"PLATINUM SOULS" 
        HOLY HIP HOP PIONEERS! 
 by: Sharon "Ladee Storem" Acres

Ladee Storem: Guess who’s the Pioneers of Holy Hip Hop? If you don’t KNOW, now you KNOW- its PLATINUM SOULS! Thank you for being a part of Center Stage Magazine. Now, tell me what’s your definition of Holy Hip Hop?

Platinum Souls: First off, we just want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to share the vision of PS. Its crazy to be called Pioneers (lol). God is good!
 Ricardo FLO: Our definition of HHH is that- its Hip Hop that’s set apart for God's purpose. A genre of Hip Hop that is pure, clean, and created to glorify God.
 Ms. Ty Scott: Holy Hip Hop is one aspect of the Hip Hop Culture. It’s a positive alternative to the Hip Hop that many are being fed these days. It’s a way for those of us who want to glorify God, to do it through the type of music we grew
up on.
 
 
Ladee Storem: The group consists of two powerful artists, with two unique styles. How did you meet and how long have Platinum Souls been rocking the mic for the Lord?

Platinum Souls: We met in early 2002, here in Atlanta. The Holy Spirit kept putting us in the same places at the same time radio interview, recording Pizza Hut jingles, and ministry events around the city. So in just about 2 weeks, we had to have seen each other at least 3 times. And we were both thinking this city cant be this small (lol). So, we’ve been ministering together for a little over
5 years now. It was definitely God that put Platinum Souls together, because we thought wed just met so that we could help each other out with our solo projects, and then He did the rest and now its still history in the making.  We do have to say though, for about the first year, Platinum Souls was a trio.  So, shouts out to J-Mal who’s been touring with Tyler Perry for a hot minute!
Ladee Storem: I saw your video on BET and I also checked out Holy Hip Hop the Movie, how was it working with Christopher {Play} Martin formerly from the group Kid and Play?

Platinum Souls: Chris has always been a GREAT friend, mentor, and supporter of our ministry. From day one, when we announced the group, he didn’t ask why. He just accepted it and continued to do all that he could to open doors for us.  When others doubted Platinum Souls, he believed and supported. Many have tried to pry us apart; however, PLAY understands that God made us this great team. So working with Chris Martin is always a breath of fresh air for us. He actually had a label several years back (Rapland), and Ricardo was on it; so, that’s where the initial connection began.  As far as the video, it was a blessing to work with him. After all, he
is a legend.  Because of his hand in helping us grow in the industry, our video (which he Directed) for Til 6 in da Mornin is still in rotation on: BET, The Word Network, JCTy, etc. and it won Best Video at the 2006 Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival (the first HHH song/video ever). That only happened because the connection we have with Chris is anointed. Every time we've worked with him, for
our video to Holy Hip Hop the Movie, it’s been a global attraction!

Ladee Storem: Tell us about your new DVD: Hustlin 4 Souls and how can we get a copy?

Platinum Souls: The DVD is a project that we’ve wanted to release for years; but we had to wait on Gods perfect timing. We’re planning to release a series of them, like we did with our Unexpected Mix CDs. This one, and the rest to come,
will feature: our live performance footage from around the world, clips from Ty appearances, special guests, videos, behind the scenes shots, and more! The title: "Hustlin 4 Souls" should be self-explanatory (lol).  We're also going to release another DVD series this year: "Street Blessings", that will be more geared towards introducing other artists that we admire and have worked with over the years. ** The "Hustlin 4 Souls" DVD is available NOW on our myspace page: www.myspace.com/platinumsouls.
There's a "BUY NOW" icon right above the picture of the DVD cover. The “Street Blessings" DVD is coming soon!
 
Ladee Storem: I think Holy Hip Hop is being stepped on, meaning its not getting the REAL recognition that it should. Bring on the Holy Hip Hop Awards! Bring on the Grammies! Do you think its time for a break through for Holy Hip Hop?

Platinum Souls:  
Ricardo FLO: We do understand that there's a time and season for everything. That season for HHH will soon come and it will no longer be a backburner genre. Its a movement that believer's need to put their marketing monies behind. It’s not where it should be because God is maturing his representatives in every aspect of life, from faith to finances. 
Ms. Ty Scott:  Its past time! Years ago, people said that HHH just wasn’t up to par- beats, rhymes, videos. But, these days, so many people in the genre are
banging out hits that are harder than anything on the secular side. So the BET awards, the Grammies, all of them well be there in a minute accepting our awards in the name of Jesus- for real, for real.

Ladee Storem: The ministry that you bring in song touches on Poetry, Reggae, Hip Hop and Soul, which is a GOOD thing. Do you have a hard time with the older Christians that are not familiar with Holy Hip Hop?

Platinum Souls:  Ricardo FLO: We really don't have any problems with older Christians not being familiar with our style of praise and worship; it just gives us the opportunity to get them familiar with it. And, God's Word is always present in what we do; and it always breaks ground.   Ms. Ty Scott: The poetry is usually the bait for the older crowd. Then we talk to them about the new thing God is doing, and by the time we drop the beat, they’re usually pretty open. We have footage, actually its on the Hustlin 4 Souls DVD of a lady that has to be in her late 70s, up on her feet and pumping her fists (along with the rest of the congregation) when we ministered at a regular Sunday Morning Worship Service. The bottom line is that there will always be some who don’t understand, young and old, but those who have ears to hear will hear. When they don’t want to, we still do what we were sent to do, and dust the dirt off our shoes when we leave.
       
Ladee Storem: Tell us about your Clothing Line, your Ring tones and what’s next
for PLATINUM SOULS.

Platinum Souls: 
Ms. Ty Scott: The clothing line: Platinum Souls is growing like crazy. It started out that we were just making stuff for us because we didn’t want to promote anything negative.  So we were led to use our name because it means: One Million Souls for the Kingdom of God, and what could make more of a statement? But as we wore pieces, more and more people started asking about them. 
Ricardo FLO: Now we have product circulating around the world and we plan to release some summer designs from shirts, jeans, and hats, to shoes, sweats, & dress suits. It's a process, however it'll be one of the hottest lines to hit the streets, catering to the young and old! You can stay posted on the new gear through our myspace page: www.myspace.com/platinumsouls
As for the ring tones the songs: Til 6 in da Mornin and My Love are available through T-Mobile (under the Christian Music category).

Also, in the near future, well be sending  out weekly mobile alerts (for those who are glued to their cell phones). So to sign up for that,  
And our future looks bright! Well be re-launching our website- www.platinumsoulsinc.com this summer, touring the country, and gearing up to release an OFFICIAL Platinum Souls CD! 
So, to stay plugged in to all the
adventures, and to buy our products, check us out at: www.myspace.com/platinumsouls
 
Ladee Storem: Many Blessings unto you, keep lifting up the Gospel in HOLY HIP HOP.
One more thing, to all the PLATINUM SOULS fans, go get that DVD- HUSTLIN 4 SOULS!

Platinum Souls: Thanks again & God bless you and all of your readers!
 
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