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Plays: 19540
Views: 2416 |
Members:
Formed: 2000
Official Site: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEREALBIGPROPHET205
iSound Site: www.isound.com/war_on_the_devil
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BIG PROPHET
TESTIMONY
A native of Birmingham, AL. Charles A. Bonner was born to Venita Bonner (mother) and Charles White (father) on June 28,. Charles Bonner grew up in a family of six, which consisted of his mother and 2 sisters Qutina and Tamika and 2 brothers |
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BIG PROPHET
TESTIMONY
A native of Birmingham, AL. Charles A. Bonner was born to Venita Bonner (mother) and Charles White (father) on June 28,. Charles Bonner grew up in a family of six, which consisted of his mother and 2 sisters Qutina and Tamika and 2 brothers Willie and Joseph (deceased). Raised in a very low-income, single parent home where Charles recalls a lot of times having to eat sugar and syrup sandwiches because of food shortage or the fact that the supportive utilities to cook or prepare food was not accessible (cut off). He recalls that as a small child they were sort of going through the motions but as they began to grow older this became embarrassing and in some cases unbearable. But in spite of all, they knew that they had to survive. The atmosphere at home was depressing and educational, their mom was hardly ever home, most times working 2 jobs to try and support 5 kids, so they basically raised each other day to day, mom did all she could in her power to make do for them. In spite of all the hardships his mom, by the grace of God did an excellent job with what little they had. But as the hard times grew harder and they grew older, reality set in on them, but they were confused as to how to express their compassion for going from rags to riches so to speak. At the age of 7yrs Charles was taken in by his aunt away from his siblings. She had no children of her own so they both had something to give. She wanted a child and he wanted a chance at a better life. She and his uncle Fred Jackson owned a neighborhood store, which he was introduced to earlier, but now being a part of the family he began working a normal job there by stocking the store and cashiering. At an early age, he was being trained to be an entrepreneur. Each day the same routine, school 8 to 3 worked from 3:30 to sometimes midnight up to the age of twelve when his uncle departed his life and his aunt turned to drugs. Alone with nowhere to turn but back home where he did not want to go he began searching for a way out. He met an inspiring man who owned another neighborhood store with a music studio in back. Seeing that Charles Bonner’s dream was to be a Rap Superstar, this seemed to be the perfect place to settle. Therefore, with his level of maturity, charm, and dynamic rapping skills he was cuddled with no problem. Faithfully he sought after his career under the management of the store owner. Charles was so talented that after his music was presented to the reputable Def Jam Records, back in the early days of artist like Slick Rick, LL cool J and Run DMC. Rumors through a reliable source that Charles Bonner’s manager, which had left Birmingham to meet with Def Jam about a contract for Charles, was rewarded a gruesome amount for his album, but Charles never saw a dime. Soon after the studio shut down and moved almost over night, Charles Bonner had no place to go and shattered dreams. So he began to search for new hope.
About this time, his older brother and much-respected cousins and uncles all over the family were monopolizing by dealing in the new family business (selling large quantities of cocaine). Charles never wanted to be a part of this but driven by loneliness and idle time he started hanging out innocently where his brother and cousins dealt drugs. Charles is reminded how he would write raps about how the police would harass them and about their relationship and state of being as a form of entertainment to them while they hustled drugs. However, before long as times grew dreary and the lack of money set in Charles yielded to selling drugs. Nevertheless, there was something different about him. He was a respectable kind of drug dealer. He would yes and no ma’am his customers, if they had no money he would credit the faithful ones just as it was an organized business. Because of this in just a few months, he gained such a clientele that he himself was overwhelmed as well as the others around him. Charles Bonner moved out of his mom’s house immediately due to his so called “Success” living from hotel to hotel. The more money the more independent and bold he became. By the age of 16, he had managed to settle in an apartment living with a young woman only a year older than him and had acquired 4 children by this time. At this time, he was much known on the streets as having “King Pin” status in the drug world. With his assets and on hand cash he was worth a little better than $100,000+.
THE PUNISHMENT
Charles Bonner thought he was set for life, until he was arrested and facing 20 years in prison. Charles Bonner began to evaluate his life seeing that neither his money nor his mother could get him out. Charles recalls the night that changed his life to be a miracle from God, Himself. He explains how he had begun to adapt to the system and give up on life all together. Until one late night, he remembers waking up out of a depressive sleep seeking help and freedom. He remembers his body being drenched with sweat and his eyes blood red from crying all night. He fell to his knees gripping his head hoping for some form of relief. In that instant, he recalls visions of his grandmother saying to him if he is ever in trouble to call on Jesus. He recalls the vision of his mother sending him off to church and the preacher talking about the same Jesus.
THE MIRACLE
In the mist of all that was occurring, he remembers a visit from God, inspiring him to write a letter to the Judge. Being obedient to the voice, he did just that, not knowing exactly what the letter entold, he wrote it anyway. Then provisions were made through favor with the guards to get the letter to the Judge. A response from the Judge came soon after. A meeting was setup by the Judge and Charles Bonner was able to plead his case. He is reminded that he was not mindful of what he had written exactly. He was moved to simply tell the whole truth. As he began to unravel his story, the Judge began to have compassion and released tears. She made her judgment and rather than the 20 year sentence she reduced it to 6 months. Charles served 28 days in the H-I-T program (Boot Camp) and 5 months in a Group home in Mobile, AL. After being released, he immediately went back , started working temporary jobs and got his GED.
Finally, he landed a permanent job with a newly opened furniture chain called Furniture Wholesalers. He was hired to be manager over deliveries and warehouse, seeing that he was the only delivery and warehouse man he was manager over himself. However still 16yrs old Charles mastered his position but quickly realized the pay of the position was not enough to maintain. So he having a relationship with the owner made a request of becoming a sales person, the owner agreed to let him come in on Sundays a day the store was usually closed to sharpen his skills and try him out. Charles did so well on Sundays that it became a regular open day for the company. By this being a new business, there were several things to be worked out. Managers and employee’s were being hired and fired on a regular bases. Charles would sit back, watch and learn the nature of this business. Months later it all boiled down to one manager and one salesperson Charles Bonner. Charles recalls coming into work and hearing an argument between the owner and the manager. He said the manager came storming out of the office gathering his belongings and the owner soon came out behind him with keys in hand. The owner lived out of town and had so many other stores to watch over Charles feared he was out of a job. The owner asked Charles if he was sure he could run this business by himself, Charles answered “yes sir”. Right then he made Charles manager over this multi-million dollar business at the age of sixteen. Charles successfully ran the business for 3 years. The store did so well they began a chain in Birmingham adding 4 more stores. But the others did not do as well so they were pulling funds from the main store for support then it soon all ended. Charles was soon to be out of a job but he refused to go down with the sinking ship. Charles went and borrowed $9,000 from his brother who was a wealthy drug dealer. Charles began planning. A couple of months after, birthed his own business called BEDS for Less at 19 years old. In one month, the store grossed over $50,000. One year later Charles opened 3 more stores all in major locations of different cities.
THE TRAGEDY
Everything was well, Charles was living the good life once again until the past came back to haunt him. He began splurging money on various women, cars, rims and radio systems. By the time Charles was 23 everything was headed down hill again. He lost 3 of his stores and was down to 1 struggling store that he ran by himself. He was slowly losing all he had.
SET FREE
Then his friend at the time began visiting a small church ran out of a renovated house called Special Forces for Jesus, an outreach ministry that caters to prisoners and strays from all walks of life. The center is ran by a husband and wife named Pastor Sherry and Evelyn Conner who both were in prison and had similar testimonies like his friend and his own. After going, a few times she gave her life to Christ and began to walk in the attributes of what she was taught. Then she began to tell him all about the changes that were occurring with her. What she spoke about caused him to want to be in this atmosphere seeing he was seeking some type of refuge anyway. As he heard the testimonies of the Pastor and his wife and saw how they were sold out to Christ, he knew this was what he needed, so he began to attend and ended up getting saved “For real” and living for Christ Jesus. Therefore, he began to forget all about what he was facing and started sharing Jesus with others he knew family, drug dealers, friends and just anybody who would listen. Then God laid on his heart to begin sharing this message with his dope dealing brother Joseph Bonner, he knew this would be a task because he knew his past and how treacherous he was in the streets and him knowing his past and present. At first, he thought Charles was joking until he watched his new life closely and saw he was serious, so Joseph began to listen. Charles could since a change but he never gave in completely ‘as far as he knew’ he continued selling drugs and was making plans to give it up. Joseph was very well off, but just caught up in commitment and greed. Months later they found Charles’ brother Joseph shot and killed in the driver seat of his car. Just before this God had been dealing with Charles about turning back to Rapping but this time for HIM. This incident pushed it over. This was a very rough time for Charles seeing he was already losing all he had and now to lose the closest person to him was a tragedy. Therefore, he began seeking God and sharing his life through music. Still hanging on to the one struggling store, he received a call from one of his brother’s suspected killers trying to convince him that he had nothing to do with it. Moreover, he mentioned he was told that Charles had paid for a hit on his life, but in his heart, he did want revenge for his brothers’ death. Therefore, he tried to convince this guy to meet up with him but he never agreed and soon hung up the phone. One day a man walked into Charles’ store and made himself known. Charles was stunned and began to try to figure how he could harm this man with so many customers in his store. Nonetheless, they sat outside and began to talk. Every time Charles would began to ask a question to strike an argument, God would muzzle his lips and he would began to witness to this man about his life and ask him about his. When Charles let him drive away without harming him he knew then he was really Saved.
THE CALL
At that very moment God spoke to him clearly saying “Son it wasn’t the man who killed your brother anyway, but yet it was the spirit that was controlling the man that killed your brother”. Then He said, “So your War is not against the man but your "war is on the Devil". This is where the title and motive of Charles’ album was birthed. He know if he took the hurts and pains of his life and expressed them through his music to be a testimony to others. In hope that through this they will give their lives to Christ in this way is how we will win the “War on the Devil”. So, after this he began to obey the call that God had birthed in him and doors began to open up. He crossed the path of an old friend Christopher “Play” Martin that he met through his store. He had come in a few years before and bought a bed from him and solicited him to sponsor a radio show featuring Gospel rap music when “Play” was working with Grapetree Records and their artists trying to take Gospel rap to another level. It never dawned on Charles until after he began his mission that even back then he was paving the way for himself. Charles’ sponsorship was the first time gospel Rap had ever been introduced to Alabama.
Charles continued to seek God by writing this vision down and understanding all what God wanted him to do, and how he wanted him to go about carrying out this vision. He met with his Pastor & was annointed, laid hands on to cover him as he went forward. This was the beginning of a never-ending journey. Charles had the vision in place, he knew how God wanted the album cover to be & began doing a Bio, writing songs and seeking producers. After all that was in place, he sought God for a name. He gave him ‘Big Prophet’. Big, because this was a big task and we serve a big God who is capable of carrying out any task “there’s nothing to hard for God” and of course because of his Bold size (smile). Prophet, this represents a man of God who is willing to carry out and speak the uncompromised word of God in season and out of season. Rather through prophecy or Ramón word as a spokesperson for God in his timing.
THE VICTORY
When all this was done everything began to come together, the production was God Anointed . People were so amazed, especially the producers, that folk would literally crowd the studio whenever he had a session. Before they could finish a song people were offering to pay for the studio time and others wanted to pay what ever the cost for a copy of the songs. God was beginning a masterpiece. Big Prophet was even stunned of the outcome.
Before Big Prophet could finish the album, he had media coverage from all the major newspapers and news channels wanting to interview him. With headliners like ‘Ex-Drug Dealer Now Selling Christ Through Music’ (Alabama Baptist Newspaper) and ‘Big Prophet Introduces War On The Devil The Album’ (Birmingham TIMES). Big Prophet had several interviews with all the local News Stations on the Morning shows and the 10’oclock news.
Soon after Big Prophet landed a small role in a film called Brother Lane’s Last Call directed by Christopher “Play” Martin from the Rap duo Kid-N-Play to be released in all the major theater this fall. With other stars like Billie Holiday (from Matlock), Shirley Murdock (singer, Actress), Ali Woodson (from the Temptations), Ralph Tresvant (former lead singer from New Edition)THELMA (FROM GOODTIMES) and B.B. Jay (International Recording artist FORMERLY FROM Jive- Verity-Zomba Label). BP from hustling the streets, to building his own business, to now being a Holy Hustler for God had already inquired the knowledge and fire to be successful. He knew promotions, and sales tactics and simply applied them to his new vision. After much media coverage, he soon became an icon in Alabama, mainly the largest city (Birmingham). He soon released the hot single from his album called “God is Love”. With an up-tempo cross over beat and smashing lyrics. He went straight to the #1 spot on WBHJ 95.7 Jamz which is the #1 MAINSTREAM radio station in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa the two main cities in Alabama. It is currently in rotation on Waye 1220 AM and 105.9 FM, a new mainstream station in syndication hosted by Christopher Martin. The song has been holding the #1 spot for an amazing 3 _ months to date. This song was liked and accepted by all churches of all faiths and backgrounds,STREET HUSSLERS & all nationalities of people. It’s accepted so well that mainstream D.J.’s begun to use it for drops on there prime time hours, and play the song as much as they can in regular rotation and the call ins are enormous. BP invested in a computer to burn his own CD’s and started booking himself in every Church event, Park events or anything where there was an audience to showcase his gift.
People would flood him after every performance to ask how to receive Christ in there life and some were so moved they would petition him to come to other Events and talk to family members they were concerned about. By this time, the project was finished and the struggling business was on its last leg. BP made the decision to give the store up all together. His heart was full time ministry and the problems from the business were a hindrance to him. No one fully understanding why he would do this felt BP had lost his mind. Nevertheless, he knew exactly what he was doing. He felt he needed a clean slate and a new start, so to support himself and his family he began selling the CDs’ no cover or anything. This was a slow start because of lack of money that it caused problems in his immediate life but he was determined and understood that any true Gem must survive the Fire. So regardless of the negative vibes and let downs he continued what he knew God birthed in him. On the movie set BBJ (FORMER Jive Recording artist) was so stunned by his testimony and music that he adopted BP on the set as his Little Brother. BP began to travel all over the world with B.B. Jay they appeared together on stage at the Bobby Jones Gospel Show in Las Vegas, BP attended the 2001 Stellar awards, and many other large venues with B.B.Jay. Since then BP has been operating under the JIZFAT GLOBAL MUSIC label which is his brothers’ (B.B.Jay). BPs’ personality and music is so magnetic that he has gained love on a national scale by other celebrities like Mary, Mary, Darwin Hobbs, Shirley Ceasar, Treach (Naughty by Nature), basketball stars Charlie Ward and Mark Jackson from New York Nicks, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurken, Yolanda Adams, Tonex, Wish Bone (Bone Thugs)T-MO (GOODIE MOB)WHICH HE'S COLLABORATED WITH ON A SONG ALREADY. A very special relationship with Marvin Winans Jr. and Mike Winans Jr. (Winans Phase II), with whom he is working on a song and a whole host of other celebrities. He is also featured in most of the songs on B.B.Jay’s’ new Album coming out. After the Bobby Jones show Pastor B.B.Jay named him his assistant and their relationship only grew stronger and stronger, this made BP now a vital part of the industry. Known by all and loved by all including John P. Kee, William Becton, Woody (of Dru Hill) and lots of others. BP understanding that he must pay dues and make relationships to be successful BP continued saving money and financing his own career. He has appeared on the Bobby Jones Gospel show, he also attended the Stellar Awards. He has a movie releasing this fall directed by Christopher “Play” Martin from the rap duo Kid-N-Play, and the House Party movies, named “Bro. Lanes Last Call.”
Big Prophet is the first KINGDOM LYRISIS ever from Birmingham to gain national recognition. Currently he has furnished 12 of the most reputable music stores in Birmingham with product servicing and collecting while at the same time selling CDs’ on the street. He has sold better than 50,000 units in Birmingham alone in a short time and spreading. But BP realizes that he can cover the International market faster by joining with those who believes in his vision.
For booking and information call Big Industries, Inc.
@ (205) 862-5009 or e-mail: theebigprophet@yahoo.com
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