Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell caught up with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: The Scoop B Brand

Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell chat with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson and name their gospel music Mount Rushmore on Scoop B Radio.

“In the corners of my mind, I just can’t seem to find a reason to believe, that I can break free! Cause you see I have been down for so long, feel like the hope is gone, but as I lift my hands, I understand, that I should praise you through my circumstance!”

Even if you’re the most casual gospel music listener, you’ll attribute the lyric above to multi-Grammy Award winning gospel group Mary Mary and their single, “Shackles” (Praise You) from their 2000 Thankful album.

If it doesn’t ring a bell like Sunday’s at 12 o’clock, perhaps you’re more familiar with sisters, Erica and Tina Campbell from their WE tv reality television show, Mary Mary which shows the day and the life of the two balancing marriage, motherhood, career and holding on to their faith.

Nonetheless, the two bridge the gap between respected gospel artists like Andrae Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Daryl Coley, Dottie Peoples, John P. Kee, Yolanda Adams and more.

In American history, former United States Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are encapsulated as  iconic symbols of the United States thanks to a sculpture in Keystone, South Dakota,

Sports took hold of that and remixed it. While doing an interview with NBA TV’s Steve Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James listed his Mount Rushmore of NBA players that includes: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.

James added that he’d one day be “one of the top four that’s ever played this game.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wasn’t too pleased with that list and being left out, telling the Salt Lake Tribune’s Aaron Falk:

“I don’t know what LeBron was thinking. He didn’t even see Bill Russell play. He has no idea what Bill Russell did. Eleven championships in 13 years? Eight in a row? LeBron isn’t going to get anywhere near that. I don’t get it. And here he didn’t want Bill Russell on his Rushmore. I think today’s players have a very limited perspective on the game.”

But I digress.

In the day and age where everything is debatable here’s a query for ya: Is there such thing as a gospel music Mount Rushmore?

“That’s a good question,” Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell told me on Scoop B Radio.

Well, Google says no.

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson are carved into Mount Rushmore. Photo Credit: South Dakota Tourism

So guess what? Mary Mary has now created the first gospel Mount Rushmore!

“I would say Marvin Winans, Darryl Coley, Yolanda [Adams] and Donnie McClurkin,” said Erica Campbell.

Easy breezy, right?

Tina Campbell took us back further in the gospel music registry.

“The Clark Sisters,” Mary Mary’s Tina Campbell told Scoop B Radio.

For those tardy to the party, the Clark Sisters are literally five people. Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise Clark Bradford, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Karen Clark Sheard.

For those keeping score at home, The Clark Sisters, Ha-Ya was sampled by Jay-Z and Beyonce on 4:44’s Family Feud.

Start the video at the 1:01 mark to check it out.

But back to Mary Mary: Yo, a Mount Rushmore has four people!

But who cares?

This sounds interesting Tina, keep it going!

“Harvey Watkins Jr., Shirley Caesar, because she’s a beast,” she said.

The last of the Mount Rushmore??

“Commissioned,” she said.

That’s more than one person! That’s like a whole entourage, literally.

The original members of the Detroit, Michigan gospel group were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams. The group made hits like “Love Is The Way,” “Running Back To You” and “Ordinary Just Won’t Do.”

Commissioned’s “I Can’t Live Without You” is a classic

For the gospel historians out there, Marvin Sapp was once a member of the group.

The group would go on to have solo careers with Hammond and Sapp having mega success. Evander Holyfield once used Fred Hammonds Glory To God as his entrance music to fight Mike Tyson and others. 

While on the topic of individual careers, Tina Campbell’s new album, It’s Still Personal drops this Friday, September 29. “Too Hard Not Too,” is the first single from the album and it’s decent.

Collectively, Erica and Tina celebrate season six of their reality show Mary Mary which debuts Thursday night on WE tv. Both sisters held a screening of the new season at The Cutting Room in New York City. “We are excited about the final season, we have enjoyed sharing our lives with our fans,” said Erica Campbell.

Erica hosts the four-hour nationally syndicated radio show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell.

While both are celebraing individual success, the two are expected to produce another joint album. “There will be another Mary Mary album–but I just can’t tell you when,” joked Tina Campbell.

The new journey starts this Thursday on WE tv.

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The post Scoop B: Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell & Tina Campbell Name Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Others To Gospel Music Mount Rushmore appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.