You want to know where you can find the Best Local Talent,  well look no further, you can find the most talented Gospel Artists right here in the Tri-State. We have the most talented musicians, singers, and musical directors. If you even just look at Grammy and Stellar winning Tye Tribbett and his team you don’t have to look any further. When we talk about the Best Musicians even when the Beautiful and Talented Ms Jessica Reedy was looking for a Band she knew exactly where to come. You got it she held auditions right here in Philly to form her band and they are phenomenal. While I’m Out And About, my husband and I (Those Baxters) attend events all over this city where our homegrown artists are ministering through music and I’m telling you the Tri-State has got it going on. So I figured why not Highlight our best and give some Hometown Praise!



For my first featured artist for Hometown Praise I want to shine the light on BJ Shores & MSG , not only are they Phenomenal Artists they lead you into immediate worship. When they minister through song you join in their Praise through song and dance. I was blessed to see them minister recently at their annual Love Concert where they shine the light on a local ministries that is sharing Love by giving of themselves to others. The Love Concert was attended by hundreds of people who not only witnessed an Amazing concert with other talented local artists but were in for a surprise. Every year BJ Shores & MSG recognize a ministry that they are proud of but to BJ’s surprise his wife Carol wouldn’t let him help plan the event, telling him that he needed to let she and their group take some of the work load. Carol and MSG planned The Love Concert without BJ this year to surprise BJ and honor him. BJ was surprised and thankful for all of their effort and Love. This is just another example of the way that God is moving in his life. It gives me great pride to shine some Hometown Praise on BJ Shores & MSG!



BJ Shores & MSG

BJ Shores is not only known locally he is known on the National scene. He is a Stellar Award Nominee and ASCAP award winner.

Here’s BJ’s Bio
If you take a moment to talk with a fan of BJ Shores and MSG one of the first things they will tell you is that they are a group of high energy, innovative worshipers that bring the presence of God.

Inspired by gospel artists such as Deitrick Haddon, Kirk Franklin and Tye Tribbett and contemporary Christian artists such Switchfoot, Hillsongs, and Chris Tomlin, MSG is a powerhouse group that has been known to be able to set the stage for what God has prepared.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.- Matt 5:13-16

The members of MSG come from the Philadelphia tri-state area. They began with a unique urban hip-hop sound that youth in the city began to gravitate toward with the release of their first Album “The Message”. Within a few short years, they have transitioned into a more versatile group that transcends the barrier between the gospel and contemporary Christian music industries.

The songs sang by MSG are originals written and produced by their leader BJ Shores. He is a man of God who lives for praise and worship. His heart is after the will of God and service for God. While having faith in God, BJ placed the ministry into God’s hands and God provided him with everything needed to bring MSG to life. Out of faith was birthed the MSG Roses, Sons of ASAP, and SoulFood (the ladies, brothers, and band of MSG respectively).
“Praise is not an option, it is a command.”
-BJ Shores

MSG has shared the stage with many notable artist since being birthed such as Kim Burrell, William Murphy and gospel hip-hop stellar nominee Da Truth. In 2005 they opened up for Hezekiah Walker for the release of his album 20/85 The Experience, as well as ministered for the Kingdom Bible Conference in 2008 for Paula White, Miles Monroe, and Tye Tribbett. In addition, MSG has ministered at many churches and community events including the 103.9 Holiday Concert featuring Mary Mary and Deitrick Haddon. They performed with Radio DJ’s Big City and Dezzie. Also they ministered at the Wachovia Center for the Philadelphia 76ers Family Night as featured artists which was a childhood dream come true for BJ.

As preservatives of the earth, they use the message of the word of God while being led by the Spirit of God to let their light shine before men. With their sophomore project “Spirit Led” MSG has been touching lives and opening the heavens by being open vessels and allowing the Spirit of God to rush through like a mighty wind.

Congratulations to BJ Shores & MSG for being our Hometown Praise!!!

Hi Out And About Family!!  I was blessed to be the MC for The Make Your Dream Summit given by The DeSean Jackson Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer and touch the lives of hundreds of boys. These young boys were excited to talk and meet DeSean Jackson, his Mother Mrs. Gayle Jackson, and Leila Steinberg to share their dreams about life as they learned how DeSean accomplished his dreams with the help of his father, Bill Jackson and team of brothers. It was truly a blessing for these young men at Philadelphia Charter School Boy’s Latin and I am thankful to have been apart of it.

VIA:http://deseanjacksonfoundation.org/2013/10/28/desean-jackson-philadelphia-eagles-speaks-at-boys-latin-charter-school-of-philadelphia/

DeSean Jackson attended a screening of DeSean Jackson: The Making of a Father’s Dream and spoke with students directly following the film.   DeSean Jackson, who has built a career on creating highlights, has lived much of his life in front of a camera. The by-product is a new documentary, DeSean Jackson: The Making of a Father’s Dream, compiled from thousands of hours of footage taken by his brother, Byron Jackson, since Jackson was a child. It is a story of his rise to fame from Pop Warner to Pro Bowl and tells the rocky journey of a family to stay together through it all, despite their differences, and in the face of mounting pressure from outside influences. It is a family story, wrapped in the fanfare of an NFL dream.  The sentiment “it takes a Village to catch a break” is woven throughout-a sentiment that rings true with the Boys’ Latin community.

Hey Out & About Family!! Here are 5 sayings that you can live by, just a little something I came across in my Triumph Baptist Church bulletin that we can all use:

• He who kneels before GOD can STAND before anyone
• Excersize Daily: Walk with The Lord
• Never Give the devil a ride- he will always want to drive
• Give Satan an inch & he’ll be a ruler
• When praying, don’t give God instructions. Just report to duty

The last saying is one of my favorites, When praying, don’t give God instructions. Just report to duty many times we try to tell GOD how we need him to do things for us. "God don’t need your help, he knows how to do what you need!" Instead Philippians 4:6-7 says” Dont worry about anything instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done then you will experience Gods peace which exceeds anything you can understand” ! Love ya!

This week during The Bet Hip Hop Awards Christain Rap entered the Doors. Grammy Nominated and Stellar Award Winner Holy Hip Hop Artist and Man who loves God, Lecrae was blessed with the opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus christ thourgh rap at the Hip Hop Awards.Check out an interview that I had with him about becoming a Christian.