Marvin Sapp Releases an EP Worth of Love Songs for Valentine's Day

Marvin Sapp has a well-documented appreciation for R&B music. In the TVONE Biopic Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story, we saw a young Marvin Sapp having the time of his life singing R&B when he was in junior high school. In many interviews over the years, he has shared that his mother made him choose between singing R&B or Gospel. "You can't do both," she would tell him.

Sixteen albums and numerous awards and accolades later, it is very clear that Marvin Sapp made the right choice. Still, R&B has always been close to his heart, with Peabo Bryson and Teddy Pendergrass being two of his all-time favorites. Sapp is also known for putting an R&B spin on some of his own songs during live shows.

As a nod to the genre he loves second only to Gospel music, Marvin Sapp is releasing an EP of four timeless love songs that further accentuate his power and dexterity as a singer. Written and produced by Kolten Perrine, If I Were An R&B Singer provides an audibly wistful look at Marvin Sapp from a different point of view, while offering timeless, wholesome, resonant love songs.

Perrine, who produced "Peru" by Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran among other R&B and hip-hop songs, and grew up playing music in the church, approached this EP with a certain vibe in mind. "I remember being in the car with my parents, and they would be listening to Maxwell and other neo soul artists. I wanted to go into that vein with Marvin Sapp. That's his style and I think that's the style of people who love his music," says Perrine.

Perrine says it was also important that this EP - even though it is R&B - honors God. "I was clear that we needed to maintain integrity, out of reverence for God and respect for Marvin Sapp and who he is. I think it is easy to walk that line by having integrity. God gave us this beautiful music. He gave us limbs to dance with. He gave us love and companionship. He gave us all these gifts, and we would be remiss to not use these gifts; we just have to do it with integrity." 

Marvin Sapp remains, unequivocally and holistically, a Gospel singer. As an artist and a music lover, Marvin Sapp has always appreciated R&B music and often gets asked if he would ever record an R&B album.

"This is something that I wanted to get off my chest so to speak, because I get asked so often if I would ever sing R&B. It is also a throwback to the R&B music that I grew up on, where love and emotions and romanticism were at the heart of the songs," says Sapp. "There will not be another EP or album from me that isn't Gospel, and I hope fans of my music will appreciate this. I also hope that fans of R&B will take a listen and enjoy what they hear."

If I Were An R&B Singer features four heartfelt, relevant songs: "Listen," "Moment or Lifetime," "Free Fallin" (co-written by his son) and "Through My Pain". The songs are beautifully produced with a lush, resonant sound that embraces the listener and illuminates Sapp's impeccable vocals. Live musicians are featured on this project, including Johnny Steele (string arrangements), Theo Akai (guitar) Bubby Lewis (bass) and Jeremy Winbush (drums). Roy Cotton provided additional strings production. The combination of musicianship, production, songwriting and vocals make this EP a must-have.

If I Were An R&B Singer, released on Marvin Sapp's Elev8 Entertainment, will be available at all digital music outlets on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2025.

 

 

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