GospelFlava.com - Articles - Interview - Lee Jerkins of Rocksoul

Interview with Lee Jerkins
...on Rocksoul Entertainment

What is Rocksoul? Who is Lee Jerkins? Is he Rodney’s cousin? —Yes.

Didn’t he produce “Huh What” by Cross Movement and “Different Now” by Out of Eden? —Yes!

Lee Jerkins, along with partner David Hackley make up Rocksoul and they have a big vision. Lee took time out to chat with Gospelflava.com.

Gospelflava.com: How did you come up with the whole concept of Rocksoul?

Lee Jerkins: Rocksoul came through the foundation of the company. The foundation and everything we do is based on Christ, who is the Rock. The “soul” part is the emotion which I believe is the part of us that the music touches. We are about changing lives and saving souls.

So it’s automatic: “Rocksoul”. I originally had a company of another name in the secular, so I just wanted to come up with a name that signifies where I am now as opposed to where I was.

Gospelflava.com: How did you and David “24/7”Hackley hook up?

I was at the studio doing some producing for Cross Movement. At that point, the Lord had given me the vision for this Christian entertainment company, Rocksoul Entertainment. The music side is just one portion of what we do.

Lee Jerkins: Since I wanted to move into affecting this generation, I had to affect some of the more traditional people of music. Also, listening to some of the Christian music and realizing that some of the music is behind-the-times. So what I wanted to do is to get somebody that had a little more skills than I on the keyboard.

David happened to be in my church the whole time while I was at Darkchild, and a friend of his who was doing an internship there wanted me to check him out. We hooked up. Well, I actually spent time with him and got to know him. After finding out that he was serious about the Lord and that we share some of the same ideas, I brought him on and I taught him everything that I knew. He was already a decent keyboard player, (more of a bass player than anything).

After spending time together, the chemistry musically was ridiculous, so we just continued to make it happen. This generation is starving for something. They need something different to listen to and we will offer them that.

Gospelflava.com: How did you connect with the variety of artists that appear on the first Rocksoul project (Rock of Ages Vol. 1)? There’s a lot of them, veterans like Cross Movement, Corey Red and Precise and Monique Walker, newcomers such as J Silas, Shai Linne and Michelle Bonilla.

Album Review: Rock of Ages Vol. 1

It’s mission accomplished on this joint, with hot tracks such as the hard-hitting and straightforward, “Not Worthy” by rookie rappers J-Silas and Shai Linne. This chorus shows a Naughty by Nature influence with an extra helping of hype and an infectious beat that makes you hit repeat.....

See full album review.

Lee Jerkins: J Silas and Shai Linne are my artists. We are working on their albums as we speak. Everybody in the circle are just friends. I got to know everyone through ministry, so when I wanted to make an album, I pulled together a collective of cats that can not only rap, but also have sound ministry that you can [discern] in their music. I’ve never seen it done like that before. I wanted a solid project with solid people.

Gospelflava.com: What are some of your goals for Rocksoul, and where do you see the venture going?

Lee Jerkins: We’re trying to secure a co-label deal with someone who can see the vision. This thing is about to break wide open.

What I am finding is that a lot of people are limited in the way they think. It’s funny to see that hip hop is the biggest selling genre in the secular world and some Christians still think that it’s not going to happen. We want to hook up with a co-label so we can keep doing what we are doing. I’m not going to compromise, I’ll stay small before I do.

We have four artists: Sister Dee, Shai Linne, J Silas and Michelle Bonilla, so we’re coming with a nice entourage. They’re each hitting their separate markets. Michelle is one area, Shai is the more rootsy hip hop. J is just street and Dee is for the woman. I can’t wait to see when it hits.

That’s basically it. Then we’re trying to get the ministry portion set up like the non-profit. The vision is so big at times it’s scary. I sometimes look at it and when God first gave me the vision, I looked at it and wondered how it was going to all come into place. God is putting the pieces together.

Album Review: Out of Eden

Blaring, syncopated, and funky horns punch out the theme to the opening “Different Now”, drawing you immediately into this scorching celebration of newness of life and revealing an altogether fresh vibe for the sisters three. It’s a Lee Jerkins / David Hackley production (for Rock Soul Entertainment), and they bring in some of the most rambunctious and tasty programming / production tracks to be found in Gospel.....

See full album review.

We’re hitting a vein. We know what the youth are asking for after going around the country with Cross Movement and Corey Red. When you deal with people on a grass roots level and they are responding, that means that there’s a market for it. Some of the older saints of God don’t want to allow this thing to happen, but it’s going to happen.

I think the older saints should look and see if the people that rap, if their serious in their ministry and see if it’s solid. If it’s solid, support it. If they see someone who is not so solid, then bring them in, recognize their youthful energy and zeal for the Lord, develop them and send them out.

These cats are on the streets fulfilling the ‘great commission’. Someone should get behind a Corey Red or a Rocksoul and recognize the impact that they can have on the youth. It’s gonna happen! How it’s gonna happen, I don’t know. The Lord is definitely doing it. The Rocksoul compilation was just a taste.

Gospelflava.com: Where would like to see Christian Hip Hop in a few years?

Lee Jerkins: Mainstream. I don’t know if that can happen. Anytime you have a minister of the Gospel saying that Jesus is the only way, you are going to have resentment. I’m not too confident that it can be as huge as people would want it to be. Then again, how do you measure your success?

I think that the way that we measure success should be different from the world. Basically, are you able to fulfill the purpose that God gave you? That should be the measure of your success. Are lives being affected? As far as going platinum, I don’t care, but we need to be able to sustain ourselves.

Gospelflava.com: What do your cousins, Fred and Rodney think about your ministry? Are there any plans of collaborating with them?

Lee Jerkins: They like it. They’re doing their thing and I’ve been blessed to be able to move towards mine. I just feel that I am called to this industry for the Gospel music scene.

As for collaborating, no that’s not in the plans as of yet. They’re doing their thing and I’m doing mine. The Lord is blessing, He can take a nobody and make him into anybody. I’m a

Album Review: Cross Movement

Yes, Human Emergency may just be the most diverse and comprehensive project released by these pioneers, as they continue their legacy of branding Christ on every lyrical excursion. The album's interludes sprinkled throughout take on the medical emergency theme,.....

See full album review.

person that’s just being used, I’m not seeking or searching to be like anyone. I just want to do my thing for the Lord.

Gospelflava.com: What producers and artists are you digging?

Lee Jerkins: Tonéx is nice. PAJAM got some hot stuff. I like a kid named LIFE and Cleveland Foats. Underground cats like Dre. A lot of stuff that I’m listening to, I wish that it could go up a notch.

There is an ongoing discussion about artists who say the name of Jesus in their songs and those who don’t. What is your take on the subject?

Lee Jerkins: As for me and my camp, we don’t have any problems saying the name of Jesus. If you take Christ out of what you do, it becomes just good music. I’m not saying that there is nothing wrong with good music, but I want to be clear on Whom I represent.

I believe that there are different methods in presenting the Gospel, but a lot of people take out the name of Jesus for the sake of record sales. I’ve heard of companies that have told them to take the name of Jesus out. In the face of that, I stand defiant and say that we are going to represent regardless. I refuse to try to wiggle around it and be sneaky. I never read in the Bible where they try to trick people into accepting Christ. It was Jesus in your face.

Rocksoul definitely has a vision and they won’t let go until they meet Jesus in the sky —to make good quality, Godly music and to win souls for Christ.

— interview by Dwayne Lacy —