There’s a quote in one of my favorite books by Louie Giglio, “God’s glory matters more than anything. If people don’t know how great and gracious and good He is, how will they know He’s better than everything else if they don’t see Him on display in someone like you?”…Someone like you. Jesus was after the imperfect, the lost, the broken, the sick, the lame, the abandoned, and so on. He also chose to make men who would be and/or were viewed as the most unlikely to be chosen by God to help Him do His Father’s work. That’s what that quote makes me think about. How God can make anyone brand new. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve been through, what you’ve done, none of it matters. He can use you and your story to shine a light on his glory. Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey is a great example of that. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, running in and out of the streets of Newark, had experiences in the music game, and the many ups and downs of his life. I am pretty sure he would have never imagined God would use him the way that he does now. It just goes to show that what we think is a failure, can be turned into success when God gets involved:
FEMI STAFF (Tyrane Hughes): “Jr. Pastor Lamar Tyree Bailey, tell us about yourself. Please include some of your earlier years as well.”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “I would like to start off with one of my favorite scriptures, which is Psalm 115:15, “May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I’m 36 years old, from Newark, New Jersey. I started my Ministry journey when I was 34. During my younger years, I did a lot of music. When I was 9 years old I joined a choir at the Washington Academy of Music. My choir director Ms. James caught me in the hallway one day, brought me into the music room, and played a bunch of different keys on the piano to test out my voice. She looked at me and said, “You’re a singer.” She showed me one of my gifts. We did a lot of stage plays and acting, where I had quite a few lead roles. Our choir was so good we recorded an album when I was about 11 years old (“Washington Academy of music choir”). We won 1st place in the Nationals at Disney World (twice). We sang for political parties, Governors, Mayors, so many people, and events. That actually caused the city to provide funding for our school to be extended. We were supposed to graduate out of the sixth grade, but they kept us there until the eighth grade. That’s when we won those competitions at Disney World the two times actually. We were up against adult choirs from Germany, China, and a few other places around the world. So many great experiences. Too many to mention, but yeah, that’s a piece of my earlier years.”
FEMI STAFF (Ty Hughes): “Coming up in a rough neighborhood, in and out of the music industry, going through the ups and downs of opportunities falling through, that caused depression to set in. Still, that was the start of what you didn’t know would be your testimony. Tell us about that.”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “You know, still being in a poverty-stricken neighborhood and having to go back home from all of those great experiences was a lot. The neighborhood started to change. There was always a lot of drug dealing and the stuff that goes along with that. Always a lot of stolen cars. It was Newark you know. If you ever saw or heard of the movie “New Jersey Drive”, that was real. Gangs started to rise, you know. But I stayed with music. My mom moved us out of the hood to Rahway, New Jersey. I got down with a group called “The Athletes” (an eclectic group of talent from different parts of Jersey), and we got signed by Queen Latifah to Flavor Unit. She was creating a group called “The Unit”. The single “100% Hater Proof” dropped and it did really well. They were also working on my stuff at the time, and I think because I was so young rapping and singing about things that weren’t the norm for your ordinary 14-year-old, I got put on the shelf. But I was speaking about my surroundings and where I came from. I wasn’t living the life of a regular 14-year-old. So it didn’t work out, but I am still grateful to Queen Latifah for the experience, for some great memories, and for giving me a shot. I tried to be a regular kid, and do sports and stuff like that, but my mind was always on music.
My boy Isaiah formed a group called “Desire”, and we did a few things, landing us the opportunity to try out for Sony. We got really far in the auditions, it looked as though we were going to get signed-but then a group called “B2K” came out of nowhere and beat us out of the deal. We knew it was over from there. We tried one last time and became a group called “K.I.L.”, which stood for my boy Keyon Powers, Isaiah Moody, and me, Lamar Bailey (our first names). We did a male version (response) of the song “Say Yes” by “Floetry”, and that made it to the radio. As a kid, I kind of got depressed, because I felt opportunities were just falling through. It was like everyone was always telling me how talented I was, and how famous I would be…but nothing ever worked out. So I started hanging out with more thugs, and more gang bangers. My side of town was Crips. So that’s who I hung with. I knew them before they were Crips, so to me, they were friends. I got into some things that I shouldn’t have been getting into. Music was still in my heart though. Shout out to Radio 973, DPG, Raboo (R.I.P.), Charles Bowers, and my Golden ERA Family. All love and great experiences.”
FEMI STAFF (Ty Hughes): “You’ve done a lot as an artist, and worked with a lot of different people (Industry and Underground). Tell us a little more about that, and maybe a fun fact or two.”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “A group called “Outsidaz” which was comprised of Young Zee, Rah Digga, and a bunch of other talented artists from Newark. I wish I had the time to name them all, but the group was holding tryouts. They already had platinum plaques on the wall. They were affiliated with the “Refugee Camp” for work they did with them. If you know Hip-Hop, you know the story with the “Outsidaz” and Eminem. So this was a big deal to me. Huge. I got signed to the group and eventually, that fell through. The only difference is, that this was family. Zee will always be like a brother. Rah Digga, that’s big sis. She and I became tight. If you ask her, I was her protege. That’s family right there.
Fun Fact. I love comedy as well. I have done stand-up in the past, and I had a radio show on 15 Minutes of Fame Radio called “Harlem Lamar and The New Guy” with my boy Leo Stallworth. My bro Lachy “FatCaesar” got us that opportunity (shout out to Unc from 15 MOFE). I met one of my favorite comedians, Damon Wayans, backstage at a comedy show (Stress Factory), he laughed at one of my jokes. That stuck with me. Really great guy.”
FEMI STAFF (Ty Hughes): “You spoke briefly about being depressed. There are many young black men that are dealing with depression, suicidal thoughts, and making the wrong choices because of it. What would you say to them; what would you say to your younger self, starting with yourself first?”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “I would say to my younger self what you’re going through is not your fault. You were not given the tools needed for what you’re going through. You weren’t always nurtured the way you should have been. The decisions that you will make are okay because it’s going to become your testimony. I would just say that it’s going to be okay. Your dad being absent from your life, and later on coming back into your life. It’s not your fault that you feel neglected, unwanted, or in the way at times. All the things you will try to escape by smoking weed, drinking, and getting high. It all comes from that depressed state. Seeking a father figure you don’t know who you are. And when you have multiple father figures you end up taking pieces of different men to make up who you are as a person. You don’t really know which pieces to take and not take. So you pick up good and bad from all of those men, trying to formulate what you think a man should be in your mind. That will cause you to be considered the most fly, but you end up making a few bad decisions, objectifying women at times. You may respect the hard work and the hustle of some of these guys, but at the end of the day, you’re looking at a drug dealer. That breaks down families and communities. You don’t want to lose your soul. You don’t want to be heartless and selfish. Like them, your environment can get the best of you at times. Wanting to be and have the best can get to you at times. But, you will be okay. Eventually, you will get to a point where God gives you clarity. You’ll feel like God has given you an identity. I would tell the young brothers these days the same thing…It’s not your fault, but if you stick with God- even when you don’t feel it is possible, or you’re not good enough, He will make a way. When that Holy Spirit takes over you. It does something to your mind, your heart, it transforms you.”
FEMI STAFF (Ty Hughes): “Talk about your journey of God calling you to Him. How you became who you are today.”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “It’s like a clean canvas. For me, I’m the canvas and God is the Artist. God has the paintbrush, and He’s painting all of these vibrant colors. Everything that’s going onto the canvas. I display what He puts on me and within me. So my identity now is Man of God. You gotta be thankful for the things that happened before your new life in Christ because everything that you went through is gonna be applied to your new life. While still being through The Gospel. That’s the main focus.”
FEMI STAFF (Ty Hughes): “Now I know that God is the One true Father…but who are your Spiritual Leaders, and Influences?”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “I have multiple Spiritual Leaders. I look at it as a gift now. The same way I took different pieces of men before is how I do it now. Only, in this new life, so it’s better. First up, is Pastor Keion Henderson, with the Lighthouse of Houston. That was like the keyholder. The gatekeeper, like he opened the door for me. To show me that you could be anointed and keep your swag. He was the first pastor to preach to my heart, my soul, and my spirit (in Nike Huaraches). Then, his Ministry team is crazy! Pastor Rhema, Associate Pastor Torrance, and Pastor Hammond. I just saw that group of fellas, Men of God like-“Yo, this is it.” The biggest fear people have about going to God is that they can’t be themselves. You die and are reborn in Christ, so mainly that’s true. But they also showed me something totally different from what I thought. And that was if you aren’t you and you’re faking it, God knows it. You can’t be out here lying, and especially lying in the name of God. Not just to yourself, but to the people. Dharius Daniels is another one. He’s different. He preaches, and I can see his passion. He gets the message across. Pastor Mike Jr. as well. He showed me that you can still do your music, and get God’s message across. And you can be number one, and still make people bop. As long as you are doing it the right way, and in the name of God and for God, you can do it.
Pastor Charles Plumber is a Spiritual leader that I came across by what I believe was God placing us in one another’s lives as well. The difference between him and them is that I personally know him. I call him “Pops”. That’s my Spiritual father. I can actually touch him, shake his hand, call him. If I am in need he’s there. He speaks to me and teaches me. If God gave us a choice to be able to pick our parents, he’s who I would have chosen to be my father. That’s what I believe a Spiritual parent is, he feeds my soul what it needs. I feel like his cup runneth over, and me being connected to him anoints me. He took me under his wing and showed me so much. In the church, and in life. From building a church from scratch to writing sermons. He is still showing me a lot. It makes me think of Pastor Keion and how Pastor T.D. Jakes had to check him about his car, but it was for the betterment of him. Sometimes Pastor Plumber will check me like that (he laughs). And I feel like all of these men were placed in my life for a reason, and I am grateful that he is near me. Shout out to “New Day Christian Fellowship Ministries” in Georgia.”
FEMI STAFF (Ty Hughes): What’s next for Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey?”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey: “I am looking forward to working with my mobile Ministry, “Over Praise Ministries”. Check out the single “Jesus on My Mind”. I am working on some new Gospel music, a book, just everything. God is good. He is amazing, and what He has done for me, and will do with and for me is great. I can’t wait to see what He does. I’d just like to thank FEMI. I love the magazine and what it stands for. Shout out to (Tee Tee). I want to dedicate this to Jamie Zane. When he grows up, I want to be a great example of what a true man of God is, imperfections and all. Lastly, I’d like to end this with another favorite scripture. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Whose confidence is in Him”, and that’s where I am with it right now. Blessed and trusting in the Lord.”
Jr. Pastor Lamar T. Bailey has worked with a lot of great people in and out of the Industry… We don’t have enough time or room to get the full story. However, I think his favorite collaboration is the one where he is featured by God. He is reaching a lot of people, and spreading The Gospel. That is his favorite part of the story, and we can’t wait to see what God does with him next.
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