Known for his musical artistry and LGBT affirming lyrics, award winning Caribbean soul artist Nhojj will kick off the festivities at a special “Out and Proud” Target First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum on January 7, 2012.  Seating is limited, and people are advised to arrive 30 minutes early for Nhojj’s 5 p.m. show.

Thousands of visitors enjoy free programs of art and entertainment each month from 5 to 11 p.m. at Brooklyn Museum’s Target First Saturdays.

Along with Nhojj other featured performers, artists, and writers will include drag queen Peppermint,  OMA winner Ariel Aparicio,  artist Lyle Ashton Harris, folk rock singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick, Hide/Seek curator Jonathan Katz, DJ Tikka Masala, author Charles Rice-Gonzalez, and Experimental punk band Three Teens Kill Four.

The Nhojj “Out and Proud” performance coincides with HIDE/SEEK: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, the first major museum exhibition to explore how gender and sexual identity have shaped the creation of American portraiture.  The special exhibition will be on display at the museum through February 12, 2012.  During his performance, Nhojj will perform his latest singles ”Adam & Steve” and “He & Him.”

“I’m really excited about being apart of this historic Brooklyn Museum Out & Proud First Saturday, we’ve got excellent musicians, a great set, and a few surprises… I can’t wait to share it”

“I’m really excited about being apart of this historic Brooklyn Museum Out & Proud First Saturday, we’ve got excellent musicians, a great set, and a few surprises… I can’t wait to share it” Nhojj explains. His band will include John Legend drummer – Swiss Chris, Keith Sweat keyboardist John F Adams, Clark Dark on Bass, and longtime guitarist Marcelo Cardozo. 3 background singers will complete Nhojj’s band for the show.

Nhojj made OUTMusic Awards history in 2009 when his ballad “Love” was voted Outstanding R&B/Soul Song of the Year by the Alliance of LGBT Recording Artists & Performers.  It marked the first time an African American male had won an OMA.  In 2010 Nhojj broke yet another barrier when his “Love” music video climbed to the #1 position on MTV Music – the first time a gay music video topped the mainstream MTV Music chart.

Son of a church minister, Nhojj grew up in Guyana.  When he was 5 he began singing in his father’s church with his older sister accompanying him on piano.  In an effort to share God’s unconditional love for all, last Easter Nhojj released the groundbreaking Marriage Equality “Amazing Grace.” It portrays a male inter-racial couple exchanging wedding vows and living in a committed loving relationship.

Both “Love” and “Amazing Grace” music videos have been selected for screening at the 1^st Annual Out in the Desert International LGBT Film Festival to be held in February, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona.

“I’m so proud of Brooklyn Museum for honoring these artists and acknowledging the importance their work.  Art whatever form it takes is speaks to who we are and we all affect and influence this world.”

Hope you are feeling good. I just completed a new song for Kirk Shannon-Butts new film “Julien’s Bed” it’s beautiful and sexy and I can’t wait to share it with you.

This is the 2nd time I’ve written a song specifically for a film, the first was for the hotel love scene between Faybien and Lonnie in Finding Me: Truth. I really enjoy writing this way, creating a song that captures the mood and feeling of the scene. Watch the preview below.

Celebrating October as LGBT History Month, Nhojj released his new single “Adam & Steve” on October 11, coinciding with National Coming Out Day. The soulful lullaby offers a beautiful affirmation of love and understanding for all people.

The latest in a string of songs affirming LGBT identity, Nhojj blends ambient electronica grooves with socially conscious lyrics to offer listeners a compassionate and deeply spiritual experience.

This Caribbean trendsetter bravely sheds light on spirituality and homosexuality in a culture where many see the two as contradictory. The God Nhojj depicts in “Adam & Steve” is a nonjudgmental God who simply asks that his children love one another; it is a God whose love is offered, not just to Adam and Eve, but to “Adam and Steve” also.

Nhojj is a two-time OUT music award winner noted for having the all-time #1 most watched Reggae-world music video on MTV Hive. He also reached #1 on the MTV Music video chart.

Son of a minister, Nhojj grew up in Guyana and began singing at his father’s church when he was 5. In 2005 he recorded “John Martinborough – Coming Home,” a collection of church hymns.

Earlier this year Nhojj released the groundbreaking marriage equality “Amazing Grace” video portraying an interracial gay couple exchanging vows and affirming their commitment in a church. It was the first time a classic Christian hymn had been used to express the “naturalness” and “Godliness” of love between same sex partners. Says MINT Male magazine, Nhojj is “changing preconceived notions about the representations of love.”

LGBT History Month originated in the United States and was first celebrated in 1994 to encourage honesty and openness about being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed awareness day celebrating Gay, Lesbian, bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer people and communities.

Nhojj made OUTMusic and black history in 2009 when his soulful ballad “Love” was voted R&B/Soul Song of the Year by the Alliance of LGBT Recording Artists and Performers. It marked the first time a black artist won an OUTMusic Award. Earlier this year Nhojj won his second OMA for “The Gay Warrior Song” and recorded “He & Him,” a provocative love song.

United Church of Christ Cathedral of Hope plays Nhojj’s Amazing Grace music video on the homepage of their website.

Pastor John Shuck at First Presbyterian Church in Elizabethton, TN blogs “Here is a beautiful video…. Nhojj affirms life with welcoming, hopeful and transforming words.”

Pastor Martha Spong at UCC North Yarmouth Congregational Church, ME writes “Amazing Grace: a beautiful video… I’m bowled over by the beauty of the images and his music.”

Controversial “MadPriest” Reverend Jonathan Hagger at the Church of England writes in his blog, “Amazing Video” and recommends Nhojj’s latest article as “a superb testament to God’s rainbow creation.”

The Amazing Grace that these clergy are talking about isn’t the traditional one. This “Amazing Grace” symbolizes a movement of love and acceptance that has taken hold among progressive churches. It is an “Amazing Grace” that expresses the “rightness and godliness” of gay love– portraying a male interracial couple exchanging marriage vows and living in a loving committed relationship.

Filmed in the historic St. Mark’s Church, one of the oldest churches in New York City, Nhojj’s “Amazing Grace” marks the first time a well known Christian hymn has been used in a music video to affirm the LGBT community and support marriage equality. It expands the innate power of the time honored hymn and represents a step forward for homosexuals in reclaiming their spiritual lives and healing wounds.

“It’s the story of two people finding each other and recognizing the love their hearts share,” Nhojj says. “I truly believe God is love and so wherever love is God is.”

Homosexuals who seek church families are now being openly welcomed by a new breed of progressive ministers. There are thousands of LGBT affirming congregations throughout America and the world, and many are part of large denominations like Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Unity, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Metropolitan Community, Episcopal, Dignity (a group within the Catholic Church), and Brethren/Mennonite. With gay marriage legal in 6 states including New York and our nation’s capital, the number of gay affirming congregations is bound to grow.

Son of a fundamentalist minister, Nhojj grew up in Guyana. He held onto feelings of shame and internalized homophobia until he became an adult and attended therapy group sessions while at NYU. The conversations lead him to rethink his childhood experiences and learn new ways of living life – honestly and openly.

In 2005, Nhojj toured churches throughout London, Toronto, the Caribbean and the USA. The recipient of 2 OUTMusic Awards, Nhojj is the first black male to receive an OMA and the first Out artist to reach #1 on the MTV Music chart with a gay music video – “Love.”

“Love is the most fundamental of all human conditions and the most important.” Nhojj concludes, “We all deserve to love and be loved.”

I couldn’t let the summer go by without releasing something to dance to, something to celebrate. Summer is a time of radiance and brilliance, it is a time a full life – what better way to celebrate than to dance and be thankful.

I’m excited to release dance remixes for My Brother on Monday. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time and now I finally have a chance to. Later this year, we’ll have more to celebrate:)

Press the play button and take a pause from life… to dance an expression of gratitude to the Universe for the good in your life… you may just get more good in return:)

Listen to TRACK 26, new music created for the TLA film Finding Me: Truth Soundtrack. The director Roger Omeus used Spring Rain and Dream in the lovemaking scenes for Finding Me. While he was working on this sequel, he asked me to write a new song for Fabian and Lonnie’s lovemaking. It was hard work… looking at 2 attractive men making out and coming up with music, but I some how managed:) Enjoy