The unlikely has occurred. Gospel artiste Stitchie has collaborated with hardcore dancehall artiste, Elephant Man, on a gospel track called What A Mighty God.
The song is a remake of the popular praise and worship song of the same name. It carries almost the same tune as the original with differences in rhythm and some of the words.
"Ambassador Stitchie and Elephant Man clearing bad mind an' cleaning up the dancehall," says Stitchie in the beginning of the song.
Elephant Man follows later in the hook of the song singing:
"What a mighty God we serve ...
I command wicked people in the name of the Lord
Clean up your heart, be free
'cause wi naah give the devil no authority
fi walk all over we"
In sections, the beat changes with both artistes alternating. There are even sections of the song in which they sound alike.
Ele's idea
This collaboration was not entirely Stitchie's idea. He says on March 10 he was called by his friend Kirk Bennett who told him that Elephant Man wanted to speak with him. He said he welcomed the call as he has great respect for Elephant Man as a person and artiste.
"He (Elephant Man) said, "Father, we need some Jesus Christ inna di dancehall, and me want mi and you fi do a song, mi Teacher. He told me of the idea and played the rhythm over the phone for me to hear it and it was very, very good. He asked me if I could come to the studio and let us get it done in the morning, but I told him no, tomorrow won't work, let's do it tonight, so he agreed," said Stitchie whose real name is Cleve Laing.
Stitchie says he is happy about doing the song and even more so with Elephant Man whom he has known before converting to Christianity.
"As citizens of the kingdom of God, we were mandated to be light and salt, but some of us have chosen to segregate ourselves from those who are in darkness, and then expect them to find their way out on their own, forgetting that someone showed us the way out of our darkness into the Marvellous Light," said Stitchie who is in Germany as part of his European tour.
Predestined
He added, "I did not choose this path, it was he (Jesus Christ) who chose me, so those who he called he knew and those who he knew he predestined, so I will be obedient to his calling upon my life and I will show no bias or disregard for for any artistes, secular or gospel."
Stitchie says he was pleased to work with Elephant Man because he is an 'excellent artiste and a man with good heart for people and a passion for God. He says he noticed that Elephant Man was crying out for Jesus Christ to be part of the dancehall and he did not want to deny him this.
He says he has been praying for Elephant Man and other secular artistes to be converted. So far, Chrissy D has become a Christian and also Kirk Bennett who was part of Shocking Vibes Crew.
Though this song with Elephant Man is the first collaboration with a dancehall artiste, it is not his first collaboration with a secular artiste. He was invited by actor, Steven Segal to Warsaw, Poland, to record two duets for his album and he has recorded with Lukie D and Richie Stephens.
Elephant Man is no stranger to gospel as he did Bun Bad Mind which was a cover version of Marcia Providence's single Hear My Cry O Lord.
"This single is all about love," an elated Ele said. "True we a nuh bad mind youth and we heart clean, Stitchie know that a me a the right man to do this song with him."
The unlikely has occurred. Gospel artiste Stitchie has collaborated with hardcore dancehall artiste, Elephant Man, on a gospel track called What A Mighty God.
The song is a remake of the popular praise and worship song of the same name. It carries almost the same tune as the original with differences in rhythm and some of the words.
"Ambassador Stitchie and Elephant Man clearing bad mind an' cleaning up the dancehall," says Stitchie in the beginning of the song.
Elephant Man follows later in the hook of the song singing:
"What a mighty God we serve ...
I command wicked people in the name of the Lord
Clean up your heart, be free
'cause wi naah give the devil no authority
fi walk all over we"
In sections, the beat changes with both artistes alternating. There are even sections of the song in which they sound alike.
Ele's ideaThis collaboration was not entirely Stitchie's idea. He says on March 10 he was called by his friend Kirk Bennett who told him that Elephant Man wanted to speak with him. He said he welcomed the call as he has great respect for Elephant Man as a person and artiste.
"He (Elephant Man) said, "Father, we need some Jesus Christ inna di dancehall, and me want mi and you fi do a song, mi Teacher. He told me of the idea and played the rhythm over the phone for me to hear it and it was very, very good. He asked me if I could come to the studio and let us get it done in the morning, but I told him no, tomorrow won't work, let's do it tonight, so he agreed," said Stitchie whose real name is Cleve Laing.
Stitchie says he is happy about doing the song and even more so with Elephant Man whom he has known before converting to Christianity.
"As citizens of the kingdom of God, we were mandated to be light and salt, but some of us have chosen to segregate ourselves from those who are in darkness, and then expect them to find their way out on their own, forgetting that someone showed us the way out of our darkness into the Marvellous Light," said Stitchie who is in Germany as part of his European tour.
He added, "I did not choose this path, it was he (Jesus Christ) who chose me, so those who he called he knew and those who he knew he predestined, so I will be obedient to his calling upon my life and I will show no bias or disregard for for any artistes, secular or gospel."
Stitchie says he was pleased to work with Elephant Man because he is an 'excellent artiste and a man with good heart for people and a passion for God. He says he noticed that Elephant Man was crying out for Jesus Christ to be part of the dancehall and he did not want to deny him this.
He says he has been praying for Elephant Man and other secular artistes to be converted. So far, Chrissy D has become a Christian and also Kirk Bennett who was part of Shocking Vibes Crew.
Though this song with Elephant Man is the first collaboration with a dancehall artiste, it is not his first collaboration with a secular artiste. He was invited by actor, Steven Segal to Warsaw, Poland, to record two duets for his album and he has recorded with Lukie D and Richie Stephens.
Elephant Man is no stranger to gospel as he did Bun Bad Mind which was a cover version of Marcia Providence's single Hear My Cry O Lord.
"This single is all about love," an elated Ele said. "True we a nuh bad mind youth and we heart clean, Stitchie know that a me a the right man to do this song with him."