elevationists

Press the up button, watch the doors close, and put your mind in the heavens?this isn't your average elevator music. It's music James Hazley, Taelor Gray, and Christon Gray don't even take credit for making, but they feel honored to have their names aligned with the greatness it resonates. The message is straightforward, accompanying witty wordplay, soulful melodies, and distinctive personalities with the unquestionable power of the anointing.

Elevationists take to the skies with the mind of Jesus Christ, seeking to take those listening on the ride with them, ending out the journey at the throne of God Himself.

The group has always been close knit, but none of them could have envisioned that this was to be the result of such an unorthodox beginning. Starting in 1999 as a misunderstanding; They would continue growing, coming up with the name ?Elevationists? out of desperation when entering a talent show that required a name to enter. They still shrug today when asked how they came up with the name.

Spiritually, the molding process for the Elevationists was specific for each one of them. Taelor was heading to college, battling the way he was raised and the worldly lifestyle presented to him at The Ohio State University. Chris, like Taelor, was not just raised in church, but was raised learning about the Love of God in the ways he should conduct himself and interact with others. BJ was also raised in a strong Christian household, but lost his father to cancer at a young age.

As time went on, the group started looking at the core problem. They were all struggling with conveying a clear message due to a lifestyle not fully commited to Christ. They'd done talent shows and performed at a couple churches but it just seemed like they were just rapping with no purpose. Any attempt to get anything done was stifled because of lack of planning and no structure. Frustrated, the group took time off to hold a microscope to their vision.

In 2006, the group finally started to fuse. While working on their first album, a large demand for their music became very apparent by the fans. The ?Necessary? EP was released in August. While there would still be some time before the full album was complete, Elevationists continued to minister the word of God at venues such as churches, prisons and other public platforms. They have opened up for many different national artists, like: Tye Tribbett, KeKe Sheard, Lisa McClendon, Cross Movement and have even shared the stage with Jeff Majors. The events that took place in the years prior; the ups and downs, ins and outs, have prepared them for where they are now and for where they will be going.

After getting revelation, they wrote the vision in an album appropriately titled Necessary, outlining the many things they had come to know by the grace of God. Now drenched with the anointing, the guys never lost the talent they had always possessed, but there is now a definitive reason for people to listen.

"We've tapped into the foolishness of Jesus Christ, which is greater than man's wisdom. The mind of the world can't comprehend that we really don't care about Hip Hop or fame, but our hope really is in Jesus and the cross that saved us, so its foolishness to them. Its not just some formula we've tried so hard to conjure up, but its just submission to the will of God," says Taelor.