Stellar Award winner and Cross Movement Records artist Da’ T.R.U.T.H. has been taking the gospel scene by storm following the release of his new album, Open Book, on July 10th. The 2008 Holy Hip Hop Award honoree set a new record by securing the highest Soundscan/Billboard Chart debut for a gospel hip-hop artist when Open Book captured the #2 position on the Billboard Top Gospel Chart. The album also debuted at #1 on Soundscan’s Christian Hip-Hop Chart.

In addition, Da T.R.U.T.H.’s record setting release garnered broad scale appeal across a variety of genres according to Billboard’s charts, debuting at #5 on the Contemporary Christian Chart, #6 on the Top Christian/Gospel Chart and #18 on the Rap Chart. The album’s current single, Who Am I? featuring Tye Tribbett, debuted at #9 on HipHopRnBSoul.com’s Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs as the only gospel song on the chart, sandwiched between Kanye West’s Can’t Tell Me Nothin’ and 50 Cent’s Amusement Park. Da’ T.R.U.T.H. heads to Nashville on Saturday, July 28th, to share the message of Open Book at the finale concert of CeCe Winans’ “Always Sisters” Conference.

In a package of scintillating lyrics and electrifying tracks, Open Book depicts the concept of living a visible faith through intentional transparency. Da’ T.R.U.T.H. threads the notion of “living for One before many” throughout each track, encouraging believers to put God before others and to honour Him in everyday choices in front of a witnessing world. Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s lyrics emphasize personal responsibility at a time when many are protesting the mainstream hip hop industry’s glamorization of misogyny and recklessness, highlighted recently by the fallout over radio talk-show host Don Imus’ blaming rap songs for his verbal slur against the young women of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.

Da’ T.R.U.T.H. has been featured in Vibe, The Source, XXL, Sister2Sister and JET magazines and profiled in Charisma, CCM and New Man magazines. His television appearances include “BET News” [aired during “106 & Park”], BET’s “Lift Every Voice,” TBN’s “Praise The Lord,” INSP’s “Steelroots” and “Mixx Master’s Lounge” and the Word Network’s “Bobby Jones Gospel.” Da’ T.R.U.T.H. was also a featured artist in “Holy Hip-Hop: The Movie,” Christopher Martin’s urban Christian film.

A graduate of The Institute of Jewish Studies and Philadelphia Biblical University, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., born Emanuel Lee Lambert, Jr., has been involved in urban missions since he was 16. He has been a featured artist on Kirk Franklin’s HERO Tour along with platinum-selling duo Mary Mary and has performed at festivals including MegaFest and Creation Fest.

Open Book was recently premiered on HearItFirst.ca and is currently spotlight priced at $17.99 or less for a limited time at participating Canadian Christian retailers. For more information on Da’ T.R.U.T.H., visit his YMZ artist page.