Marvin Sapp, the multi-platinum gospel artist whose music has amassed more than one billion streams on Pandora, is stepping into fresh creative territory with his latest release. The Valentine’s Day EP, If I Were an R&B Singer, marks a shift for the singer celebrated for his soul-stirring gospel anthems. Known for chart-topping hits like Never Would Have Made It, Sapp’s new project offers a collection of love songs that explore a different dimension of his artistry while remaining rooted in his spiritual foundation.
The four-track EP highlights Sapp’s signature vocals, blending smooth melodies with heartfelt lyricism. Produced by Kolten Perrine, whose credits include Peru by Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran, the project presents a fresh sound that broadens Sapp’s musical repertoire. Each track navigates themes of love and connection, offering listeners a glimpse of the artist’s versatility.
Adding a layer of personal significance, the project features a collaboration with Sapp’s son, who co-wrote one of the tracks. The partnership reflects a family legacy of creativity, bringing a new generation into Sapp’s evolving musical journey. With If I Were an R&B Singer, Sapp embraces a genre-bending approach that expands his reach while staying true to the soulful essence that has defined his career.
Your new project represents a significant departure from your usual genre. What inspired this transition into R&B?
I grew up as a sixties baby. The seventies was the season of R&B. The eighties, of course, early nineties, while everybody was listening to New Edition, popcorn love, and all of those different things, I was listening to people like Teddy Pendergrass and Peabo Bryson.
At age 10, my mother made me choose between singing in the world or singing in the church. I chose gospel music, and I can literally count the times I’ve sang any other genre of music outside of gospel.
People have asked me forever why I didn’t do anything in R&B. I’m a strong believer that to be successful at anything, you have to have a real conviction for it. I didn’t have a conviction for anything other than singing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
However, this might be a bucket list situation for me, something that would stretch me as an artist and give people an opportunity to hear Marvin Sapp in a totally different light. I wanted to make sure when we did the project that it was more sensual than sexual.
How would you describe the approach you took with this R&B project?
Our goal was to make sure we put out the type of R&B that draws your mind in, makes you think, allows you to be retrospective. I didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize my integrity as an artist.
It was fun having these conversations with my producer Colton, and with my son, who was one of the songwriters and put together the artwork for the project. Just tapping into those young men, sharing my perspective and my heart, and trying to make sure they made me relevant to this day and time.
Your song “Iron Sharpens Iron” speaks about relationships. What’s the meaning behind this message?
That’s a Biblical term. Scripture talks about how iron sharpens iron, but I use it as a metaphor. When it comes to the right type of relationships, the whole premise and purpose of having her in your life, or having him in your life is not to make you bitter, but to make you better. Having been married for 18 years before my wife transitioned from this life to life eternal, she made life better for me.
She endorsed me, challenged me. Even when I was doing things out of line, she was able to redirect me with respect. Not emasculating me, but showing me love and appreciation while giving me directions that would help both of us.
How did you prepare yourself musically for this transition?
This project really stretched me. I actually did my education. You have to study when delivering something outside your genre. I sat down and listened to October London, Maxwell, of course, Tank.
I listened to all of these different individuals with a mentality and mindset of wanting to make sure that even though I may not reach their plateau, I wanted to be at their level. I didn’t want to come in trying to be a gospel artist singing gospel R&B Music. I wanted to be recognized as an R&B Singer.
Could you share your thoughts about potential future collaborations in R&B?
I thought about doing that a long time ago, finding some key gospel artists who would possess the ability to do good songs together. I’ve been blessed to record with Joe on a Christmas record many years ago. I’ve had the opportunity to be celebrated by Tank at the BMIs, and 7th Street, all these different individuals who have been part of my life musically and have shared how much they enjoy what I do.
That would be something I had to sit down and think about. If we decided to do this again, who would I grab to put together a project like this and keep it clean. I realize that today’s R&B is more sexual than in the nineties, but I have to think about who would fit in this present day and time.
That model, I think about people like Jonathan McReynolds, who’s an amazing singer songwriter, DOE, who’s an amazing singer songwriter. Of course, Corinne Hawthorne, Kiki Sheard would be one I would consider. Tasha Paige Lockhart. These are all individuals, but they’re the younger generation.
I can’t really think of – of course, the Fred Hammonds, because commission, back in the day. The reality is we was R&B anyway, we just had gospel lyrics. There’s a lot of individuals that I think and feel that can do it.
I decided to do it now because of my notoriety, because of my popularity. I’ve been extremely successful in my genre – 1 billion streams on Pandora alone, multi-platinum recording artist, star of the walk of fame. My God, I got my own biopic. All these different things I’ve been able to do amazingly by the grace of God. It’s definitely not because of my gifting or my talent.
I felt like I can take a little risk now and try something and see what happens. I think it’s paid off. I think people are enjoying it. I know who I am, I know what my convictions are. I recognize my strength is singing the gospel of Jesus Christ. But my joy was singing this.
How has working with your son on this project impacted your relationship, and what advice would you give to other fathers?
For the last 14 years I’ve been a single father. My wife transitioned from this life to life eternally at 43. From 43 years of age to 58, I have been the only parent they’ve had on this earth. My son is 30 years old, my daughter’s 27, my other daughter’s 25. They’re adults, they’re grown, they have families.
One’s about to get married, one’s already married. But my son in particular, I’m grateful for having this opportunity to share this moment with him, simply because he had a passion for music many years ago.
Having him give me direction, insight, just real good counsel, being a Gen Xer, millennial, whatever, and having him share – “Okay, dad, you need to try this, Dad, you need to do this.” Me trusting him with that was a great experience for us both.
What I would tell any parent, any father – reach out to your sons. They want to be a part of your life in a positive way and you should desire to be a part of their life in a positive way as well.
This was fun for us because he’s a co-writer of my main single. He’s going to make money off of it, which is a part of a Biblical principle and concept. He just had a son named Maverick Prince. His name is Marvin Lewis The Second, and the reality is that our responsibility is to leave an inheritance for our children’s children. That’s what the Bible says.
What I’ve done is created a way to make sure that not only does he get paid, but he could take that financial investment that I made into him and invest it into his son as well. In doing so, we literally are doing what the Bible teaches and shares, creating streams of wealth for the next generation.
That’s been my focus and goal since I first held him in my arms some 30 years ago. Want to make his life better and teaching him to want to make his son’s life better at the same time is my real joy, and the real reason why I do what I do.
