Background
Through a series of songwriting camps, Norman Gyamfi and Jonathan Jay established Maverick City Music in Atlanta in 2018. More than 100 Christian musicians came together for these events with the goal of elevating underrepresented voices, especially those of Black, female, and non-traditional worship leaders, who had previously received little attention in the CCM industry.
Maverick City, Vol. 1 (July 2019), their debut musical, peaked at number 10 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums list. Later that year, Vol. 2 debuted at number 35 on the Top Christian Albums chart (kajn.com). According to air1.com, these early productions featured new voices such as Brandon Lake, Steffany Gretzinger, Chandler Moore, and Naomi Raine.
Viral Worship & Breakthrough (2020–2021)
With songs like “Man of Your Word” and “Promises,” Maverick City Music released Vol. 3 Parts 1 and 2 in 2020. While the latter hit #1 on both Hot Christian and Hot Gospel Songs, the former peaked at #18 on Hot Christian Songs.
They also produced a holiday EP called Maverick City Christmas and worked with Upperroom on the song “You Hold It All Together.” They released Move Your Heart, another EP with Upperroom, in 2021. They also collaborated with Elevation Worship on the historic album Old Church Basement, which included the songs “Jireh,” “Talking to Jesus,” and “Wait on You.”
Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition, a stirring celebration with roots in justice and tradition, was released in June 2021.
Historical Honours & Recognition
- Grammy Awards: Old Church Basement won the first Grammy in 2022 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. They have received five Grammy awards and received nominations in the gospel and Christian categories.
- Performance Breakthrough: “Jireh” is the first live performance by a Christian gospel ensemble at the Grammy Awards in 2022.
- In 2021, Vol. 3 Part 1 was named the Top Gospel Album by the Billboard Music Award.
- GMA Dove Awards: Old Church Basement won several honors, including Worship Album of the Year and New Artist.
- The Soul Train Music Award is one of the other accolades.
Impact on Society and Culture
- Diverse Worship Faces: Maverick City promotes diversity by including underrepresented, Black, and female voices in worship.
- Genuine Worship Style: Their unpolished, unplanned worship, which is frequently seen on camera live, provides a striking contrast to well-executed studio presentations, allowing for vulnerability and moments guided by the spirit.
- Cross-Genre Creativity: By fusing pop, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and other genres, they create a distinctive sound that appeals to a broad audience.
- Advocacy Through Music: The Kingdom Book One, which was recorded in a prison and featured Black Lives Matter and mass incarceration themes, was recorded with Kirk Franklin in June 2022.
Tours & Further Development (2022–2024)
- Black History Month saw the release of the Breathe EP in February 2022, which was nominated for another Grammy.
- Award-Winning Projects: Breathe, Kingdom Book One, and other projects continue to get Grammy and Dove awards.
- National Tours: Their 2024 “Good News Tour,” which will include artists including Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, is planned after their maiden arena tour sold out across the United States.
The Significance of Maverick City
- Vision of Unity: Dismantles obstacles in worship leadership based on gender, race, and culture.
- Deep, emotional connections are fostered by Spirit-Led Worship, which prioritizes authenticity above perfection.
- Brave Advocacy: Music speaks to social concerns including community, justice, and healing.
- Historic Recognition: Their Grammy performances and victories helped bring praise musicians to a wider audience.
