Trackstarz Team with DJ Tony Tone
What’s good everybody! What an awesome time at Flavor Fest 2018. The team packed up from various places across the country and all roads led to Tampa, FL to Crossover Church. Of course this includes Seantana, Ryan Righteous, DJ Jeremaya and Ric Sincere. Then also other members of the team including myself (Damo), Camille Grant, Tre James, Prafit Josiah and Russelyn Williams.
We came deep to one of the biggest urban ministry and hip hop conferences in the country. For those that don’t know Crossover Church is pastored by a CHH legend. His name is Pastor Tommy Kyllonen, but for years he has known by many by his rap name of Urban D. Now he’s lovingly known as Pastor Tommy. A pioneer in CHH is now influencing urban culture and is using hip hop music as a tool touch lives and make disciples on a whole new level.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Multiply”. This is not about us getting more for our own personal gain, but about making disciples and making the name of Jesus great in the earth. If you’ve never been to Flavor Fest this is not just an over hyped Christian conference or hip hop concert. We definitely get it in between the almost 20 artist that are on the card to perform, but it’s more than that. Some of those same artists along with other pastors, ministers and lay teachers help to edify the body by teaching in about 30 different workshops over the course of the weekend. The workshops cover a variety topics from youth ministry, entrepreneurship, theology and culture, church strategy and the music business.
Pastor Tommy of course is the hosting pastor. He is also assisted in teaching by his wife Lucy Kyllonen. They also have a host of lay teachers and ministers from their church facilitating workshops. Then you have pastors such as Dr. Eric Mason aka Pastor E and Scott Free. Also, Scott Free will be the pastor of the new Crossover Church being planted in Atlanta. If you’re in the Atlanta area be sure to check them out. Then some of your who’s who in CHH were there to teach as well. You had radio host Chris Chicago and CHH artists Jackie Hill Perry, KB and Natalie Lauren Sims.
Then you had 2 amazing nights of concerts. The first night you had Bizzle, 1K Phew, Zauntee, KJ-52, Toya Love, Keya Smith and Maddie Rey. The first night was hosted by Montell Jordan and Chris Chicago. The second night you had KB, Sicily Styles, Richie Righteous, Shepherd, K-Drama and Double. The second night was hosted by Scott Free and DJ Tony Tone of Hot 97.
Beat Battle Participants: Aaron Dews, J-Dot, C Life, Cardec Drums (Producer/Beat Battle Judge), CJ, Tray Little and Avila
It didn’t stop there with just 2 nights of dope artists. Each night was started off with the Flavor Fest Beat Battle hosted by Trackstarz. This first night of competition was hosted by rap battler extraordinaire Loso. Producers from all over submitted beats and the final 8 that made cut battled it out at Flavor Fest. Each producer pulled out 2 of their hottest beats for each round to go against their competition. The judges were Steven Malcolm, 1K Phew, Cardec Drums and Sicily Styles. In a couple of cases the audience had to be the deciding factor. The winner of the beat battle was Avila of the hip hop group Flight School. He killed the battle from round 1 with his sample of the hit song “Macarena”. He truly set the tone for the rest of the battle. He took us home winning the battle with a sample of the classic song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”.
Avila
Then Flavor Fest was culminated on Sunday with 3 morning worship services at the Crossover Church. Pastor Tommy continued in his series called “Real Recognize Real”. He was teaching from the book of Galatians. He taught on God’s grace setting us free from sin. Not freedom just to do whatever we want, but free to no longer be in bondage to sin. Also, worship service featured a performance by Zauntee.
Pastor Tommy Kyllonen aka Urban D
In the midst of all that was going on that weekend Trackstarz was able to still do our show live from Flavor Fest. You can catch it on YouTube or listen to the podcast. We featured interviews with CHH legend KJ-52 and DJ Tony Tone from Hot 97 in New York. Aside from that we were able to get lots of dope interviews for you to check out. Keep your eye out on YouTube for interviews with KB, Bizzle, Natalie Lauren Sims and Steven Malcolm.
In closing, Flavor Fest was an amazing experience. Before I forget, shout out to all of the dope vendors that were there as well. Last, but certainly not least we even had a freestyle cypher break out. Shout out to all of the emceez who spit bars in that. It truly was a coming together of the body of Christ. A big shout out to Pastor Tommy and his team at Crossover Church. Everything was well organized and everyone made us all feel right at home. The peace and love of God was flowing all over the place. The only bad news I have is that there will not be a Flavor Fest conference in 2019. They have some other things in the works to further the theme about multiplying. They are going out into the city to make disciples and to assist with the planting of other churches. No worries. The Flavor Fest conference will be back in 2020. Be on the lookout for info on that at www.flavorfest.org. Be sure to check out the highlight video on the Flavor Fest Instagram page. Until next time…
Peace and blessings,
Damo
Ryan Righteous, Seantana & DJ Jeremaya
Flavor Fest 2018 Highlight Video
https://www.instagram.com/p/BopciIzBHqQ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=11364w0ing6fm
