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Dijon
Prioleau, a 14-year-old singer/songwriter from South Carolina,
is being hailed as gospel music’s next young superstar.
He has been compared to gospel music greats in their youth
but, he has a unique style and talent to share with his audience.
He is the embodiment of youth-oriented gospel music, and his
songs explore a kid dealing with teen issues. |
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 I've
learned that you don't sing because it's a job, you sing because
you want to. Singing is my dream. And everyone told me that
if that's my dream, I have to go for it... not because anyone
else wants me to but because I want to. And I do.
— Dijon Prioleau |
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Born
December 19, 1992 in South Carolina, Dijon Prioleau started
singing at the age of 3, mastering "Yes Jesus Loves Me"
before he could recite his ABCs. He took his first church
solo at age 8 singing "You Said That You Are My Sheep."
His grandmother instructed him not to sing through his nose
but from his gut and through his heart. "You have to
sing with passion," she would say, "and if you're
going to sing gospel, you need to know the Bible."
Kollosul Entertainment, founded by Todd (Boogie) Muhammad,
discovered Dijon after an audition in Columbia, South Carolina.
Dijon was a winner in so many ways — talent, maturity,
and as a vocalist. His looks and great character made him
too attractive to pass over. His album, A Kid's Point of View,
is a mature one, delivering, in Muhammad's words, "a
balance of strong, Christian-founded lyrics over hard-edged
R&B grooves". Refreshingly, the producers tap into
Dijon's life experiences — and don't think that a young
teen doesn't have any that folks — both young and old
— need to hear.
Dijon’s voice and personality are dynamic and original
with a smooth edge. It's amazing to hear such an anointed,
powerful and passionate voice in such a graceful and self
possessed young man. |
 Dijon
Prioleau |
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My
daddy, Darrell Prioleau, traveled to different churches and
I loved to hear him sing. I wanted to grow up and be a singer
just like him. My mom is a strong, independent single lady
— a captain in the US Army. She made me know that life
isn't always good, but there's always something better around
the corner. 'God put you on this earth for a reason,' she'd
say. I thank her for that and am definitely proud of her.
But above all, God inspires me.
— Dijon Prioleau |
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On the
album, Chris Tomlin's "How Great Is Our God" is
covered, with fresh harmonies complementing Dijon's honeyed
tones. "Real Love", with its arrangement of multiple
vocal lines woven into a carpet of praise, also catches the
ear.
Dijon's vocal chords also find a home in head noddin' jams
such as "Jesus Will Know", a low-key testimonial
that wonderfully draws a picture of life in Christ. On "He
Is Lord", a bumping track complete with sirens, propels
the melody and intensifies the groove.
On the ballad tip, "Worthy Lamb" makes an impression,
with its swelling vocal backdrop and soothing strings providing
the musical bed for Dijon's smoothly rendered praise over
top. Written and produced by Alex Asaph Ward, the song is
one of many high points. |
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| I
listen to R&B, country and rap — ain't nothing wrong
with that. But my family mostly listened to gospel. When we're
together, we always sing. When my granddaddy Jim Prioleau
was alive, he and my grandmother, my Uncle Greg, my Aunt Robbie
Lee, my father and me would all gather in the living room
and sing 'Hush' in harmony. It would sound so pretty. Outside
of my family, my favorite singers are Kirk
Franklin and Yolanda Adams. I love Reba McEntire and Dolly
Parton. And I love Brandy so much that if I have a daughter,
I'm going to name her Brandy! I also love guys like Usher,
Omarion and Chris Brown, but mostly for their dancing... cuz
I love to dance, too. I listen to all sorts of music and try
to stay broadminded.
— Dijon Prioleau |
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A
Kid's Point of View: Dijon
Dijon
Prioleau, aka Dijon, brings us his debut album A Kid's Point
Of View, a well-balanced album highlighting the typical life
of a teenager trying to cope with insecurities and change.
Tracks like "Pressures," "Real Love, "
and "He Is Lord" deliver the hard-edged beats so
loved by teens while providing Christian-based-lyrics —
a timely feat considering the charge by parents and community
leaders to provide more positive — and less explicit!
— messages for our youth. Co-produced by Todd Muhammad,
this album is sure to be enjoyed by all generations. No warmed
over groovy covers of age-old children's choruses here. A
Kid's Point of View is real, genuine, a great listen, and
is as much a candidate for Album of the Year as any pick of
this year's crop of albums from seasoned A-list Gospel stars.
  USA
UK
Canada |
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Got
something to say? Please share your comments. |
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I
love your CD and your style of music.
— Tyrone |
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Dijon,
I want you to keep it spiritual, don't let your talent be
used for anything else except to glorify God. Don't let success
change your love for God. Keep God first in all you do. Deut6:4.
I'm praying for you.
— Darryl |
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I am so glad that Dijon had this opportunity and that he is passionate about it. Thanks be to God to let a 14 year be a voice for so many. As his grandmother sings on Sundays, "Nobody but the Lord!" — La-Toshia |
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Dijon, you are one of the most talented singers. — Shalow |
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This CD is great. I love hearing young people talking about the Lord. May he be a leader of youth, showing them the way. — Jaye |
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Dijon, keep on using your gift for the glory of God because you're doing an awesome job and we need more teens to rise in this time and age and lift Christ up! I support you 100%. God will bless you because you're using your gift for His kingdom! — Courtney |
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I love your music. I listen to A Kid's Point
Of View over and over again because my parents are divorced and I can relate to the music. I love that song and I already know most of the words. I know how to sing and want to be a gospel singer too. I thank you for everything! — Ebony |
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I love your CD! Keep on glorifying God because of a lot of teens our age ain't, so show them you can have fun lifting the name of Jesus! — Shakilom |
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The
Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell is forging a path into uncharted
territory. Sure, other soloists have stepped out of their
popular groups to do side projects. Some have soared into
the upper stratosphere of pop music success, while others
have disappointedly failed to meet expectations.
Welcome
Home Brian |
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In 1993
a young unknown gospel musician released his debut album —
it went on to spend 100 weeks at the top of the Billboard
gospel charts, while also crossing over to the R&B side,
and becoming in the process the first gospel album ever to
sell over a million units.
Kirk
Franklin |
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Is it
possible to have holy hip hop? According to G Craige Lewis
of The Truth Behind Hip Hop the answer is no. He claims that
hip-hop is not music, but a religion. However, many take a
different view, believing that the church can use rap music
to reach out to young people.
Holy
Hip Hop |
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Hear
the words of the Bible brought to life like never before.
The Bible Experience is a fully-dramatized reading of the
Bible performed by an unprecedented ensemble of distinguished
African-American actors, musicians, and personalities.
The
Bible Experience
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