print: Tye Tribbett - Blueprint Of A Blessed Man : Commentary on BlackGospel.com by Christopher Heron

Tye Tribbett:
The Blueprint Of A Blessed Man

May, 2008 on BlackGospel.com
by Christopher Heron

It’s easy to forget that the meteoric rise of Tye Tribbett on the musical landscape unfolded in just 4 short years. Since the 2004 release of his critically acclaimed Columbia Records debut – Life - Tye Tribbett has hollered and danced his way into the post-graduate class of recording artists (valedictorians: Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans) whose lives and popularity are characterized by chart-topping albums, hit songs, 30-city tours, top dollar earnings, first-name labels, message board banter, and fanatic followers.

In just four short years, Tye Tribbett has gone from relative anonymity to award-winning artist, from potential Pennsylvania breakthrough to poster-boy and the people’s choice, and deservingly so. Apart from composing some of the most unabashedly Christ-centered music like “No Way (I Can Live Without You)”, “Victory” and “Stand Out”, Tribbett has found a phenomenal way to connect with music fans and spectators through his raw and righteous music that’s delivered with intent, intensity and incredible inspiration. It’s one of the distinctive qualities of Tye Tribbett.

Another endearing characteristic Tye clearly possesses in his dangerous arsenal is his high octane, Holy Ghost-enhanced delivery. It’s a vocal and animated explosion that jolts all five senses and literally sucks up the unsuspecting spectator into new spiritual stratospheres. Few of his predecessors or contemporaries display so much bounce to the ounce (exceptions: Ricky Dillard, the late O’Landa Draper). It’s one of Tye’s calling cards and an alluring quality that shackles you into his music and ministerial message.

Tye Tribbett has also managed to make that elusive connection with today’s generation by keeping it real. With Tye, you get a sense of full transparency. There’s no posturing, no pretence. Instead, you get the soul of a man...honest, earnest and humble before God. All one has to do is listen to compositions like “Struggle”, “You Can Change”, “The Prodigal Son” and his crestfallen anthem “Sinking”.

Whether it’s lacing his lyrics with sensitive issues surrounding drug use, fornication or sexual identity, Tribbett doesn’t dance around his subject matter like he does around the stage. His candor and courage to address unspoken matters with a fresh new voice and language that’s cloaked in victory is simply inspirational. But it’s not all principalities and powers for Tye Tribbett. There is a lighter side to that lightweight figure.

Perhaps Tye’s trademark will be forever tied to his quirky sense of humor, a lovable lighter side to his ministry that reminds us of our individuality, our uniqueness as God’s creation, our anointed qualities that set each of us apart. Whether Tye Tribbett is striking a stylish pose in custom-made dress-to-the-T apparel or whether he’s performing Olympic qualifying high jumps from the stage or whether he’s rapping a prose that fancies the funny bone, Tye Tribbett reveals that he’s got anointed joy that fills his soul.

At the end of the day, Tye Tribbett represents more than music. His presence on the music scene symbolizes more than popularity and units sold. Tye Tribbett is a model for modern-day ministry and a Christian movement gaining scary momentum. Tye’s elevation into the marketplace is a sign of divine ordination and an anointed calling upon his life to minister through music in a new millennium way. With a new album – Stand Out – on retail, a reality show in the works and enviable favor from both God and man, Tye Tribbett seems primed to make an unprecedented impact in music and ministry that will certainly shift the paradigm and set a new standard of excellence for future artists and Christians to follow.