Flashback Friday: Israel Houghton

Here at HIP Video Promo, we’ve been working hard to promote music videos since the year 2000. It’s important to us to help younger and independent artists get the recognition they deserve, and it’s exciting to be on the ground floor with artists that become household names (and with over 4500 videos under our belts in 23 years, there are quite a few). Every Friday, we’ll be sharing a “Flashback Friday” video, where we get to reflect on one of our favorite videos from many years ago.

At the time that we worked with him in the summer of 2009, Israel Houghton (who is usually credited as Israel & New Breed) had won two Grammy Awards already: Best Traditional Gospel Album in 2007 for Alive In South Africa and Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album with glorious A Deeper Level in 2008.  Even if you aren’t yourself a true believer, listening to his 2009 album The Power of One is sure to inspire you, with its undeniable fusion of devotional music and CCM with pop, jazz, and timeless soul. As he sings about his devotion to the lord in “Just Wanna Say”, it’s impossible not to catch on to his joyful exuberance, whether or not you yourself are a believer.

In the “Just Wanna Say” video, Houghton runs a neighborhood music store. A few kids come in and he shows them the power of finding the music within. Everyone breaks out in song, and soon, they dance down the street, moved by the rhythm. It was no surprise at all that The Power of One reached Number 1 on the Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2010, and that “Just Wanna Say” received the GMA Dove Award for Best Urban Song in 2010.

Israel Houghton has continued his winning streak of creating exciting, accessible gospel music that inspires believers and non-believers alike. His albums Love God, Love People (2010), Jesus at the Center: Live and its Spanish version Jesús en el Centro (En Vivo) (2012), The Very Best of Israel & New Breed (2014), Covered: Alive in Asia (2015), and The Road to DeMaskUs (2018) have continued to achieve chart success and several awards and nominations from the Grammys, GMA Dove Awards, and Stellar Awards. To date, he’s won a total of six Grammy Awards. Houghton also often records on other worship albums. He performs and leads worship all around the world, everywhere from our own state of New Jersey to Jamaica to Nigeria! Take a look at his Facebook page to see what he’s up to.

Written by HIP Director of Marketing and Communications Molly Hudelson.