The Ambassador (rapper)

Last updated

The Ambassador
The Ambassador.JPG
The Ambassador in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2012
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Tyrone Branch
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Christian hip-hop, hip-hop
Years active1991-present
Labels Cross Movement, Xist
Website ambassador215.com

William Tyrone [1] "Duce" Branch a.k.a. The Ambassador or Ambassador is a Christian hip-hop artist who has recorded both independently and as a founding member of the group The Cross Movement. [2] [3] Branch is the former president of Cross Movement Ministries. He is an alumnus of Dallas Theological Seminary and has a Master in Theology degree graduating with honors.

Contents

Personal life

A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, William "Duce" Branch a.k.a. the Ambassador is the co-planter of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia. He has toured globally as a solo artist and with the Cross Movement. He has also served as the president of the non-profit organization Cross Movement Ministries and ministered the gospel through rap and preaching for nearly 15 years.

Building on the success of his second solo project, The Thesis and his Grammy- and Stellar-nominated release HIStory with group the Cross Movement, he released The Chop Chop: From Milk to Meat, produced by J.R., Official, Tony Stone and HOTHANDZ. Its first single was "Gimme Dat!"

As of February 2020, he is the assistant professor of preaching and Bible and undergraduate chapel coordinator for The College at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. [4]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum
1999Christology: In Laymen's Terms
  • Released: November 9, 1999
2005The Thesis
  • Released: May 17, 2005
2008The Chop Chop: From Milk to Meat
  • Released: September 23, 2008
2011Stop the Funeral
  • Released: July 12, 2011
2016When Sacred Meets Secular
  • Released: September 16, 2016
2022The Invitation
  • Released: October 28, 2022

Guest appearances

with the Cross Movement

Music videos

Related Research Articles

Southern hip hop, also known as Southern rap, South Coast hip hop, or dirty south, is a blanket term for a regional genre of American hip hop music that emerged in the Southern United States, especially in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida—often titled "The Big 5," five states which constitute the "Southern Network" in rap music.

Nemesis is an American hip-hop group formed in Dallas, Texas in the 1980s. Members of the group included MC Azim, DJ Snake, Big Al, Joe Macc and Ron C. They are considered the first rap group from Dallas to enjoy popularity in the US and world-wide, thanks to their label, Profile Records. Originally, Nemesis was called "Something Fresh" with group members including rappers MC Azim, Bhumble Bee and Eazy Roque. They were later joined by DJ Snake, Big Al, Casanova Rock. The rappers from Hamilton Park and the DJs from Oak Cliff, both neighborhoods in Dallas, became part of the Dallas, Texas underground rap scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Known for their funk-structured compositions and loud bass lines, the group debuted with the single "Oak Cliff" in 1987, and followed up with several albums on Profile Records from 1989-1995.

Russian hip hop refers to hip hop music recorded in Russia or in the Russian language in former Soviet states such as Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Hits by Russian rappers are included in the soundtracks of some PC-games and have formed part of several popular internet memes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredwreck</span> Musical artist

Farid Karam Nassar, better known by his stage name Fredwreck, is an American hip-hop recording artist, DJ, and record producer. He got his big break when he became a producer for Dr. Dre's newly founded record label Aftermath Entertainment, and then went on to work with Snoop Dogg's record label Dogghouse Records and became a known producer on Tha Dogg Pound-affiliated material. During this time he also was a producer for Snoop Dogg's track: Riders on the Storm ft. The Doors on EA's Need for Speed Underground 2. He has produced tracks from Kurupt's Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha and most of his next release, Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey; both released during the period the rapper had left Death Row Records. He has also produced for other hip-hop and pop artists such as Eminem, Britney Spears, Ice Cube, Westside Connection, Lil' Kim, Hilary Duff, Xzibit, The Game, Nate Dogg, Everlast, Cypress Hill, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, as well as non-US acts such as Dizzee Rascal, Tamer Hosny, Qusai Kheder and Karl Wolf.

Mr. Pookie is an American rapper from the "Dirty South" of Dallas, Texas. He is most notable for having the biggest-selling independent rap album from Dallas thus far, 1999’s Tha Rippla. Mr. Pookie records both individually and with his rap partner Jeron Gibson, or Mr. Lucci, with whom he also co-owns their labels, Crawl 2 Ball Records, which is now Stoney Crook Recordz and the music publishing company/production house Stoney Crook Music. Jones attended L.V. Berkner High School, where he was later kicked out at 11th grade in Richardson, Texas. Also has ties with Southside Reggie

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Positive K</span> American rapper

Positive K is an American MC and songwriter from the Bronx, New York City, New York, and one of the original artists of the First Priority Music camp. He is best known for his hits "I'm Not Havin' It" and his 1992 hit "I Got a Man".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Pokey</span> American rapper (1974–2023)

Milton Jerome Powell Jr., better known by his stage name Big Pokey, was an American rapper from Houston, Texas. Big Pokey was associated with chopped and screwed music, and was one of the original members of the Screwed Up Click.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Da' T.R.U.T.H.</span> American rapper

Emanuel Lee Lambert, Jr. is a Christian rapper who goes by the stage name Da' T.R.U.T.H. His album Emanuel was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2024.

Cross Movement Records is an American-based Christian hip hop record label founded by The Cross Movement.

So Hot Productions is a music production company located in St. Louis, Missouri.

<i>Everyday Process: The Process of Illumination & Elimination</i> 2007 studio album by Everyday Process

Everyday Process: The Process of Illumination & Elimination is the first solo album by Christian hip hop group Everyday Process. It was released by Cross Movement Records on 20 March 2007. The album was CMR's first release in 2007.

Courtney Peebles, better known as Courtney Orlando and formerly known as J.R., is an American singer and producer.

Brady Goodwin Jr., better known by his stage name Phanatik, is an American East Coast rapper and author who has recorded both independently and as a founding member of the two time Grammy-nominated Christian rap group The Cross Movement.

William Lee Barefield III, better known by his stage name Trip Lee, is an American Christian rapper and singer. Signed to Reach Records, he has recorded both as a solo artist and as a founding member of the 116 Clique. Originally from Dallas, Texas, he served as a young adult pastor at Concord Church until 2021. His third album, Between Two Worlds (2010), was nominated for two Dove Awards and won the Stellar Award for Best Hip Hop Album in 2011.

Tony Stone is an American music producer and project developer for Christian hip hop artists. He has produced the music for hundreds of songs in the genre. He is currently the project manager for Reflection Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ B-Do</span> Producer/Songwriter

Bradley Davis, professionally known by his stage name DJ B-Do, is an American Record producer affiliated with UGK. He is a member of hip hop duo Da Underdawgz with fellow rapper Young T.O.E., brought together by the late Pimp C.

The Cross Movement was a Christian hip hop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kevin Christopher Belnavis, better known by his stage name Torch, is a Haitian-American rapper signed to Maybach Music Group as part of the group Triple C's. Born and with a childhood in the Castle Hill area of the Bronx, he was sent by his mother to live with his older sister in Miami, Florida, as a teen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Scooter</span> American rapper (born 1986)

Kenneth Edward Bailey, better known by his stage name Young Scooter, is an American rapper from Walterboro, South Carolina. He was among the first artists to sign with fellow Atlanta rapper Future's record label, Freebandz in 2012, having known its founder since childhood. The following year, he jointly signed with Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad Monopoly, an imprint of Gucci Mane's 1017 Records. He first gained regional recognition for his collaborations with the rappers, as well as his mixtape Street Lottery (2012) and its lead single, "Colombia". His guest appearance on Future and Juice Wrld's 2018 song, "Jet Lag" marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skooly</span> American rapper (born 1994)

Kazarion Fowler, known professionally as Skooly, is a founding member of Atlanta-based rap group Rich Kidz. Branching off from Rich Kidz to pursue a solo career in 2015, Skooly has since released several solo projects. Skooly's recent releases have been under 2 Chainz' label T.R.U., starting with Skooly's label-debut album Baccwardfeelings in 2017.

References

  1. "Phanatik and Me: Some Thoughts About His Denunciation of the Christian Faith" . Retrieved March 6, 2022 via www.youtube.com.
  2. Farias, Andrea. (2005). "Review: The Thesis", Christianity Today
  3. Hyde, Jesse. (December 8, 2005). "Hip-hop's Public Enemy", Dallas Observer
  4. "William T. Branch". sebts.edu. Retrieved February 15, 2020.