In this period James developed as a keyboardist and burgeoning songwriter. He was also learning first-hand the business of music. He attended Michigan State University for two years, but the desire to write and perform was too strong, and he left to seek a career in music.
Musical career
Upon his return to Detroit, Moss signed with a small local Christian label Aviday Records[1] and released two albums to little fanfare. Yet, during this time he became acquainted with Paul Allen and Walter Kearney. The three began working together as PAJAM. Moss spent the mid-90s touring with The Clark Sisters and was signed, along with Karen Clark-Sheard, his cousin, to Island Records in 1996 to record a solo album.[1] While a proper release never materialized for Moss before Island Black Music shut its doors,[2] Clark's became a smash and introduced the Gospel world to the production powerhouse of PAJAM.
Over the next seven years, the PAJAM team became Gospel music's most prolific hitmakers. However, Moss' desire to perform never went away, and in 2003 he and Allen began writing songs for what would ultimately become The J. Moss Project, released in September 2004 on GospoCentric Records.
Though PAJAM's work has been seen as a revolutionary blend of gospel and hip-hop style, The J. Moss Project is a surprisingly traditional affair. The set largely relies on familiar arrangements, and keeps its focus on Moss's clear tenor voice and strong backing choir vocals. The album made a grand entry with the upbeat lead single "I Wanna Be".
The disc includes a number of upbeat gospel numbers such as "Don't Pray and Worry" and "Psalm 150". J. Moss' lithe falsetto at times draws comparison to the likes of Prince and Tonéx on "Livin' 4". There are also several gentle ballads such as "Give You More" and the album's anthemic single "We Must Praise" that display J. Moss' range as a vocalist and songwriter.
V2... The J Moss Project
Finally, on April 3, 2007, J Moss released his second album V2... The J Moss Project through GospoCentric Records. Appearances made by contemporary Gospel group 21:03, Moss's cousin Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Kirk Franklin, his cousin Karen Clark-Sheard, Marvin Winans of the famed Winans family, Byron Cage, and American comedian Steve Harvey. Three bonus tracks were originally thought to be regular album tracks. The bonus tracks are "Florida", "73 Degress", and "Everybody Ain't Got a Word". Of the album tracks on this release, an instant standout is the track "Dance", featuring Kirk Franklin, which riffs off of an infectious sample of Morris Day & The Time's early 1980s smash "777-9311".
Holding On
J Moss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes it makes you wanna scream and shout
Sometimes you feel like it's unbearable
Sometimes the pain is so incredible (why)
Do I feel the way I feel being a christian and all (it's not suppose to be this way)
But who said that it was gonna be easy (nobody)
Do I have enough in me
How do I feel like holding on
How do I feel
How do I feel like being strong
How do I feel
How do I feel like praying on
How do I feel
How do I feel like pressing on
And the answer is Jesus
My potion Jesus
My covering Jesus
My maker Jesus
Check it out
Sometimes it's someone that you really love
Sometimes they don't know that they've lost your trust
Sometimes your heart will last, can't stop beating (thump thump.thump)
Anybody ever felt like that (why)
Do I feel the way I do being a christian and all (it's not suppose to be this way)
But who said that the walk would be easy (nobody)
Do I have enough in me
[Chorus: x2]
And the answer is (Jesus)
My savior (Jesus)
The calm in the midst of the storm (Jesus)
My strength and my recourse (Jesus)
Everything I need, everything I am (Jesus)
The way, the truth and the light (Jesus)
Healed by his stripes (Jesus)
Deliverer to abundant life (Jesus)
You ought to call him for yourself (Jesus)
He's a way out of no way (Jesus)
When nothing else could help it's (Jesus)
When there's no one to talk to (Jesus)
In "Holding On" by J Moss, the lyrics express the struggles and pain that Christians may feel in their walk of faith. The song highlights the fact that life can be difficult and sometimes unbearable, even when you believe in Jesus. It's normal to feel overwhelmed and to question whether you have enough strength to keep going. The chorus repeatedly asks, "How do I feel like holding on," and the answer is always Jesus. The song stresses the importance of relying on Jesus, who is the Christian's savior, solution, and everything they need.
The lyrics also touch on the challenge of forgiveness and trust. Sometimes even our loved ones can cause us to feel hurt and disappointment, making it difficult to hold onto faith. J Moss reminds listeners that Jesus is the calm in the midst of the storm, a source of strength and comfort. He urges them to turn to Jesus in prayer, to press on and keep believing.
Overall, "Holding On" is a powerful and encouraging song that reminds believers to hold fast to their faith, even through the struggles and pain of life. It underscores the significance of Jesus for believers and the need for relying on Him when it feels as though there is no strength left.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes it makes you wanna cry aloud
Sometimes the pain is so unbearable that it makes you want to cry out loud.
Sometimes it makes you wanna scream and shout
Sometimes the pain is so overwhelming that it makes you want to scream and shout.
Sometimes you feel like it's unbearable
At times, the pain feels too much to bear.
Sometimes the pain is so incredible (why)
At times, the pain is so intense that it seems unbelievable.
Do I feel the way I feel being a christian and all (it's not suppose to be this way)
As a Christian, feeling this way isn't expected.
But who said that it was gonna be easy (nobody)
No one ever said that the Christian walk would be easy.
Do I have enough in me
Do I have the strength to endure?
How do I feel like holding on
How can I find the strength to hold on?
How do I feel like being strong
How can I find the strength to be strong?
How do I feel like praying on
How can I find the strength to pray on?
How do I feel like pressing on
How can I find the strength to press on?
And the answer is Jesus
The answer to finding strength is through Jesus.
My potion Jesus
Jesus is my healing remedy.
My covering Jesus
Jesus is my protection.
My maker Jesus
Jesus is my creator.
Sometimes it's someone that you really love
At times, it's someone you deeply care for that causes the pain.
Sometimes they don't know that they've lost your trust
At times, the person causing the pain isn't even aware they've lost your trust.
Sometimes your heart will last, can't stop beating (thump thump.thump)
At times, your heart keeps beating despite the overwhelming pain.
Anybody ever felt like that (why)
Has anyone ever experienced this?
The answer is (Jesus)
Once again, the answer is Jesus.
My savior (Jesus)
Jesus is my savior.
The calm in the midst of the storm (Jesus)
Jesus is the peace in the midst of chaos.
My strength and my recourse (Jesus)
Jesus is my source of strength and refuge.
Everything I need, everything I am (Jesus)
Jesus is everything I need, and He defines who I am.
The way, the truth and the light (Jesus)
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light.
Healed by his stripes (Jesus)
I am healed by Jesus' wounds.
Deliverer to abundant life (Jesus)
Jesus is the Deliverer of abundant life.
You ought to call him for yourself (Jesus)
You should call on Jesus for yourself.
He's a way out of no way (Jesus)
Jesus is the solution even in impossible situations.
When nothing else could help it's (Jesus)
When all else fails, Jesus is always there to help.
When there's no one to talk to (Jesus)
When there's no one else to turn to, Jesus is always there to listen.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ozimede Feyikemi Ayodeji
on Good & Bad
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