*Renowned gospel artist and pastor Marvin Sapp responded to controversial remarks made by Norman Gyamfi, CEO of Insignia Assets, the parent company of Maverick City Music. Speaking on “The Isaac Carree Show,” Gyamfi criticized traditional gospel music for “over singing,” citing Sapp’s hit “Never Would Have Made It” as an example and claiming it doesn’t resonate with younger Black Christians.
Gyamfi, highlighting Maverick City’s five Grammy wins, claimed, “The Gospel norms wasn’t working [any] more, y’all sing too hard, y’all oversing.” As The Christian Post reports, he attributed the group’s success to a “perfect storm” of accessible songs crafted with “respectfully white writers and producers” during the pandemic.
Sapp, in a Facebook post, acknowledged Gyamfi’s points on gospel’s slow digital adaptation, stating, “Norman raised valid concerns about how slowly the gospel industry has embraced the digital age.” However, he emphasized the genre’s spiritual legacy, saying, “I’ve been a gospel artist for nearly four decades. … I didn’t get here by rejecting tradition.”
He underscored gospel’s role beyond commerce: “Gospel music has never just been about platforms or placement. It’s been about ministry, credibility, and connection.” Sapp cautioned against dismissing the genre’s historical ecosystems, such as church support and gospel festivals.
June 24, 2008 (Credit: Kathy Hutchins/Hutchins Photo)
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Maverick City’s Naomi Raine countered Gyamfi’s narrative, stressing the group’s organic roots. “As grateful as I am to be a founding member of Maverick City Music, … that was formed organically in songwriting rooms and writing camps by genuine connections and the Spirit of God!” she wrote on Instagram.
The debate sparked wider reactions. Comedian Jessie Woo, on Threads, called Gyamfi’s interview “a hard watch,” noting, “My biggest takeaway is that CCM is more money-driven than God driven.” Anne Marie Archer replied, “Gospel music isn’t there to make money, it is there to save your soul.”
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