GRITS

American Christian hip hop group

This article is about the hiphoppers. For the food, see Grits. For other uses, see grit (disambiguation).

Grits

Coffee (left) and Bonafide

Background information
Origin| Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres| Christian hip hop,[1] alternative hip hop,[2] Southern hip hop[2]
Years active| 1995–2010, 2017
Labels| Revolution Art, Gotee, 5e, EMI
Members| Stacy "Coffee" Jones
Teron "Bonafide" Carter
Website| myspace.com/officialgrits

Grits is an American Christian hip hop group from Nashville, Tennessee. Their name is an acronym, which stands for "Grammatical Revolution In the Spirit".[3] GRITS is made up of Stacey "Coffee" Jones and Teron "Bonafide" Carter,[4] both of whom were DC Talk dancers.[5]

Their song "Ooh Ahh" has appeared on the MTV show My Super Sweet 16. It is also used as the theme song of The Buried Life and on the soundtracks to The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Big Momma's House 2. Their song "Tennessee Bwoys" was used on the popular television show Pimp My Ride. They were also involved in !Hero The Rock Opera. They recorded a remix of professional wrestler A.J. Styles' entrance music and performed it on the May 28, 2009, episode of TNA Impact!.[6]

## Background

[edit]

The Christian hip hop duo began as dancers for DC Talk and then formed the group in 1995, with Teron David "Bonafide" Carter,[7] (born January 17,[8] 1971) and Stacy Bernhard "Coffee" Jones,[9] (born September 8,[10] 1972), forming the group together in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] GRITS is an acronym with a meaning of "Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit".[1][2] They both credited the inspiration for their rapping to hearing DC Talk, when the two first encountered each other in 1990.[11] This is the reason the duo signed with Gotee Records, a label founded by DC Talk member, tobyMac, where they were one of his first signees.[12] They are also considered to be one of the pioneering groups in the Christian hip hop movement, while they eventually started their own record label, Revolution Art, in 2007, where it was first known as 5E Entertainment.[13][14][15] They explained it was like graduating from school by leaving Gotee Records, and founding their own label.[15]

## Style

[edit]

Mainly, their style is alternative hip hop and Southern rap, while several of their songs have pop influences, thus an occasional pop-rap sound, and their song "We Don't Play" has a Jamaican influence complete with steel drums. They were one of the first acts signed to Gotee Records,[5] and have released seven albums with Gotee, with an eighth one released by Gotee and AudioGoat. In 2014, Gotee Records announced that the GRITS song "Ooh Ahh" was RIAA Digital Gold Certified, having surpassed 500,000 downloads.[16] They have appeared at Cornerstone Festival and Rock the Universe. In addition their song "Bobbin Bouncin'" was added to the track list in the video-game Project Gotham Racing 4.

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions  Title  | Album details  | Peak chart positions[17]

|
|

Christ. | US
Gospel | US
Heat.
Mental Releases |

* Released: August 1, 1995
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| —  | —  | —
Factors of the Seven |

* Released: November 3, 1998
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| —  | —  | —
Grammatical Revolution |

* Released: May 16, 1999
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 39  | —  | —
The Art of Translation |

* Released: August 13, 2002
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 16[18] | —  | —
Dichotomy A |

* Released: June 29, 2004
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 12  | —  | 14
Dichotomy B |

* Released: November 2, 2004
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 24  | —  | 38
7 (Seven) |

* Released: March 7, 2006
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 49  | 17  | —
Redemption |

* Released: November 21, 2006
* Label: Gotee
* Formats: CD, digital download

| —  | 13  | —
Reiterate |

* Released: September 30, 2008
* Label: Revolution Art
* Formats:CD, digital download

| —  | 16  | —
Quarantine |

* Released: August 10, 2010
* Label: Revolution Art
* Formats: CD, digital download

| —  | 37  | —
Saints & Sinners |

* Released: July 2017
* Label: Revolution Art
* Formats: CD, digital download

| —  | —  | —

### EPs

[edit]

Album information

Ooh Ahh EP

* Released: 2003
* Label: Gotee
* single: four versions of one song

Heeyy EP

* Released: 2006
* Label: Gotee
* Three tracks: two remixes and one preview

### Remix albums

[edit]

Album information

The Art of Transformation

* Released: January 1, 2004
* Label: Gotee/AudioGoat

## Singles

[edit]

### As lead artist

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications | Album

|
|
|
|

Christ.
Streaming[19] | US
Christ.
Digital
Sales | US
Gospel
Streaming
1995  | "Set Ya Mind At Ease"  | —  | —  | —  |  | Mental Releases
1998  | "What Be Goin' Down"  | —  | —  | —  |  | Factors of the Seven
"Alcoholic Plagiarism"  | —  | —  | —  |
"Hopes & Dreams"
(featuring Joy Danille Kimmey and Knowdaverbs) | —  | —  | —  |
1999  | "They All Fall Down"  | —  | —  | —  |  | Grammatical Revolution
2002  | "Here We Go"  | —  | —  | —  |  | The Art of Translation
"Ooh Ahh"
(featuring TobyMac) | 5  | 1  | 3  |

* RIAA: Platinum[20]
* BPI: Silver[21]

2004  | "Hittin' Curves"  | —  | —  | —  |  | Dichotomy A
"High"  | —  | —  | —  |
2004  | "We Don't Play"
(featuring Manchild) | —  | —  | —  |  | Dichotomy B
2006  | "If I..."  | —  | —  | —  |  | GRITS 7
2006  | "We Workin"  | —  | —  | —  |  | Redemption
"Heeyy"  | —  | —  | —  |
"Ambitions"
(featuring Canibus) | —  | —  | —  |
"You Said"
(featuring Pigeon John and Btwice) | —  | —  | —  |
"Open Bar"
(featuring Pigeon John) | —  | —  | —  |
2008  | "Fly Away"
(featuring Mac Powell) | —  | —  | —  |  | Reiterate
"Beautiful Morning"
(featuring Pigeon John) | —  | —  | —  |
"Say Goodbye"
(featuring TobyMac and Jade) | —  | —  | —  |
2010  | "Different Drum"
(featuring Verbs) | —  | —  | —  |  | Quarantine

## Other songs

[edit]

* With or Without You \- In The Name Of Love: Artists United For Africa
* Wedding Celebration - !Hero

### Vinyl

[edit]

* The Art of Translation (Single) (2002)
* They All Fall Down (Redneck Remix) (Single) (2002)
* They Al Fall Down (Ruff Nation Remix) (Single) (2002)
* Ima Showem (Single) (1999)
* Instrumentals 1 (1999)
* Instrumentals 2 (1999)
* Instrumentals 3 (1999)
* They All Fall Down (Original) (Single) (1999)
* Factors of the Seven (song) (1997)

### Guest Artists

[edit]

* Manchild \- "We Don't Play"
* Jennifer Knapp\- "Believe" (Dove Award winning Rap/Hip Hop song of the year)
* TobyMac\- "Ooh Ahh"; "Say Goodbye"; "Don't Bring Me Down"; "Hey Now"
* Stefan the Scientist- "Hittin Curves"
* Pettidee- "I Be"
* Jason Eskridge- "I Try"
* Antonio Phelon- "Love Child"
* Lisa Kimmey\- "It Takes Love"; "Shawty"; "Time To Pray"
* Iz\- "Jay Mumbles Mega Mix" "Dusk Till Dawn"
* Pigeon John \- "Open Bar"; "You Said"; "Beautiful Morning"
* Canibus \- "Ambitions"
* KJ52 \- "Integrity"
* Mac Powell \- "Fly Away"
* Michael Tait \- "Fly Away (Remix)"
* Verbs \- "U.S. Open"; "Hopes and Dreams"; "Gospel Rap; Parables"; "Strugglin'"; "C2K"; "Video Girl"; "Different Drum"
* Dan Haseltine \- "Sky May Fall"
* Jade Harrell-"Turn it Up"; "Say Goodbye"; "Neverland"
* Brittany Waddell (Better known as Britt Nicole) "Rainy Days" "Soul Cry" "Right Back" "Dusk Till Dawn"

## Awards

[edit]

### GMA Dove Awards

[edit]

They have received several Gospel Music Association Dove Awards throughout their career. Their first award was for a song about plagiarism ("Plagiarism" from their album Factors of the Seven). For this, they received the best "Rap/Hip Hop Song" award.[22][23] The next year they took the same award for "They All Fall Down", from Grammatical Revolution.[24] In 2003 The Art Of Translation won the award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album",[25] and the following year their song "Believe" from the same album took "Rap/Hip Hop Song". They also shared in the "Special Event Album" that year, for their contribution to !Hero The Rock Opera.[26]

Year  | Award  | Result

|
|

2005 | Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year ("Hittin' Curves")  | Won
2006 | Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year ("We Don't Play")  | Nominated
Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (Dichotomy B)  | Nominated
2008 | Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year ("Open Bar")  | Nominated
Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (Redemption)  | Nominated
2009 | Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year ("Beautiful Morning")  | Nominated
Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (Reiterate)  | Nominated
2010 | Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (Reiterate)  | Nominated

### Other Awards

[edit]

They were nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Performer of the Year at the 2009 Visionary Awards Show (held at the First Baptist Church in Frisco, Texas). However, instead, the award went to the Christian rap duo "Word of Mouth"[27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "GRITS : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
2. ^ a b c DiBiase, John. "GRITS discography". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
3. ^ Hoffmann, Frank W. Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop (2005), Page 112 (0816069808): "A Nashville-based Christian rap act, Grits (standing for "Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit") have shown steady artistic growth, eschewing the P-Funk vogue of the present day in favor of plainspoken rhymes, propulsive bounce, and stylistic adventurism."
4. ^ "Grits | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
5. ^ a b Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 391–392. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
6. ^ Boutwell, Josh (May 29, 2009). "Impact Results - 5/28/09". WrestleView. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
7. ^ Broadcast Music, Inc. "Songwriter/Composer: CARTER TERON DAVID". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2015.[permanent dead link]
8. ^ OfficialGrits (OfficialGrits) (January 17, 2016). "Today is Bonafide's birthday!!…". Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
9. ^ Broadcast Music, Inc. "Songwriter/Composer: JONES STACY BERNARD". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2015.[permanent dead link]
10. ^ OfficialGrits (OfficialGrits) (September 8, 2011). "It's Coffee's Birthday today!!!!". Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
11. ^ Cummings, Tony (October 1, 1996). "Grits: The dc Talk sidekicks are grammatically correct". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
12. ^ Cummings, Tony (March 5, 2003). "Grits: The hip-hop duo with album number four". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
13. ^ Rimmer, Mike (January 6, 2010). "Grits: The hip-hop duo now running the Revolution Art label". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
14. ^ Boreanaz, James (November 1, 2006). "The Road to Redemption" (PDF). CCM Magazine: 40–1\. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
15. ^ a b Black, Beau (October 1, 2007). "Graduation Speech" (PDF). CCM Magazine: 30–1\. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
16. ^ "email : Webview : Gotee Records Celebrates 20th Anniversary; Co-Founder TobyMac shares why he loves being involved". T.e2ma.net. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
17. ^ Billboard. "GRITS : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
18. ^ Search for "The Art of Translation" on Christian Albums at billboard.com/biz
19. ^ "GRITS Song & Chart History". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
20. ^ "American album certifications – Grits. Recording Industry Association of America". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
21. ^ "Certified Awards" (enter "Grits" into the "Keywords" box, then select "Search"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
22. ^ "Dove Award Recipients for 1999 Archived October 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
23. ^ "N.W.A Twitter Updates". Published by Peso_3Stackz. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
24. ^ "Dove Award Recipients for 2000 Archived October 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
25. ^ "Dove Award Recipients for 2003 Archived February 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
26. ^ "Dove Award Recipients for 2004 Archived October 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved February 5, 2007.
27. ^ "Christian Music Hall of Fame Visionary Awards Show information page[usurped]"

## External links

[edit]

* GRITS on MySpace
* GRITS at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

GRITS

Studio albums|

* Mental Releases
* Factors of the Seven
* Grammatical Revolution
* The Art of Translation
* Dichotomy A
* Dichotomy B
* GRITS 7
* Redemption
* Reiterate

Other|

* The Art of Transformation
* Heeyy EP
* The Greatest Hits
* "Ooh Ahh"

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

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