After more than a year of hype and expectation, B-Rite Music has finally released the self-titled album of gospel's newest girl group phenom, Trin-i-tee 5:7. Perhaps a whole book could be written about this trio's project, with chapters examining the involvement of R. Kelly as writer and producer (on the fabulously smooth cut "God's Grace"), the group's link with Kirk Franklin (both as label-mate and as writer/producer of the "God's Blessing"), and the refreshing gospel perspective of topics usually only tackled in secular R&B tunes ("God's Blessing" once again). But, bottom line, this album is simply a joy to the ear. With a bevy of well-known producers backing up the tunes (Percy Bady, Buster & Shavoni, Kevin Bond, Big Yam and lots more), the sounds are diverse, yet remain unified in urban gospel beauty.

Likewise, the distinctive voices of each of the girls mesh true to give a sound that proves difficult to forget. True to form (remember the George Clinton sample on God's Property's Stomp?), B-Rite mines the sample stores, and comes up with good one on the cut "You Can Always Call His Name", where the classic R&B groove "Outstanding" is prominent. Trin-i-tee 5:7 also do an interesting cover of the Staples Singers "Respect Yourself". So, with this album already at #3 on the Billboard gospel charts, and rising quickly on the R&B charts as I write this, it appears that gospel music has another winner on its hands.