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 Words: Henry Yanney
Triumph. A term we all endear to behold or be a part of. Whether we only taste such glory once or whether it comes as second nature, the greatest acts in life have often come in some form of an empowering feat.
For Dwayne Shorter better known as Dwayne Tryumf, embracing the term as his stage moniker could be seen as a premonition that his role in life was to continuously break barriers. Dwayne Tryumf has fast become one of the most recognisable names in the UK Christian music scene after his 2006 classic, Ghetto Scripture, became a landmark album in Christian rap. With not long to go until the release of his anticipated sophomore album, The Mark of the Peace, the south London based lyricist and producer discusses with STREETBRAND his career, the new album and the landmark moment when the Holy Spirit saved him a few years back.
“When I became a Christian, this was in August 1999” he recollects. “I was watching something on TV and it referred to a verse in the book of Revelation, which prompted me to pick up the Bible. From then I’ve just kept reading and reading. One night I had a dream where I saw an angel, and it pointed at me and enlightened me, I woke up and felt as if God was calling me. So from that day [August 28th] I’ve been following the Lord since”. To become born again is a prestigious event which many can lay claim to, but for Dwayne, it became apparent that his calling was also to produce music, even after he had given up the career. This is a trait which many Christian acts have done at first.
“I didn’t think there was a link between God and my music because at the time, I was doing secular music”. Dwayne Tryumf eventually picked up the microphone after his revelation, and feels the reason for departing from the scene was to mature in Christ so that he would be fully equipped to embark on his musical journey. He says, “Sometimes it’s not that God is saying ‘Don’t do music’ but He is rather saying, ‘get to know Me and grow with Me. That’s what I feel God did with me and with a number of other Christian artists. But music and Christianity do go together, without a doubt!”
His point was further proved in 2006 when Ghetto Scripture, his debut work, was released; an epic album of inspirational lyrics, enchanting production and a voice which commanded the attention of those who listened. For Dwayne, however, an album release was spontaneous rather than arranged. “I didn’t plan to do the album” he says, “How it came together was that a brother from church knew that I made music and asked if I had a CD of all my work. So I threw a CD together of all my songs and gave it to him. Later on, another person came up to me and asked ‘can I have one of your CD’s’ and then one person after another kept asking for my CD. It got out of control so it was like, ‘Okay, let’s just print up about 1000 copies’ and now I only have three left”.
Whilst Ghetto Scripture was a collation of his prior works, The Mark of the Peace will be Dwayne Tryumf’s first official venture into making a planned album. The leading track Proverbs 31 Woman is an upfront and alternative love song to many of today’s songs and has been played on radio, from Premier’s Straight Up show to Ras Kwame’s 100% Homegrown show on BBC 1xtra. When discussing Proverbs 31 Woman, Dwayne says of it, “When they [the world] think Christianity, they don’t understand relationships, even Christians don’t understand relationships. On Proverbs 31 Woman, I just wanted to show people about being in a relationship in Christ. There wasn’t a particular woman I was thinking of at the time when writing it. It’s just a song about a virtuous woman”.Not one to rest on solely producing music, Dwayne Tryumf has been keeping himself busy while preparing for his latest instalment in his musical collection.
Discussing gang violence on Sky News and performing at numerous events (including the upcoming GL Live event with Lecrae, New Direction Crew, JayEss , Triple O among others), Tryumf continues to establish a career as a man of God and an individual who aims to make a difference in the world. When asked what’s in store for the man of Zion, he replies “Ultimately, my heart’s desire is a deeper walk with the Lord, the deeper I walk with Him, the more effective I will be. That’s how you are really effective for the Kingdom of God, by just walking closely and humbly with God. But I’m hoping to record another album, maybe work with more UK Christian artists like Commission and Guvna B. These ambitions are what are on my heart, but I’m just waiting for what the Lord wants me to do next”.
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