The B-Fade Story-A Man In the Mirror



Hello family!

This is Coyfee from ConversationswithCoyfee. I wanted to take a bit of your time and introduce you to another amazing lyricist. Who? Yeah, I got you curious now.. Andre Woods aka B-Fade born September 21, 1976... His story of pain and struggle as he made the decision to embrace Christ will awaken a new compassion for the new convert. His life has been seen by some as failure but I will expose the constant attacks of the enemy on his life, his ministry, and of course Matrimony.

Before we jump right into this interview and his story, I encourage you to take some time and remember who you were before Christ. For many of us who we are right now was not who we were while seeking Christ. How many times have we fallen (in secret of course) to bitterness, unforgiveness, drugs, alcohol, pornography, fornication, adultery or even pride. Please if this is where you are ..stop now and confess these things before our Lord Jesus Christ..Are you done? Great now there is absolutely nothing between you and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For those of that have never accepted Jesus..well I would never leave you out..ponder about making this life changing commitment to Jesus as I share this man’s struggle to walk in the paths of righteousness ..

Now to the interview::::


ConversationswitCoyfee: Hello B-Fade. We are very excited to have you as one of our featured artist. Can you tell us how did you come up with the name B-Fade?

B-Fade: COZ (my best friend) and I used to rap together before we got saved and I was known as Fade back then before conversion. After my conversion I became known as Brother Fade. COZ was known as KOZY-K before conversion and just changed the name. GOD's Child was already working as a Gospel rapper. We were all members of the same church. So we started the group called the 'Soldiers of Righteousness'. Shortly after this the group seperated and a group was formed with COZ and myself called 'Christian Brothas.' I was promoting an event called Soul Saver 2004 on the World Hit Gospel Show (106.1 KMEL), the number 1 radio station in the Bay Area..The DJ, Tinka was really the one that branded me with name B-Fade. I had a passion to be transformed into what God called me to be. B-Fade chosen this meaning to express his goal for his life and ministry-Be Faithful And Dedicated Eternally

ConversationswitCoyfee: Wow! That’s a very powerful name. I would think that the enemy has tried the persona that the name represents.

B-Fade: Yes, indeed. More than you know

ConversationswitCoyfee: Tell the readers about some of the challenges you have had to walk thru before your conversion?

B-Fade: Man, where do I begin? I guess at the beginning, I was raised in a family where alcohol, violence, and partying were normal. I really had not seen any other type of life. As a child at parties, I would drink the drinks that were left on tables by the adults. I didn’t know that then but that would open doors to a constant struggle with Alcoholism. I grew up in that life doing just what everyone else did, you know. Rapping, drugs (selling and using), fighting, women and just wilding out. Just doing whatever with no thought of tomorrow.

October 1994 I found myself in prison. I got in a fight and I beat the guy so bad. I still didn’t understand all that was in me, the anger. During that fight, I broke almost every bone in his body. While I was waiting in jail to go to court for this issue, other crimes came up and after a lengthly jury trial I was sentenced two years. After prison, you would have thought I would change but no; not yet.

ConversationswithCoyfee: Tell me what really made you change?

B-Fade: I had started using cocaine and alcohol together. This was definitely not a good choice. Even though the cocaine was a recreational drug. My drug of choice was alcohol. During this time I noticed that I was more anxious than usual. However, I kept drinking. Soon I noticed that the anxiousness turned into full blown panic attacks. This was a bit hard to handle for me. I began thinking about stopping but every time I tried to stop..the attacks would worsen. I felt trapped. If I keep drinking then the next day I would have a hangover and a panic attack would start. If I tried to quit ..the panic attack would start..

ConversationswitCoyfee: That must have been a really hard place to be in. What happened next?

B-Fade: I knew Elder Derrick Mann from before, back in the day. EIder Mann was holding a Bible Study in this ladies house near where I used to sell drugs. So I went to Bible Study and the topic was 'Not being promised to wake up the next day. Everybody was leaving and it seemed like I was all alone. Suddenly a panic attack began and I started to run back to the house where the Bible Study had been held. I started beating on the door but no one answered. I thought I was having a heart attack ..I was sure I was dying. I begin "praying Lord please, just let me live ..I promise to change..I promise to change my life and live for you." So I started running toward uncoming traffic. I was trying to stop anybody that could help me. One of my homeboys' girlfriend stopped and dropped me at the hospital. However, the doctors did not find anything physically wrong with me. I contacted Elder Mann he took me to his church called Church Of Jesus Our Lord. This Church was what they called a word church. The teaching was straight out of the word. The pastor’s name is Elder Phillip Tindsley. I was learning a lot about the new life that had been made available in Christ Jesus. The teaching was raw and uncut; easy to understand.

I was still rapping with folks in the secular industry even though I had accepted Christ Jesus. Elder Mann who was into Gospel Rap, taught us how to use our talent for the Kingdom of God. He eventually became a producer in the Gospel Rap genre. He was so persistent and he really labored with us. He never gave up on us. Elder Mann taught us what being saved was all about. He helped us learn how we could have Rap and Jesus. During all of this I was invited and I did perform with the Ying Yeng Twins in a club. I was still learning about my new relationship with God.. I was still having difficulty changing my lifestyle and didn’t want anyone to know. So I hid it… I pretended that I was straight..I wasn't comfortable with sharing my weaknesses with anyone.

Our church was full of so much love that one time when I didn’t have any food. A guy at my church offered to get me some food. I thought he would bring like bread and peanut butter or something like that. But he decked our kitchen out. He brought steaks, and everything. I mean my kitchen was butt naked before he blessed me. The guy filled the house up with food. Accolades go out to Elder Marcus Brown for being the hands of God.

ConversationswitCoyfee: I remember you mentioned that your family wasn’t saved when you were young. How did your conversion affect your relationship with your family?

B-Fade: When I was a new convert and I had just started attending church. I lived with my dad. My dad was still drinking and told me if I didn't drink I had to go. He did kick me out because I wouldn’t drink with him anymore. Now I was thinking this Christian thing must not be that good, cause I am homeless and this I didn't do anything wrong. But God came thru as I would soon he always does. A couples days later, I got a job with Home Depot. A church member rented the studio in the back of her house for $400.00. I started to begin to believe that God really did hear me. But one thing was missing; a wife and family. I was often lonely and sought to find the woman that had been set aside for me. I battled with lonliness and worked hard to keep my thoughts clean. However, I would fine myself involved in sexual immorality.

>>>to be continued

..Please tune in tomorrow for the continuation of A Man In The Mirror-The B-Fade Story.

Please Click Here >>>Part 2 The Man In The Mirror-The B-Fade Story



Please, let leave us your comments. We would like to know what you think?

If you would like to have B-Fade come out to your event to RAP THE GOSPEL, CALL Min.Draka Tucker at (707) 430-6693. If you would like to contact B-Fade for any other reason, CALL (424)214-0106.

Coyfee
ConversationswitCoyfee