yeah.

[00:24:55] And, um, was she sick or was it unexpected? Uh, she had dealt with, you know, a stroke earlier that year. She overcame, got her speech back and everything. God restored, man. But out of this, you know, just her, she went into cardiac arrest at church. I'm so sorry. You know, I think, you know, and it just, it just was all of a sudden, you know, no signs of, you know what I mean? Yeah.

[00:25:20] Um, and then pandemic hit, you know, but like I was legit. God didn't allow me to grieve like those who would just take off and, you know, people's out of jobs, but God literally sustained me. Like I didn't miss a, a, a rent payment, car, no insurance, nothing. Yeah.

[00:25:46] I've probably made the most money that I've ever made, you know, previously in the pandemic. Mm-hmm . And, you know, and I was traveling still and I'm just like, God, how am I, you know, I lost my mom. Yeah. How am I still going? You know what I mean? Mm-hmm . And God spoke to me, like, I have need of you. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, you may not understand why I have you in this place where I'm sustaining you. Just know. Mm-hmm .

[00:26:13] This joy is not like, it's, it's not for nothing. Yeah. You know, I'm giving you that joy because I have need of you. This is an assignment. Yeah. For you to help those, you know what I mean? That's good. So that's, that's been my testimony. Yeah. Testify. Testify. Testify. You know? All right. I'm about to throw you an alley now. All right. All right. What's a song that makes you dance yourself happy? Ooh. Uh, Bruno Mars. Okay.

[00:26:42] I was, I was, I was expecting you to say, Testify, but Bruno Mars. It got, it got a little Bruno. It got a little Bruno in it. It got a little Bruno. You know? Testify too. That's my song now. Yup. Let's go. Let's put Testify there. Uptown Funk though. Yeah. Uptown Funk. Yeah. That is a good one. All right. And lastly, what is your favorite song to lead in worship? To lead. Whoa. Oh, you praise. Mmm. Oh, you praise. That's one of my favorite songs to lead.

[00:27:10] Um, because if you, I don't know if you can add this clip in there, but listen, I, I, like the first time I actually sang that song, I don't, I have this, I have this thing where I kind of just add stuff or remix it and I don't hear it the way, you know, people usually do it. Yeah. Um, but I got this, this, um, end part that I be like, I got a reason. Yeah. I got a reason to praise.

[00:27:40] You know what I mean? And then I go off until like, Lord, you've been so good to me. You know, add little Todd tripping in there. And then there's times where I just, you know, add stuff just in, in reason of the song, man. Oh, you praise. This is the reason why. Yeah. It's like testifying. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. That's good. Make sure you send me that clip so I can add it in when I, but I, I think about, you

[00:28:04] know, being, being the worship leader at change church, big church, big, uh, preacher. You know what I mean? Um, people come in an expectation. Yeah. When they walk in there on a Sunday morning. Uh, do you feel any pressure to be like anyone else or to present? Like anyone else? Or are you kind of just in your, in your bag or what you do?

[00:28:27] No, I don't, you know, and I think, um, a lot of people would feel like they have to, you know, but for me, I, I look at it as like this. If, if I'm there and they want me there, you know, they saw fit to put me in a position just as one of the worship leaders there, you know, they, they love what I bring. Yeah. The authentic me. Yeah.

[00:28:57] You know? So I don't feel like being anybody else would just not be a, it wouldn't be honor to God, you know? Cause who I am and what I do, it, it just brings a whole different, you know? And I, I hear this a lot and this is no shade to anybody, you know? And I'm a realist, you know? Yeah. So like, like there are, there are pastors like, like, yo, I just love the way you worship, bro. It's like dog. Like, like these are like, this is the language, they like dog, bro.

[00:29:25] Like, it's just like, yo, you bring this, you bring this masculine, like just feel to the worship. Like, it's just like, yo, like you, you, you make a, you know, you make a real, like, want to worship. Like, yo. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? And I, one of the, one of the dude came to me, he was like, yo, bro, dog, like, yo, like you, like, bro, you up there. Like, I'm like, yo, like, yo, I love God, dog. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I mean?

[00:29:53] So it's just like, it's, it's dope to like, know that you inspire other men. Like, you know what I mean? To like, yo, I ain't gotta be, I'm not too gangster enough to just worship. You know what I mean? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, yo, I'm corner streets. I'm a, I'm a hard dude. Yeah. Like where I'm, you know, that may be crazy sometimes, but like, yo, I love God, bro. Like, I want to just come and worship God. Like, you know, it may look different, but it's like, it's inspiring to see that. Absolutely. Absolutely.

[00:30:23] I love that. Yeah. So let's talk a little bit about your upbringing and, and how you were developed into this, this worship singer. Did you grow up singing? I know you said you used to put the vacuum cleaner on so no one can hear you. Um, but how did you develop into, into a worshiper? Um, so I first started out as a keyboardist. Okay. You know, um, and I, I started playing when I was three years old. Wow. Self taught? Yes. Self taught is a gift from God.

[00:30:52] Um, I remember years ago, um, I was only playing, I still, my first song I ever played was Jesus Israel. Uh, now, and I was playing two fingers, you know what I'm saying? And my mom would just sit there and saying, I had some musicians will notice. And this is like very vintage, but it's a toy piano. Uh huh. Not like the, you know, like, not like a, a toy piano, like in Walmart you'll buy like

[00:31:20] first act, you know, I'm talking about like a toy piano where I would probably use in music today to kind of give like, you know, um, yeah. And man, I had that, it was like legit, like probably 20 keys, 29 keys maybe. And I was just playing that. My mom would just sing and you know, here I am just watching her sing solos. You know, I would play behind her. I won't complain. Mm.

[00:31:48] So I got to watch my mom actually sing and just literally lead, lead people into the presence of God. Yeah. I, I, I just felt like she was the best, you know, to do it. Yeah. You know, she was, she was dope. Um, and then I started to travel, um, with JJ Harrison. I will see him do it. So that inspired me too. Mm-hmm . Dion Kippen, that inspired me too.

[00:32:13] And just being around and it's just like, just my time in, um, with God, you know, just taught me. I just grew this desire to like lead people into the true and authentic presence of God because I experienced God in a whole different way. Mm-hmm . You know what I mean? And I come from a storefront church. Like, like I, how, how I've developed my gift, you know, I was in church and then,

[00:32:42] and this is how you knew it was real. Mm-hmm . I sang for nothing. Yeah. I played while I sang. I'm talking about revival, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning, Tuesday, every Sunday, sometime three. Monday kick in. I gotta go to school. Tuesday at church rehearsal. Then you got another revival, Wednesday through Saturday. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? So it was like, that's all I knew. Yeah. And it's just like, that, that became my passion.

[00:33:11] Like, not that people reacted to what I did, but I literally seen people say, transform. I seen the dead race. Mm-hmm . Mm-hmm . I literally seen it with my eyes. Mm-hmm . And that's why I can never, I can, like, I will write other music. Yeah. But there'll be some type of hope. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yes. I know exactly what you mean.

[00:33:36] Like, I can't, I can't see myself singing about sex and drugs. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? But like, if I did write anything outside of gospel. Yeah. There'd be hope. Yeah. In it. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. Because, you know, it's like, God, I feel like God is everything. Yeah. You know what I mean? What's the biggest lesson your mother taught you about your personal relationship with God? Hmm.

[00:34:07] The biggest thing she taught me. Um, I can never make it without him. Mm-hmm . You know? And that's why I include him in everything I do. I just don't see it any other way. And it's been a proven fact. Yeah. You know? Many times we can like literally think we can actually do things in our own strength, our own power. Yeah. I've burnt myself out. Yes. Trying to do things how I saw fit to do it. Yeah.

[00:34:37] You know, so I think my prayer today is like, Lord, teach me how you want me to do this. Mm-hmm . Teach me, you know, what it is. And any assignment he gives you, he always prepares you. You know? Whether you are tired, but there's a rejuvenating factor in it. Yeah. You know, he'll give you, uh, he'll blow on everything you're doing. Yeah. And he'll actually blow strength into you. Yeah. You know? I love that. So, you know, I can't do nothing with that one. Yeah. That's good. I got two more questions. Gotcha. Yeah.

[00:35:07] One of them is this. So the name of the single is testify. Yep. And if you had to give a testimony, if you had to testify, old schools, that storefront church that you grew up in. Yes, sir. Give us a little bit of your testimony real quick. Oh. First giving out of the God who's the head of my life to the pastors, saints, deacons and friends, you know, I praise and thank God for how he's kept me. Mm-hmm. Uh, he's brought me from a mighty wrong way. My mighty wrong way. Hallelujah.

[00:35:37] Oh, man. I just, I, here it is. I, I've watched the best of, the best to do it, man. The, the one and only Barbara Newton, my grandmother. Mm-hmm. I watched her testify, God rest her soul. Mm-hmm. Um, she passed away the week of my live recording. Wow. And this song is in honor of her. Mm-hmm. You know, cause I watched her testify in church, man, Wednesday nights, um, at Second New Light Baptist Church, man.

[00:36:07] And, um, man, like I thought about it right in here, man. God literally saved me from depression, you know? Mm-hmm. Um, like literally two months ago I testified at church, man, um, I felt like depression just went like all, it was all over my card. It was like a flood. Mm-hmm. It was like I was in a pool of depression. Mm-hmm. I've never dealt with that. Yeah.

[00:36:31] You know, and the moment I called Jesus' name, you know, I felt like everything just broke. Mm-hmm. Off of me. And the reason why I was like in that pool of depression, man, like since this year, started, my grandmother died. Mm-hmm. The week of my recording, uh, a month later, my father dies. Oh my gosh. So sorry. Time after that, my grandfather passes away. Yeah. You know?

[00:37:01] So I'm literally like, I feel like grief is taking me by the neck and trying to choke the life out of me. Mm-hmm. And I've overcame what that looked like when my mom passed. But the thing that I realized, I felt like, you know, and you got to understand seasons and times, you know, um, maybe you don't have the grace to go on like you did before. And I realized that, you know?

[00:37:30] So I had to really look at my life and be like, yo, I see God. I see what you're talking about. So I feel like because I accepted what I needed to do. Yeah. In this time around, I feel like the devil was trying to get me. Mm-hmm. Trying to get me God. Mm-hmm.

[00:38:00] You know, I felt like God was breaking oppression. Mm-hmm. And I got a video for that too. And like, legit, I felt like God used that. I wanted to call out that Sunday to, you know, I wanted to kind of sit back. Because sometimes it's hard to minister in a place that you're in. But the Bible says we overcome. By the word. By the blood of the Lamb. And the words of our testimony. When I testified that, I felt so much lighter. So it's like the power of your testimony can free you.

[00:38:30] That's what the Bible says. We overcome. You may feel like you're still in it, even though you called his name. That's for that little disbelief or unbelief that you have. Yeah. That, yo, I'm still in this place. Mm-hmm. About it. Because God is using that to free whoever would hear. Mm-hmm. You know? Like, right before my eyes, the room went up.

[00:38:56] I saw married people at the altar just shedding the weight, everything off. And I'm just like, yo, God, your word is alive. Yeah. If I did not get up there that Sunday, sang and testified about his goodness, testify what he did for me, I would have been out the well. Mm-hmm.

[00:39:22] So my assignment on this earth is to do first what he said. Mm-hmm. Also, for God to use me in ways where I may not want to be used at that moment. Yes. That's a testimony in itself. Absolutely. You know? I love that. Yeah. And I feel like testifying is almost a lost art. Yeah. Yeah. Because I feel like our generation, we're so obsessed with seeming like everything is perfect.

[00:39:52] Wow. Everything got to look perfect. Everything got to feel perfect. And there is a power. Mm-hmm. There's a release. Mm-hmm. There's a breaking that comes off of our lives when we testify. Yeah. About the things that we're going through, about the things that we've been through. One of the things, you know, my husband and I, we moved to New Jersey less than a year ago. We're looking for a new church. Mm-hmm. And one of my non-negotiables was a vulnerable preacher. Mm-hmm.

[00:40:23] I don't want to hear about how God saved you in college and you 50 years old. Yeah. I mean, you could sprinkle that in there, a little yang, yang, yang in there. Mm-hmm. But how is God helping you last week? Absolutely. How did God help you not curse somebody out when they cut you off? Mm-hmm. How did God help you be kind and understanding to your wife? How did God help you love on your children? I want to hear how you're getting over grief. How is God working in your life today?

[00:40:48] And so, the power that I feel listening to Testify, now I understand where it comes from. Yeah. And for you to write and create the music for, and the lyrics for, such a happy song in the midst of grief and depression and what the devil was trying to do for you, he's terrified. Trust me. Wow. He knows. Wow.

[00:41:15] When your feet hit the floor in the morning, he gotta work. Mm-hmm. Because he can't get you. Absolutely. And now that I know that all that has been going on, I will definitely be praying for you. Thank you. My husband and I will be praying for you and for your wife. And for the mantle. Because I understand, not in a worship, but I've been an associate minister at a church. Mm-hmm. It is hard to serve when you are going through. Mm-hmm. And I think that there's a special anointing and covering for people who show up well,

[00:41:45] even when life is really, really difficult for them. Absolutely. So, I'm proud of you. Thank you. I'm proud of you. And I know that the congregation is grateful for you. Wow. And thank you for that vulnerability and for sure. God would agree. Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. We end off the podcast with a question. Okay. And the question is this. In the grand scheme of things, what do you want your legacy to be? Wow. My legacy? I want my legacy to be true, authentic.

[00:42:15] You know? And I want it to look the way God wants it to be. You know? Like, you know, I do want kids one day. I want to teach them, you know, what it is and who I've become. Yeah. And I want you to be better. You know what I'm saying? I want to leave a footprint. Yeah. Multiple. Like, hey, this is what I've built.

[00:42:44] This is, you know, I'm in business too, you know? And like, what person don't want to pass on, you know, a lot of what they built. The music, you know? When I look at Quincy Jones, you know, I see, I've seen, I recently had the opportunity I've seen at, you know, the hip hop awards. Mm-hmm. And I've seen Quincy Jones' son, you know, kind of just carrying a legacy and everything

[00:43:13] of what he built and, you know, honoring him. Yeah. And like, I see, it's not that I didn't want to be the center of it all, but I want the legacy to present God so well. Yeah. You know, it's that, it's like, you see the man, but you also see God. Yeah. You know? And it's just like, like, hey, I know you see me doing this, but like, yo, this is what God really did.

[00:43:42] I don't want God to do that for me. Yeah. You know? Because he couldn't have did that himself. Yeah. You know? Mm-hmm. Ever. So that's what I see legacy as, man. Like, we do all these things, but listen, this is a God thing. Yeah. You know? And it's successful because of him. Yeah. That's good. Well, you're all on your way to creating that legacy. I'm on my way. Yeah. You're on your way. I'm excited to be a little notch in your story. Listen. And I hope that you go on to do much more press.

[00:44:11] Post that song a million times. Listen. Listen. You know what I'm saying? Do what you gotta do because it deserves to be out there. I'm gonna do it. I want y'all to help me post it too. You know what I mean? Yes. Yes. Listen. All those who listen to me, listen, I'm an independent artist. Yes. You know? We gotta do what we gotta do. Yes. It's hard out there. Yeah. But, you know, yet, like, being determined is the biggest thing. Absolutely. Being determined to like actually get up, do the work. Even when you feel like, yo, this is crazy.

[00:44:41] Yeah. You know what I mean? There's times where I want to quit. You know what I'm like? I'm good. Let me just go and pop in. Let me just do my little job. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. But, you know, obviously there's a call, there's a mantle, there's a, you know, I think you feel even, you know, just affirming that too. You know? It's tough. Yeah. You know? I preach, I don't know how much time we got, but I just preached a message a week ago, this past Sunday, you know, clock it and block it.

[00:45:08] And one of the, one of the things that I felt like God wanted to deal with was not accepting what people would put on you. Oh. Or what, you know, society or whatever, you know? Yes. I know that. And, you know, there's a lot of things that people say about me and it's like, oh, your tone ain't really artist ready or, you know, this and that.

[00:45:36] You know, people have their critiques, but do I have to accept that? Mm-hmm. Who I am, what I sound like, how I write, this is what God gave me. Yeah. He can breathe on that. It may be different. Balau's different. Yes. He sound different. Yes. You know what I'm saying? Michael Jackson sounded different. D'Angelo sounded different. D'Angelo sounded different. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? And it's like, I'm no longer accepting what people say about me. Yeah. Clock it and block it. Because, you know what I'm saying?

[00:46:06] You got to clock them things. Yeah. Because it'll get in your spirit. Yeah. Make you believe what you want to believe about yourself. Mm-hmm. Or what the enemy wants you to believe about yourself. Yes. Hello, somebody. And then, you know, then you start to deal with this for years. And one of the things I was talking about was the woman with the issue of blood. Mm-hmm. You know, maybe my issue ain't the blood issue, but for 12 years, now you're dealing with an issue of the mind. Mm-hmm. And other people's perception. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

[00:46:35] You didn't clock it when the enemy tried to throw it at you. Yes. And you couldn't block it because it's like, you know, now you're dealing with it for years, but there's redemption. Yeah. Praise the Lord. And I don't know what I'm talking to. I'm sorry to preach the kick it in. No, no, no. Let it go. Let it fly. I don't know what I'm talking to, but there's redemption and God's redeeming the years that

[00:46:59] the canker worm, the locust, the enemy that has like literally taken and tried to destroy. But there's redemption. There's freedom. Yeah. Accept who God called you to be. Accept who he's like ordained you to be and accept what he gave you. Yeah. If he gave it to you, honor him by giving it back to him. That's a good way to end. Testify. Testify.

[00:47:29] The single is everywhere that you stream your music. I want y'all to run it up, run it up, run it up. I want you to use it for your TikToks. Use it for your reels. Let's show God that we still believe in testifying. Kentrell, thank you so much for being here. I appreciate you for having me. Thank you. Anytime. My door's open. You want to come? Come hang out. We can come hang out. You got to bring your wife too. Listen, we can go to country club. Right, right. Listen, okay. Period, period. Awesome.

[00:47:59] Thank you so much for watching another episode of I'll Just Let Myself In. And I hope that by listening to Kentrell's story, you somehow feel inspired to walk through your God-given doors. Listen, sometimes we got to clock it and block it, right? We don't have to listen to everything that everyone feels about us and allow it to stop us from walking through our doors. There's something that you want to do right now. Something you want to accomplish. Something you want to even start.

[00:48:24] But you're letting things and people's words and people's feelings about it block you from doing it. I want to encourage you to take the words that he shared and move forward in the thing that God has put in your heart to do. If you've listened on Holy Culture on Sirius XM, Channel 140 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on a Monday night, we thank you so much for listening there. If you've watched on Holy Culture's YouTube, we thank you for watching there. And if you're watching on my YouTube, we thank you so much for being here. Please make sure that you subscribe.

[00:48:54] Make sure that you hit the notification bell so that you don't miss any of our other content. And we will see you same time, same place next week. Peace.