New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Five-time Dove Award winning hip-hop/pop sensation Group 1 Crew releases its #FASTER digital EP today from Word Entertainment. Featuring special guest vocalists Moriah Peters, Jonathan Thulin and Rachel Lampa, the new recording is the first of two EP's to be released from Group 1 Crew in the coming months. #STRONGER is set to release November 4, 2014, while the double EP, #FASTER/#STRONGER, will be a physical CD sold exclusively at retail through Family Christian Stores beginning Sept. 16, as well as sold on Group 1 Crew's fall tour with Big Daddy Weave. There will be another full-length recording coming from Group 1 Crew
Spring 2015.
At Christian Hot AC/CHR and AC radio now is the lead single from #FASTER, "A Little Closer." Already the most added song at CHR this week with the second largest increase in spins, Group 1 Crew's Manwell Reyes hopes the song will encourage listeners caught up in perfectionism or a legalistic faith.
"For a long time, I felt like my Christianity was based on performance; it was about making sure that I was good enough to be called a Christian," says Manwell. "And then I realized that God truly expects us not to be perfect, but to trust in the One who is perfect. I pray that through this song, you will draw a little bit closer to understanding that God loves you where you're at, and is excited for where you're going."
Manwell further talks about the impetus of the new song, the story behind his life that led to the formation of Group 1 Crew, and the hope for the legacy he wants to continue to build with this new music on the "A Life Changed" video that can be seen now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1biAawCXUo&feature=youtu.be. The video also features clips of the new music from #FASTER.
The full #FASTER track listing follows:
1. The Wonder Years (feat. Moriah Peters)
2. A Little Closer
3. Heaven (Feat. Jonathan Thulin)
4. Everyday Is A Miracle (feat. Rachael Lampa)
5. Psalm 23
Taking the songs from #FASTER and #STRONGER, as well as its fan favorites, like the No. 1 hits "He Said (featuring Chris August)," "His Kind of Love" and "Dangerous," on the road, Group 1 Crew joins Big Daddy Weave, Chris August and Dara McLean on the "Beautiful Offerings Tour" this fall. The tour begins Sept. 12 in Cherryville, PA and travels across the country through Nov. 15 in Cedar Rapids, IA, while hitting cities like Dallas, Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Madison, WI and more. The full Group 1 Crew tour itinerary follows, with the latest updates at www.Group1Crew.com:
| 8/16/2014 |
Montana Expo Park (w/Audio Adrenaline) |
Great Falls, MT |
| 8/22/2014 |
St Luke Ministry |
Columbus, GA |
| 8/23/2014 |
GSW University Storm Dome |
Americus, GA |
| 8/30/2014 |
Jim R. Miller Park |
Marietta, GA |
| 9/12/2014 |
The Beautiful Offerings Tour - Bethany Wesleyan Church |
Cherryville, PA |
| 9/13/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour- Chesapeake City Park |
Chesapeake, VA |
| 9/19/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - First Baptist Church |
Dallas, TX |
| 9/20/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Abundant Life Center |
La Marque, TX |
| 9/21/2014 |
The HUB in Roby |
Roby, TX |
| 9/26/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Oasis Church |
Tomah, WI |
| 9/27/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour |
Fort Wayne, IN |
| 9/28/2014 |
The Beautiful Offerings Tour - Judson Erne Auditorium |
Columbus, IN |
| 10/3/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Vertical Church |
West Haven, CT |
| 10/4/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Chestnut Assembly of God Church |
Vineland, NJ |
| 10/9/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - First Baptist Church |
Naples, FL |
| 10/10/2014 |
Anderson High School |
Cincinnati, OH |
| 10/18/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Alexandria Riverfront Center |
Alexandria, LA |
| 10/19/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour- Citronelle HS Football Stadium |
Citronelle, AL |
| 10/25/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Truett-McConnell College |
Cleveland, GA |
| 10/30/2014 |
Jewel City Church |
Francis, WV |
| 10/31/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour-Smoky Mtn Center for the Perf. Arts |
Franklin, NC |
| 11/1/2014 |
Marion Cultural and Civic Center |
Marion, IL |
| 11/2/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - Evangel Temple |
Meridian, MS |
| 11/7/2014 |
The Beautiful Offerings Tour - Coastal Carolina Fair |
Ladson, SC |
| 11/9/2014 |
Sharon High School Auditorium |
Sharon, PA |
| 11/14/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - City Church |
Madison, WI |
| 11/15/2014 |
Beautiful Offerings Tour - New Covenant Bible Church |
Cedar Rapids, IA |
* Tour dates subject to change.
About Group 1 Crew:
Group 1 Crew, led by Manwell Reyes, has become one of Christian music's leading hip-hop/pop focused artists, broadening the parameters of faith-based music with songs that percolate with energy and resonate with the truth of God's grace. With six Top 5 Billboard Christian CHR radio hits, including three No. 1s ("He Said (featuring Chris August)," "His Kind of Love," "Dangerous"), Group 1 Crew has also earned five Dove Awards; three for Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of the Year and two for the Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song ("Movin'," "Walking on the Stars"). Making their national TV debut on "The Mo'Nique Show," their music has been featured in NBC's "America's Got Talent," FOX's "The Simple Life," Style Network's "Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane," MTV's "Run's House," The CW's "One Tree Hill" and most recently on VH1's Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. On Sept. 16, 2014 their song, "Goin' Down," will be heard during the premiere of VH1's Love & Hip Hop Hollywood.
For more information on Group 1 Crew, its touring and more, visit www.Group1Crew.com, www.facebook.com/group1crew, www.Twitter.com/group1crew, www.youtube.com/group1crew.
