Maverick City Music began in 2018, founded by Norman Gyamfi and Jonathan Jay in Atlanta through a series of songwriting camps. These gatherings brought over 100 Christian artists together with a purpose: to elevate marginalized voices particularly Black, female, and non-traditional worship leaders—who had often been overlooked in the CCM industry.
Their first musical release, Maverick City, Vol. 1 (July 2019), debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums. Vol. 2 arrived later that year, entering the Top Christian Albums chart at #35 (kajn.com).These early projects introduced fresh voices like Naomi Raine, ChandlerMoore, Steffany Gretzinger, and Brandon Lake (air1.com).
Breakthrough &
Viral Worship (2020–2021)
In 2020, Maverick City Music released Vol. 3 Part 1 &
Part 2, with hits like “Man of Your Word” and “Promises”.
The former peaked at #18 on Hot Christian Songs, while the latter
reached #1 on both Hot Christian and Hot Gospel Songs.
They also collaborated with Upperroom on “You Hold It All
Together” and released a holiday EP, Maverick City Christmas.
In 2021, they dropped Move Your Heart (another EP with
Upperroom) and joined forces with Elevation Worship for the landmark
album Old Church Basement—featuring “Jireh,” “Talking to Jesus,”
and “Wait on You”.
June 2021 saw the release of Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition, a
powerful celebration rooted in justice and heritage.
Historic Awards
& Accolades
- Grammy Awards: First Grammy win in 2022 for Best
Contemporary Christian Music Album (Old Church Basement). They've earned five
Grammys and achieved nominations across the Christian and Gospel fields.
- Performance Breakthrough: First Christian gospel group in
20 years to perform live at the Grammy Awards (2022) with “Jireh”.
- Billboard Music Award: Vol. 3 Part 1 won Top
Gospel Album in 2021.
- GMA Dove Awards: Multiple awards, including New
Artist and Worship Album of the Year for Old Church Basement.
- Additional honors include a Soul
Train Music Award.
Social &
Cultural Impact
- Diverse Worship Faces: Maverick City advocates for
diversity—representing Black, female, and underrepresented voices in
worship.
- Authentic Worship Style: Their raw, spontaneous
worship—often recorded live—offers a stark contrast to polished studio
productions, inviting vulnerability and spirit-led moments.
- Cross-Genre Creativity: Blending gospel, pop, R&B,
hip-hop, and more, they craft a unique sound that resonates widely .
- Advocacy Through Music: The Kingdom Book One
collaboration with Kirk Franklin (June 2022) was recorded in a prison,
spotlighting mass incarceration and Black Lives Matter themes.
Continued Growth
& Tours (2022–2024)
- Breathe EP (Feb 2022): Released during
Black History Month; earned another Grammy nod.
- Award-Winning Projects: Continued Grammy and Dove wins
for Breathe, Kingdom Book One, and more.
- National Tours: Their first arena tour sold out
across the U.S., with plans for the 2024 “Good News Tour” featuring
leaders like Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
Why Maverick City
Matters
- Vision of Unity – Breaks down racial, cultural,
and gender barriers in worship leadership.
- Spirit-Led Worship – Focus on authenticity over
perfection fosters deep, emotional encounters.
- Bold Advocacy – Music addresses societal
issues like justice, healing, and community.
- Historic Recognition – Their Grammy performance and
wins paved the way for worship artists on mainstream stages.
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