Cypress Hill Sued Over Claims They Stole A Song

Cypress Hill are being sued after they allegedly broke copyright laws - by stealing a song from a blues singer, without obtaining permission.

Syl Johnson is claiming that the rap group sampled his track 'Is It Because I'm Black?' on their 1993 song 'Lock Down'. The offending song can be found on the band's classic 'Black Sunday' album.

TMZ says Johnson has filed a suit for $29 million (£15.7 million) against Cypress Hill, as well as publishing companies. read more

Church at Battle Creek Hosts Award Winning Rock Band

DOWNHERE IN B.A. Jason Germain, co-lead singer and guitarist of Canadian band Downhere says, “…God uses us in our weakness. He is closest to us when we most need him. We want to capture that idea in the work we’re doing now, so ‘Ending Is Beginning’ in many ways reflects where we are as a band.”

One of Christian music’s premiere rock groups, Downhere, is bringing their “Ending Is Beginning” tour to Broken Arrow, Thursday, Oct. 30. The concert will feature special guest, The Michael Gungor Band, and will be held at The Church at Battle Creek, 3025 N. Aspen at 7 p.m.

Downhere released their brand-new CD, “Ending Is Beginning” in September. This is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed, “Wide Eyed & Mystified,” with 12 new songs, plus the bonus track “How Many Kings,” their 2007 hit.

Downhere emerged from Canada’s alt-rock scene and immediately connected with U.S. fans with their breakout debut in 2001. Then came industry recognition with a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year and two subsequent Juno Awards for Contemporary Christian/ Gospel Album Of The Year and Best Gospel Album, GMA Canada Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Song of the Year and Dove Award for Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year. The band has toured with artists such as SonicFlood and Rebecca St. James, and has performed at major festivals that include Atlanta Fest, Inside/Out Soul Fest, and Kingdom Bound. read more

Joyce Meyer to visit Uganda

International evangelist Joyce Meyer arrives in the country tomorrow ahead of her tour of the Watoto Childcare Ministries in Kampala and Gulu.

She will be accompanied by a team from Hillsong London, one of the revolutionary bands in the world.

The visit will encourage women and children who have had traumatic experiences, an official at Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) said.

As a child, Joyce was sexually molested by her father and so her words are expected to encourage many Ugandans, she added.

On Thursday, Meyer will visit the Watoto Children's villages of Suubi on Masaka Road and Biira on Mityana Road.

At 7:00pm on the same day, she will speak to a ladies-only Daughters of Destiny Conference at KPC Central on Kampala Road. read more

Religion in brief for Nov. 1, 2008


St. Anne’s Altar Society will meet for an 11:30 a.m. Mass Nov. 6 at St. Francis Xavier Church to remember deceased members of the Altar Society. A potluck luncheon will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the church’s parish center.

Ashland UMC has free concert

The SonLight praise band of Ashland United Methodist Church, located at the corner of Ashland Avenue and Gene Field Road, will present “To You Surrender,” a free worship concert, beginning at 7 p.m. Nov. 8. The evening will feature the music of Chris Tomlin, Mercy Me, Michael W. Smith and Hillsong, as well as Ashland’s own singer/songwriter, Linda Burgess. Everyone is invited. read more

Minority faiths rise but fringes sing same psalms

SYDNEY's inner- and medium-ring suburbs have become a patchwork of religious enclaves, with minority religions making up to 40 per cent of the population in some areas.

But the city's outer regions, made up mainly of aspirational white-collar workers and blue-collar tradesmen, remain bastions of mainstream Christian faiths.

The data, compiled by the Bureau of Statistics, suggests that developments of schools and cemeteries on cheaper sites on Sydney's white-bread fringes will continue to fuel protests while they run ahead of religious settlement patterns. read more

Land push behind ethnic conflict

IT HAS become almost a ritual in itself. A religious community proposes building a place of worship or learning, and encounters the wrath of thousands of residents.

There are furious mass meetings, petitions, legal challenges and sometimes even violence. On the face of it, Sydney looks like a city riven by ethnic and cultural hostility.

But the protests may be a sign of something much more basic - a competition between recent immigrants and Anglo-Celtic Australians for the dwindling amounts of cheap land. A report from the economic forecaster BIS Schrapnel, compiled late last week, found that "high land costs and affordability remain a challenge for the new housing market", especially in Sydney. read more

US gospel music stars in the UK for Hillsong Conference

The popular Hillsong conference starting tomorrow 8 October until 11 October will see the likes of gospel music artists Mary Mary and Israel Houghton performing.

The conference which has been around for over 20 years is taking place at the Excel Centre in London and has been dubbed a gathering of “the generations”. The conference will bring together men, women and youth, whose passion is to make known and famous the God of their salvation.

Source:

Album

Live albums

* 1999: Everyday
* 2000: Best Friend
* 2001: King of Majesty
* 2002: To the Ends of the Earth
* 2004: More Than Life
* 2005: Look to You
* 2006: United We Stand
* 2008: The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As One
* 2009: New Recording-TBA


* 1999: Everyday
Everyday is the first live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. Following the success of the EP One, the album was recorded at the 1999 Hillsong Conference and released later that year.

Track listing

1. "Everyday" (Joel Houston) - 3:42
2. "Jesus I Long" (Marty Sampson) - 2:44
3. "On the Lord's Day" (Reuben Morgan) - 5:39
4. "More" (Morgan) - 4:42
5. "Heaven" (Morgan) - 4:44
6. "Seeking You" (Sampson) - 4:34
7. "You Take Me Higher" (Raymond Badham) - 4:04
8. "Hear Our Prayer" (Tanya Riches) - 6:09
9. "Prayer to the King" (Sampson) - 6:13
10. "God Is Moving" (Sampson) - 7:14


* 2000: Best Friend
Best Friend is the second live praise and worship album by Hillsong United.

Track listing

1. "My Best Friend" (Joel Houston & Marty Sampson) - 5:03
2. "Stronger Than" (Paul Ewing) - 3:32
3. "Saving Grace" (Michelle Fragar) - 7:09
4. "Forever" (Sampson) - 5:34
5. "God of All Creation" (Mark Stevens & Paul Iannuzzelli) - 7:36
6. "I Live for You" (Raymond Badham) - 4:59
7. "Jesus Generation" (Reuben Morgan) - 5:05
8. "I Will Sing" (Rebecca Mesiti) - 4:33
9. "Jesus Lover of My Soul" (Steve McPherson, Daniel Grul & John Ezzy) - 9:54
10. "The Reason I Live" (Sampson) - 4:24


* 2001: King of Majesty
King of Majesty is the third live praise and worship album by Hillsong United.

Track listing

1. "King of Majesty" (Marty Sampson) - 4:38
2. "Most High" (Reuben Morgan) - 6:13
3. "Everything to Me" (Sampson) - 4:13
4. "Your Spirit" (Luke Munns) - 5:18
5. "I Adore" (Morgan) - 4:24
6. "Fall" (Rebecca Mesiti) - 6:15
7. "God Is Great" (Sampson) - 4:12
8. "Lift" (Ben McFall) - 3:44
9. "Perfect King" (Damien Bassett) - 7:01
10. "Holy, Holy, Holy" (traditional) - 3:27
11. "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?" (Martin Smith) - 4:57


* 2002: To the Ends of the Earth
To the Ends of the Earth is the fourth live praise and worship by Hillsong United

Track listing

1. "Data" (introduction) - 0:29
2. "All About You" (Joel Houston) - 5:06
3. "Free" (Marty Sampson) - 4:02
4. "Unify" (Michelle Fragar) - 5:15
5. "All..." (Houston) - 6:00
6. "To the Ends of the Earth" (Houston & Sampson) - 5:53
7. "Need You Here" (Reuben Morgan) - 7:23
8. "Glory" (Morgan) - 7:39
9. "Father, I" (Jonathon Douglass) - 5:46
10. "My God" (Sampson) - 5:00
11. "Now That You're Near" (Sampson) 4:43
12. "Am I to Believe" (Houston) - 5:36
13. "All About You" (radio remix) - 3:35
14. "My God" (radio remix) - 3:44


* 2004: More Than Life
More Than Life is the fifth live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and 'behind the scenes'.

Track listing

1. "One Way" (Jonathon Douglass & Joel Houston) - 4:07
2. "Light" (Marty Sampson) - 3:37
3. "Evermore" (Houston) - 4:31
4. "Open Up the Heavens" (Houston) - 4:07
5. "Take All of Me" (Sampson) - 7:21
6. "Majesty" (Martin Smith & Stuart Garrard) - 1:25
7. "Always" (Mia Fieldes) - 6:38
8. "Sing (Your Love)" (Reuben Morgan) - 7:43
9. "Where the Love Lasts Forever" (Houston) - 6:11
10. "Consuming Fire" (Tim Hughes) - 7:57
11. "More Than Life" (Morgan) - 6:51
12. "Jesus' Blood" (Smith) - 2:36
13. "Shine for You" (Sampson) - 3:49
14. "Soldier" (Sampson & Tulele Faletolu) - 3:35
15. "All Day" (Sampson) - 4:32


* 2005: Look to You
Look to You is the sixth live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and 'behind the scenes'.

Track listing

1. "Salvation Is Here" (Joel Houston) - 4:42
2. "Tell the World" (Jonathon Douglass, Houston & Marty Sampson) - 4:04
3. "Look to You" (Sampson) - 5:21
4. "All I Need Is You" (Sampson) - 6:26
5. "All for Love" (Mia Fieldes) - 5:56
6. "Shout Unto God" (Houston & Sampson) - 3:16
7. "There Is Nothing Like" (Sampson and Jonas Myrin) - 7:30
8. "What the World Will Never Take" (Scott Ligertwood, Matt Crocker & Sampson) - 3:05
9. "Only One" (Joel Davies) - 3:47
10. "Deeper" (Sampson) - 6:30
11. "'Til I See You" (Houston & Jadwin Gillies) - 6:08
12. "Rest in You" (Fieldes) - 7:16
13. "Awesome God" (Rich Mullins) - 5:18

* 2006: United We Stand
United We Stand is the seventh live praise and worship album by Hillsong United. The CD comes with a free DVD which includes documentary footage, interviews and a bonus "United" Documentary.

Track listing

1. "[An Introduction]" (Michael Guy Chislett) - 1:32
2. "The Time Has Come" (Joel Houston) - 4:40
3. "Take It All" (Marty Sampson, Matt Crocker, & Scott Ligertwood) - 3:08
4. "From God Above" (Sampson) - 3:21
5. "From the Inside Out" (Houston) - 6:18
6. "Came to My Rescue" (Sampson, Dylan Thomas & Joel Davies) - 4:58
7. "[A Reprise]" - 2:52
8. "None but Jesus" (Brooke Fraser) - 5:29
9. "[Selah]" - 1:43
10. "Fire Fall Down" (Crocker) - 10:51
11. "Revolution" (Ligertwood, Houston, Sampson, Chislett & Fraser) - 3:44
12. "Kingdom Come" (Ben Fielding) - 4:58
13. "No One Like You" (Houston) - 2:37
14. "Sovereign Hands" (Mia Fieldes) - 5:14
15. "The Stand" (Houston) - 6:51
16. "[Selah]" 3:37
17. "Hallelujah" (Rolf Wam Fjell, Matthew Tennikoff & Sampson) - 3:44

* 2008: The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As One
The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One is the ninth album by Hillsong United and the first of the three-part "I Heart Revolution" project. With Hearts as One was recorded around the world across the span of two years, and contains thirty songs. The album was released in Australia on 8 March 2008, and internationally on various later dates. The album was initially released in both physical and digital formats, along with a USB release. A companion DVD will be released in September 2008.

The second part, The I Heart Revolution: We're All in This Together, is a feature film documentary set for release in March 2009.

DVD track list

1. "The Time Has Come"
2. "One Way"
3. "What the World Will Never Take"
4. "Look to You"
5. "Take All of Me"
6. "The Stand"
7. "Nothing But the Blood"
8. "Hosanna"
9. "Fuego De Dios (Fire Fall Down)"
10. "Shout Unto God"
11. "Love Enough"
12. "Take It All"
13. "All I Need Is You"
14. "None but Jesus"
15. "From the Inside Out"
16. "Be Lifted High"
17. "Salvation Is Here"
18. "Tell the World"

* 2009: New Recording-TBA


Studio albums

* 2007: All of the Above
All of the Above is the eighth praise and worship album by Hillsong United, and their first ever studio recorded project and the first of a three-part global project. The album includes a DVD containing three live worship tracks recorded at the 2006 Encounterfest youth conference, a sermon from Phil Dooley and a bonus features section. It debuted at #6 on the ARIA Albums Chart on 26 March 2007. [1]

It has also reached number 1 on the Billboard's Top Christian/Gospel Albums, #1 on the iTunes Christian music digital album sales, No. 1 on the Nielsen Christian SoundScan chart, and has moved to No. 60 on the Billboard US Top 200

Track listing

1. "Point of Difference" (Joel Houston) - 4:22
2. "Break Free" (Houston, Matt Crocker & Scott Ligertwood) - 4:07
3. "Desperate People" (Houston & Michael Guy Chislett) - 5:29
4. "Devotion" (Marty Sampson) - 5:59
5. "Draw Me Closer" [Selah*] (Dean Ussher) - 1:26
6. "Lead Me to the Cross" (Brooke Fraser) - 4:18
7. "Found" (Dave George) - 6:02
8. "Hosanna" (Fraser) - 5:30
9. "For All Who Are to Come" [Selah**] - 3:37
10. "Solution" (Houston & Crocker) - 4:37
11. "My Future Decided" (Jonathon Douglass & Houston) - 4:18
12. "Never Let Me Go" (Houston) - 6:01
13. "You" (Paul Andrew & Dylan Thomas) - 5:03
14. "Saviour King" (Sampson & Mia Fieldes) - 12:16


EPs

* 1998: One
One is a studio recorded EP made by Hillsong United. It was recorded after songs were being written in the Hillsong United youth ministry, influenced by the revival at the 1998 summer camp. The EP was packaged with the annual Hillsong live album. The EP is no longer in print.

Track listing

1. "My Redeemer Lives" (Reuben Morgan) - 3:38
2. "Hear Our Praises" (Morgan) - 5:40
3. "Your Unfailing Love" (Morgan) - 4:56
4. "My Heart Will Trust" (Morgan) - 3:29

* 2007: In a Valley by the Sea
In A Valley By The Sea is a live EP made by the "under 21's" or the next generation of Hillsong United[1]. It was recorded live at summercamp hence it's nickname the "summercamp experiment". It was officially released at Encounterfest 2007 in October however, a limited number of copies were available although now tracks are available at Hillsong Music[1] and the Australian iTunes Store.

Track listing

1. "You Deserve" (Matt Crocker & James Dunlop) - 5:06
2. "Love Enough" (Braden Lang & Scott Ligertwood) - 2:57
3. "Perfect Love" (Dylan Thomas) - 4:27
4. "Second Chance" (Lang & Ligertwood) - 5:25
5. "You Reign" (Crocker) - 5:05
6. "To Know Your Name" (Crocker) - 3:15
7. "Break Free" (Joel Houston, Crocker & Ligertwood) - 3:41


Other Albums

* 2006: Unidos Permanecemos (United We Stand in Spanish)

DVDs

* 2004: More Than Life (bonus DVD with album)
* 2005: Look to You (bonus DVD with album)
* 2006: United We Stand (bonus DVD with album)
* 2007: All of the Above (bonus DVD with album)
* 2008 "The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As One (Music DVD)"
* March 2009 "The I Heart Revolution: We're All In This Together"

Source:

Hillsong United

Hillsong United is the youth ministry of Hillsong Church. The youth ministry is combined of four different ages groups that meet separately but have "United" nights when they come together. The different age groups are; Fuel for years 7 to 9 at school, Wildlife for years 10 to 12 at school, Powerhouse for ages 18 to 25 and Frontline for ages 25 to 35.

* 1 History
* 2 Hillsong United music
* 3 Conferences and events
o 3.1 Hillsong United Youth Conference
o 3.2 Encounterfest

Source:

Hillsong United band

The Hillsong United band is an Australian rock and worship band, a part of Hillsong Church's youth ministry Hillsong United. Their music is a contemporary style of praise and worship tempered with mainstream rock.

Hillsong United
Origin Sydney, Australia
Years active 1999 – present
Label(s) Hillsong Music Australia
Website http://www.hillsong.com/united/
Members
Joel Houston
Jonathon Douglass (J.D.)
Jadwin "Jad" Gillies
Brooke Fraser
Annie Garratt
Michelle Fragar
Holly Watson
Melvin Lourdes
Scott Ligertwood
Matty Crocker
Dylan Thomas
Timon Klein
Former members
Reuben Morgan
Tulele Faletolu
Luke Munns
Michael Guy Chislett
Marty Sampson

History
The band formed as close friends from within Hillsong Church's youth ministry, originally called 'Powerhouse Youth', led for many years by Donna Crouch. As the house band for the youth meetings of Powerhouse, the band played covers of Hillsong Church and various other ministries' music, sometimes members contributing to Youth Alive and its' albums (Darlene Zschech was involved in Youth Alive before Hillsong Church). Dr Mark Evans (Macquarie Uni) states in his Ph. D thesis, "A youth band was formed from the Hillsong music team, which took what was happening in the church musically and played it louder and rockier, appealing directly to a youth demographic". Steve McPherson, Deb Ezzy and Donia Makedonez were significant members. Powerhouse grew and was split in the late 1990s into two youth groups, 'Powerhouse' (18-25 years of age) and 'Wildlife' (12-16 yrs). Reuben Morgan, assisted by Marcus Beaumont and Tanya Riches were placed in charge of the Powerhouse band, with the former Channel V Leg-Up competition winner 'Able' band boys, Joel Houston and Marty Sampson in charge of Wildlife, while Luke Munns was the main drummer, and Michael Guy Chislett the main guitarist. In the Summer of 1997, the new team made a huge impact at their youth ministry's Summer Camp. After coming back from from Summer Camp with God full in their hearts, the many youth ministries in Hillsong Church joined together as one, and started to call the nights, "UNITED" Nights. When united, God does something powerful.

Delirious?' Martin Smith's song 'Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble' was the theme song of the camp, and the momentum of youth carried well beyond the camp into church services. Reuben Morgan wrote 'My Redeemer Lives' as a way for the youth to continue worshipping, along with many other songs that appear on the album 'By Your Side' written by Marty Sampson and Luke Munns 'Stay'.

Darlene Zschech suggested to Reuben that they make an album in 1998 after many songs were written in the youth ministry, and the EP 'One' was recorded. The album was packaged with the Hillsong annual album, and both achieved Gold sale status in Australia. 'Everyday' was recorded in 1999. The band continued to release an album each year, rebranding as Hillsong United in 2002 after Reuben Morgan stepped down as co-worship leader of the band. Joel Houston, the eldest son of the church's senior pastor Brian Houston, stepped up to lead the group together with Marty.

Current members of the Hillsong United band include Jonathon Douglass (J.D.), Jadwin "Jad" Gillies, Holly Watson, Annie Garratt, Bec Gillies, and Michelle Fragar, daughter of Russell Fragar. Michael Guy Chislett plays guitar and Matthew Tennikoff plays bass guitar. Former original drummer Luke Munns made a transition from the drums to front the rock/indie band LUKAS. Popular New Zealand artist Brooke Fraser recently joined the band when she joined the church, first appearing on United We Stand.

The annual Hillsong United CD/DVD was recorded over many years during their October youth conference Encounterfest, with the album released in the first quarter of the following year. The 2007 album All of the Above was the first album to be fully studio recorded, containing videos of songs on the DVD. The band has toured in a number of countries, leading worship to thousands in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Following his marriage to Michelle on November 2006, Marty stepped down as one of the main worship leaders of the band. He contributed two more songs with United, 'Devotion'(which he wrote & sang on the album) & 'Saviour King'(which he wrote w/ Mia Fieldes), before he officially stepped down. These songs are part of the 2007 release All of the Above . Brooke replaced Marty as one of the principal worship leaders of the band, while Marty went on to move with the main band to serve as one of main Hillsong worship leaders of the band, alongside Darlene and Reuben.

Success and achievements
Hillsong United's 2006 album United We Stand was the best-selling album of 2006 in Canada at Christian retail stores. The album All of the Above was released on March 17, 2007 in Australia, where it debuted and peaked at #6 on the ARIA Charts.[1] In the United States, the album was released on May 22, 2007, selling 10,505 units in its first week. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart, #1 on iTunes' chart of Christian music digital album sales, and #60 on the Billboard 200.[2] The first single released from the album, "Point of Difference", was a top ten hit on Christian radio in Australia.

Source:

Hillsong Church

Hillsong Church (formerly Hills Christian Life Centre) is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God denomination. The church is located in Sydney, Australia, headquartered at its "Hills" campus in Baulkham Hills' Norwest Business Park in the Hills District. It also has a congregation designated the "City" campus which is located in Waterloo, near Sydney's central business district. The church is led by Senior Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston, who started the church in Baulkham Hills in 1983, later to merge with a church in the city to form Hillsong Church.

Apart from the two main campuses, Hillsong Church currently has 14 extension services across Sydney. These extension services are based on either location or culture and rely on Hillsong Church for support and leadership. Hillsong Church's international offshoots include Hillsong Church London, in the United Kingdom, Hillsong Church Kiev in Ukraine, Hillsong Church Cape Town in South Africa. These churches also have services in Paris, Berlin and Moscow.

Hillsong Music has topped Australian charts, with albums achieving gold and platinum sales status. Hillsong has made its mark internationally with many travelling to Sydney for the annual Hillsong Conference, which attracts over 26,000 people, as well as the sales of albums and teaching and the international reputation of its leadership. The Hillsong Television program is seen in over 160 countries and Hillsong International Leadership College is attended by over 900 students from many different countries. Hillsong Church currently claims that it is attended by over 20,000 people each week.
* 1 History
* 2 Offshoots and extension services
* 3 Ministry
o 3.1 Hillsong Kids
o 3.2 Hillsong United
o 3.3 Hillsongwomen
* 4 Hillsong City Care
* 5 Conferences
o 5.1 Hillsong Conference
o 5.2 Colour Your World Women's Conference
o 5.3 Hillsong Men's Conference
* 6 Hillsong International Leadership College
* 7 Music
o 7.1 Removal of a song from the album This Is Our God
* 8 Political influence
* 9 Beliefs and teachings
* 10 Criticism

Source: