"Keeping It Real" With Darius Brooks

ChicagoGospel.com: How long has your label Journey Music Group (JMG) been around?

Brooks: JMG has been around for about 4 years. I had a label before this, but some unfortunate situations happened with that and I let that go. Then I started JMG, but I've been in the label business for about 7 years.

ChicagoGospel.com: What are the biggest advantages to being on your own independent label?

Brooks: What I like about it is the creative freedom, which is what the new CD is [about]. People are loving the new CD because I can put on there what my heart says; its not a criticism, just an observation. I don't have to do what people say do, or I don't to have to hear them say, "I don't like that." Then when I look at other real artists who are very well established, that's what they do, from the Stevie Wonders to the Anita Bakers. They put on the CD what they want. That's one of the wonderful things I like about the label, and we have major distribution. Also, we'll also be in the June issue of "Jet". We're trying to work it, Keith. God is awesome because the favor of Him is what's allowing us to do it. I have to be careful about what I say because I'm so excited about how God is doing things. I have been thinking about how I've made other people wealthy and rich, and now it's time for me to set up an inheritance for my children.

ChicagoGospel.com: What can your listeners and fans expect from "My Soul"?

Brooks: To definitely be uplifted and informed in an awesome way to advance their lives; to really get a good idea about how God wants to enormously bless us; not the normal stuff, but a new thing, but [He] definitely wants us to see how He wants us to advance. It's a blessing, and everybody is loving it. I'm excited about the calls and e-mails that I'm getting; people are saying, "I'm really enjoying your CD." I think, Keith, that they are listening to it. It's not just people who are saying, "I don't like that," but they are really listening to it and enjoying it. They are saying, "Oh my goodness, Darius, this is just what I needed." That's what I expect of them. Anybody who is listening to it will definitely get blessed.

ChicagoGospel.com: What was the inspiration behind "My Soul"?

Brooks: The inspiration behind the title "My Soul" [was a song by] Donny Hathaway. I've always loved him. Donny Hathaway was a great singer and songwriter. One day I was listening to that song and I studied my soul. A lot of us don't know what our soul is about, so I studied it. Our soul is our desires, our wishes, our emotions; not God's, it's ours. Donnie Hathaway said, "God thank you for what you have given me. Thank you that I can embrace my desires, my wants, and my needs." When he said that I said, "Oh my God, thank you for my soul." Now the average person would think I'm talking about the soul that they talk about in church, which is good. But the soul that I'm talking about is the revelation to thank him and have my own will and emotions, and not want what somebody else has for me. (Shout of Praise!)

ChicagoGospel.com: That's powerful!

Brooks: You know, I'm happy there. I'm really happy to know that I can really want what I want and to thank God for giving that because for so many people, their soul, will, and emotions are controlled by other people like your boss, family, and your neighbor. So I thank God for my soul. Of course, "I Believe" is on there; I recorded it with the Thompson Community Choir. There is a news anchor up here in Chicago. She calls me everyday. She says it's in rotation in her car. Stuff like that blesses me. Jesse Jackson loves it. Oh my goodness, it's amazing!

ChicagoGospel.com: Chicago has such a rich heritage in gospel music. Who have been some of your biggest influences?

Brooks: Mahalia Jackson, of course, and definitely, Albertina Walker. We talk pretty much a lot and she inspires me with information. My mentor is Andrae Crouch. He is somebody I've always loved. I went to the Arie Crown Theatre here in Chicago. It was some years ago when I was younger. He had every nationality represented in his audience. I looked up, and there was a Chinese person; I looked to my right, and there was a white person; I looked around, and there was an African person. There were so many nationalities represented, and my family was there as well. I asked what type of man could draw all these types of nationalities. Then I looked on the stage and I saw Andrae Crouch. I said, "God, I want to be like him one day." He was singing, "How can I say thanks for the things he has done for me." He's one of my biggest mentors in reference to touching the world. Percy Bady has been one of my mentors in reference to writing; he's a great writer. Definitely James Cleveland, who was from Chicago, and also Milton Brunson without a doubt is one.

ChicagoGospel.com: How long have you been in the gospel music industry?

Brooks: I would say about 25 years. I started with Milton Brunson when I was about 21 years of age. I was with him for 18 years.

ChicagoGospel.com: What would you attribute to your longevity?

Brooks: Being with Milton Brunson was a wonderful thing because he taught me how to manage me. He taught me wonderful lessons. A lot of the discipline and the professionalism, the excellence–he taught me. He taught me how not to pay attention to other people, and just do what I do. He taught me not to compete with others. He taught me not to evaluate me based on other people, so I really give him a lot of credit. Now, I am going to the next place of things he didn't know [while] taking what he taught me and adding what I know to create me.

ChicagoGospel.com: Do you see JMG as the next phase in your evolution as artist, producer, songwriter, businessman, etc?

Brooks: My goal with JMG is to be the next big label around the country. It's not a gospel label; it's a record label. We're doing gospel because that is what I do, but the word of God says in business, be men. He didn't say be saved, sanctified, and filled with the precious Holy Ghost. He said be men, so the label is a legitimate record label. [We've got] the whole nine yards. Eventually, I'll get producers to produce other artists. My goal is that we produce some more Anita Bakers, Whitney Houstons, Mariah Careys, Celine Dions, Frank Sinatras, and Nat King Coles. That's what the label is headed for. We are not just going to do gospel because I found out that the United States is not even a third of the world. As I travel, what [I find] so funny about gospel music is the inspiration and the spirit in it. Even if gospel music doesn't change lives, they are really looking for it. I just did the New Orleans Jazz Festival [featuring] Lionel Richie, Bruce Springstein, Herbie Hancock, and myself. I look at people drinking and dancing to gospel music. The word of God says some planted, and some watered, but God gives the increase. So gospel people are not just listening to gospel music; now, everybody is.

ChicagoGospel.com: Who are some of the artists that Darius Brooks listens to?

Brooks: I love Mary Mary, because they are in a place where they are helping a lot of people. I listen to a lot of old good music like the Donny Hathaways; authentic stuff, stuff that I grew up on. Artists that I listen to offer a message, like India Arie; 'I ain't putting on all this make-up, I just want to be me.' It's music that is really music, music that is heard with the ear and understood with the heart. As long as it is good music, I listen to it. From gospel to secular, as long as it has a good healthy message. Mary Mary is one of them. He's dead, but I love listening to Luther's messages, and of course, Mahalia Jackson is one of my favorites. I listen to a variety of music.