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Imago Dei Music Group recording artist and BET’s Sunday Best second season winner Y’Anna Crawley released her first solo CD project, The Promise, on August 24, 2010.

Y’Anna says that winning Sunday Best and working on this CD project have been amazing blessings in her life. Her experiences inspired her to choose The Promise as the title and theme of her new CD. “With everything that I’ve gone through, all my ups and downs, with people talking about me and saying that I would never make it because I had two kids, I was resting on God’s promise,” she said. “I’m hoping that people who listen to this CD will be uplifted and encouraged. I want them to realize that dreams do come true, so you should never give up on your dreams. When you get knocked down you get back up and just keep pressing through.”

The title track and current single, “The Promise” reminds listeners that Jesus is the way and the promise, and that if you keep trusting in His Word and keep persevering you will attain your goals. This mid-tempo, contemporary gospel performance is a hit in the making.

Three songs on the CD were written by Y’Anna and producer Busta, which come out of Y’Anna’s personal experiences. The autobiographical “Stronger” tells her story of getting pregnant at 17, not marrying the baby’s father as she had planned, and the hard times that followed. But the song and its message are upbeat-no matter what life’s circumstances bring you, they will make you stronger if you keep your faith and never give up. The jazzy “Looking Towards Heaven” is based on a song that she wrote after she had her second child and was feeling down about her life. “Every time I would get in a rut I would look up and say ‘God, I’m looking to you to help me past this,'” she said. “And when I talked to God, I was looking towards heaven.” Urban contemporary in style, “I Believe,” describes her unswerving belief in God despite her circumstances or the influence of others. This song is poised to become a crossover hit.

The Promise is produced by Busta and Shavoni (Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams), the production team of PAJAM-J. Moss, Paul Allen and Walter Kearney (Kelly Price, *NSYNC, Destiny’s Child, Karen Clark Sheard) and Ryan Sims. Producer and Music Director of popular late night talk show, “The Monique Show”, Jim Wright also contributed to the project, which was recorded at the Embassy Row Recording Studio in Los Angeles, CA.

The CD also includes her first single, Y’Anna’s rendition of the Bill Wither’s classic hit “Grandma’s Hands,” which she sang on Sunday Best. Her powerful performance of that song, about half way through the 10-week competition, stunned the judges-Bebe Winans, Tina and Erica Campbell of Mary Mary as well as show’s host, Kirk Franklin.

Y’anna Crowley- “Grandma Hands” (BET’s, Sunday Best/Season 2)