Trin-I-Tee 5:7 is a gospel duo from New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States. The group was marketed as a gospel alternative to R&B girl groups such as Destiny's Child and TLC. Trin-i-tee 5:7 has sold over 2.5 million albums.
In 1998, the group released their first album entitled Trin-i-tee 5:7 which debut at #1 on the Top Gospel charts. The album featured the songs "God's Grace" and the cover song "Oh! Mary Don't You Weep". The album later became certified gold. In 1999, Terri Brown left the group and was later replaced by singer Adrian Anderson. During that year, the group recorded and released their second album, Spiritual Love. The album became the group's second #1 album on the Top Gospel charts. The album contained the singles "Put Your Hands" and "My Body". In 2002, the group released their third album The Kiss which debuted at #2 on the Top Gospel charts.
In 2007, the group left GospoCentric Records and signed a record deal with Spirit Rising Music. In late 2007, Trin-i-tee 5:7 released their fifth album T57, which featured the top ten gospel single "Listen". T57 charted #2 on the Top Gospel Albums, #5 on the Top Christian charts, and #12 on the Top R&B charts.
The New Orleans-based gospel group composed of elementary friends Angel Taylor, Chanelle Hayes, and Terri Brown, was brought to the attention of gospel label GospoCentric Records by their manager Kenneth Grant. Label owner Viki Mack Lataillade pictured them crossing over to urban market as her flagship artist Kirk Franklin had four years before. "A great deal of attention was put into their imaging because there's a fine line you have to walk with female talent with relation to church and secular audiences as well," Lataillade told Billboard magazine in 1998.
The label named the group Trin-i-tee 5:7 based on 1 John 5:7 biblical scripture that refers to the Trinity.
The group's self titled debut project was released in 1998 with production credits including R. Kelly and T.D Jakes. With preorders of 100,000 copies and an aggressive urban marketing campaign, the project debuted at No. 3 on the gospel charts and eventually stepped up to the top slot. It also reached the R&B Top 20 charts and was eventually certified gold. The album created three gospel radio hits in "You Can Always Call His Name," "Mary Don't You Weep" and "God's Grace." The CD would go on to spend 7 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album chart, over 30 weeks in the Top on Billboard's Contemporary Christian chart, and almost 50 weeks on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.
In mid-1999, as they were preparing to record their second album, Terri Brown left the group to focus more on her family, and was quickly replaced by the group's make up artist Adrian Anderson.
On 28 December 1999 the group issued their second project, Spiritual Love which featured the Christian Chart hits "I Promise" (featuring Crystal Lewis) and "My Body". "Our videos and our music are really different from most of what's out in the music industry today," says Angel. "We want to convey hope and positiveness and that's really who we are. The more popular we become, the more attention will be focused on our personal lives. I think the best thing we can do is show the world what Christianity is all about through the way we live our own lives."
The album featured collaborations with gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, Tramaine Hawkins, Crystal Lewis, and Natalie Wilson (founder of the B.O.P Chorale).
By the time the group's The Kiss was issued in 2002, they were having problems with GospoCentric. The urban radio track "Holla" didn't get the urban radio push they felt the song merited and failed to make it on the R&B Charts. During that period Kenneth Grant left his post as the group's manager, and they sought to be released from their recording contract, but the label refused.
Pop star Brandy's mother and manager, Sonja Norwood, took over management and brought the group to a higher level of mainstream respect by booking them on major non-gospel television shows. However, she eventually turned the management over to Beyoncé's father and manager, Mathew Knowles.
After a lengthy hiatus, the group was finally released from GospoCentric and Knowles signed them to Spirit Rising, the gospel music division of his Music World Entertainment record label. In 2007, GospoCentric released their first greatest hits album Holla: The Best of Trin-i-tee 5:7. Their fourth studio album T57 was released the same year. T57 charted at #2 on the Gospel charts and #102 on the Billboard 200.
The lead single, "Listen" charted at #9 on the U.S. Gospel charts. The group later embarked on their The Sisters In Spirit tour. In September 2008, a deluxe edition of T57 was released featuring three additional songs including the single "Get Away" which the group performed at BET's annual Celebration of Gospel. The album won two Dove Awards and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
After the release of T57, the group began doing individual projects. Chanelle pursued an acting career. Angel Taylor became the co-host for BET's 106 & Gospel, which premiered January 11, 2009 and lasted for only one season. Adrian Anderson along with Soulfruit appeared on Spirit Rising's Pastor Rudy Experience album. Adrian also launched her own beauty line.
They released their first Christmas album, Love, Peace, Joy at Christmas, on October 26, 2009.
In 2011, Trin-i-tee 5:7 announced their transition from a trio to a duo. Chanelle Haynes and Angel Taylor will move forward as a duo and Adrian Anderson will pursue other career opportunities. "The evolution of Trinitee 5:7 has come with many beautiful seasons, and great accomplishments," said Taylor and Haynes. "We've been tremendously blessed to have been given the opportunity to inspire so many through our music. A new season has come upon us, and we realize by embracing this change, the best is yet to come."
Their sixth studio album, Angel and Chanelle, was released on May 31, 2011 and peaked at #2 and #20 on the Billboard Gospel Albums and Billboard 200 charts, respectively. Its lead single, "Over & Over", featured gospel songwriter PJ Morton and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Gospel Songs chart.
