Rawsrvnt Explained

Eddy Puyol
Birth Name:Eduardo Ignacio Puyol
Alias:Eddy "Rawsrvnt" Puyol
Birth Date:July 4, 1979
Birth Place:Miami, Florida
Origin:West Palm Beach, Florida
Instrument:Vocals, singer-songwriter
Genre:Christian hip hop
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:2002–present
Label:Soul Deep Records

Eddy Puyol (born July 4, 1979), who previously recorded under the name Rawsrvnt, is an American Christian hip hop artist, speaker, songwriter, and producer. He has released seven studio albums, five extended plays, several singles, and a few compilation albums with greatest hits.

Early life

Puyol (pronounced "pooh-yole")[1] was born on July 4, 1979,[2] in Miami, Florida.[3] He has two younger siblings, a sister, Sofia, and a brother, Roberto ("Bobby").[4] His parents, Orlando and Susana (née, Smith), are both immigrants from Cuba. They own and operate a learning center for children.[5] Puyol was raised Catholic and later converted to Protestantism.

Music career

Puyol first came to national prominence as Rawsrvnt in 2006 with his In Rare Form album. The project leaned heavy on hip hop-influenced covers and interpretations of popular praise songs and established the artist as a leader in the burgeoning worship space of the rap market. UK-based website Cross Rhythms called the effort "the best ever fusion of hip hop and worship ministry" and noted that it was "the benchmark for all future rappers seeking to get beyond dissing demons and the evangelism-by-numbers content of much holy hip hop."[6]

As In Rare Form continued to empower church leaders to incorporate more hip hop styles into their Sunday morning services, one of Christian music's largest annual tours, Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, hired Puyol to craft a theme song for their 2009 traveling showcase. According to Rapzilla.com, Winter Jam was the fourth ranked tour on Pollstar's 2008 First Quarter Ticket Sales Chart topping Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, The Police, and Foo Fighters.[7] The song was used for the next three years, and opened the door for additional hip hop artists like Lecrae to be featured on the tour.

In 2011, Puyol's No Ordinary Love album found its way on to the entry list for Best Gospel Album of the 54th Grammy Awards. The project featured the Top 40 Billboard hit "On Fire."[8] [9]

Later that year he was invited to be a featured player on The Story Tour alongside some of Christian music's biggest names like Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Tait, Newsboys, and Natalie Grant.[10] The partnership lasted through 2013 and provided an opportunity for the artist to perform as part of The Story Tour medley segment on the nationally televised 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards.[11]

Expanding his sound in 2012, Puyol created a hybrid EP with Jamaican reggae star St. Matthew titled Soul Deep. The project carried the momentum of one of its key tracks, "The Almighty," and won the 2012 En Sound Music Award for Best Gospel Reggae Song.[12]

Since then his music has impacted people's lives in a variety of ways. From the personal (a Netherlands couple danced down the wedding aisle to his "I Gotta Feeling/Take It All" mashup)[13] [14] to the public (the same song was used by DJ Promote to warm up crowds on platinum-selling artist Chris Tomlin's "Burning Lights" tour),[15] it seems there's always a will and a way for Puyol's art to connect with people in every walk of life.

Popular culture

In 2010, Eddy Puyol was cast on Donald J. Trump Presents The Ultimate Merger reality television dating show. The invitation to participate as a potential suitor for Omarosa Manigault came after the show's producers contacted Rapzilla.com looking for eligible bachelors with a unique look and story.

In response to criticism about his motivation for participating in the show, Puyol told the Houston Chronicle "Honestly, Christians have a hard time with this. I thought it would be cool to show what a real one looks like and how he approaches dating."[16]

Eddy was eliminated in the third episode after having a one-on-one conversation with Omarosa in which he declared "I'm in love with Jesus, off top."[17]

Sports connections

Because many of Puyol's songs are known for their high-energy vibe backed by positive and motivational lyrics, his music is often sought-ought by sports organizations to be used in conjunction with their promotions, telecasts, and competitions. Highlights include performances at Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade's birthday brunch,[18] NASCAR driver Michael McDowell (racing driver) selecting "On Fire" for his track introduction,[19] [20] the Miami Dolphins using "Game Changer" as the theme for their weekly coaches show, and ESPN licensing "There Go That Man" for their 2017 NBA Finals and 2017 NBA draft coverage.[21] [22]

Personal life

Puyol married Chrissy Alvarez on July 19, 2014.[23] [24] They have two daughters.[25] [26]

In July 2018, Puyol revealed that, although there were attempts made alongside church mentors and counselors, the couple ultimately could not reconcile their relationship and marital divorce proceedings were underway.[27]

The couple divorced on March 18, 2020.[28]

On March 11, 2023 Puyol married Corinne Johnson. They have a blended family of six with the addition of Corinne's son and daughter.[29]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Record Label
2006 In Rare Form Fla.vor Alliance & Soul Deep Records
2007 Makin Moves Soul Deep Records
2011 No Ordinary Love
2012 Love Deluxe
2015 Game Changer
2022 Pronounced Pooh-Yole
2024 Nothing Changed But My Stage Name
EPs
Year Title Record Label
2008 Breathe Soul Deep Records
2011 On Fire
2016 Soul Deep with St. Matthew Soul Deep Records & Readyback Records
2017 Shut It Down Soul Deep Records
2019 Eddy Puyol is...
Singles
Year Song Title Record Label
2006 Breathe In Rare Form Fla.vor Alliance & Soul Deep Records
Holiness
More Love, More Power
2007 Shake Sum'than Makin' Moves Soul Deep Records
Bows Up feat. Pettidee
Tears 4 Peers
2008 Breathe
Take Me feat. Naiomy
Winter Jam (Official Winter Jam Tour Spectacular Theme Song) Winter Jam (Official Winter Jam Tour Spectacular Theme Song)
2009 Ring That Ring That
2010 No Ordinary Love
On Fire
Here I Am to Worship feat. Audrey Assad
Holiness feat. Audrey Assad
I Gotta Feeling / Take It All I Gotta Feeling / Take It All
2011 No Ordinary Love
The Almighty feat. St. Matthew
On Fire
2012 El Shaddai
Love with St. Matthew Soul Deep Soul Deep Records & Readyback Records
Beautiful / Be With You A Decade of Faith Soul Deep Records
My Statement / The End feat. T Haddy & Malachi A Decade of Faith
2013 Father I Trust Ya feat. Sara Delight* Father I Trust Ya Much Luvv Records & Soul Deep Records
Head Up High with Lil Raskull Head Up High Soul Deep Records & Javo Records
White Christmas Soul Deep Records
2014 I Gotta Feeling / Take It All (DJ Promote Mix) I Gotta Feeling / Take It All (DJ Promote Mix)
Fallin' In Love feat. Milliyon Game Changer
Game Changer with Lil Raskull
2015 Go Hard feat. Transparent
Show Me feat. HeeSun Lee
Won't Stop feat. St. Matthew
All of the Lights (Spoken word) All of the Lights (Spoken word)
2016 The Star-Spangled Banner
2017 There Go That Man feat. Lil Raskull Shut It Down
Shut It Down feat. PyRexx
On the Line feat. Japhia Life
2019 Get Away Eddy Puyol is...
Walk With God feat. Lil Raskull
Sigue Pa' Lante
2021 Forever Love
2021 Never Lose Pronounced Pooh-Yole
To the Moon
2022 It's Over
This One's for You
Sigue Pa' Lante feat. El Leo Pa´
2023 Bang Bang Baby Nothing Changed But My Stage Name
Trust God
Club Five Twelve
2024 Blessings
You Gotta Vibe
Like a Cadillac
Like a Cadillac (Chopped & Screwed) with DJ Ovadose Like a Cadillac
Good Time (Radio Edit) Good Time (Radio Edit)
Everything I Got (Dub Version) with Solomon Jabby Everything I Got
El Shaddai El Shaddai
Compilation albums
Year Title Record Label
2008 Chopped & Screwed Soul Deep Records
2012 A Decade of Faith
2018 Winners Anthems
2022 Vibes & Visions
2024 Hip-Hop Worship

References

  1. Web site: Songwriter/Composer: Eduardo Ignacio Puyol. Broadcast Music, Inc.. Broadcast Music, Inc.. September 5, 2015.
  2. Web site: Eddy Puyol. Puyol's D.O.B.. Twitter. August 6, 2018.
  3. Kerlyn "Nista". Joseph . Rawsrvnt: In Raw Form . SOUL Magazine. September 5, 2015. October 10, 2010. 17. 38–9.
  4. Web site: Eddy Puyol. Puyol Family. PuyolFamily.com. September 5, 2015.
  5. Web site: Eddy Puyol. GLC. GLCKIDS.com. September 5, 2015 .
  6. Web site: Tony. Cummings. Rawsrvnt: Groundbreaking hip-hop worship from a Florida-based rapper. Cross Rhythms. August 6, 2018. March 31, 2007.
  7. Web site: Rapzilla. Rawsrvnt lands theme song for Christian Music's largest annual musical tour. Rapzilla. August 6, 2018. November 11, 2008.
  8. Web site: Rapzilla. Rawsrvnt re-releases No Ordinary Love. Rapzilla. August 6, 2018. March 1, 2011.
  9. Web site: WPBF. Rapper Sends Music Message. YouTube. August 6, 2018. November 22, 2012.
  10. Web site: Steven. Solis. Rawsrvnt featured on The Story Tour. Rapzilla. August 6, 2018. November 17, 2011.
  11. Web site: GMA Dove Awards. The Story Tour at the 43rd Annual Dove Awards. YouTube. August 6, 2018. April 28, 2012.
  12. Web site: Rawsrvnt.com. Hip-Hop Worship artist Rawsrvnt teams with Jamaican reggae star St. Matthew for Soul Deep hybrid EP. Rawsrvnt.com. August 6, 2018. July 15, 2016.
  13. Web site: Jam The Hype. Netherlands couple dances down the wedding aisle to Rawsrvnt's "I Gotta Feeling/Take It All". Jam The Hype. August 6, 2018. November 8, 2012.
  14. Web site: WyCkson. Just & Jonn Wedding Entrance Dance. YouTube. August 6, 2018. October 30, 2012.
  15. Web site: Sketch the Journalist. Chris Tomlin Retains DJ Promote for "Burning Lights" Tour. Jam The Hype. August 6, 2018. February 4, 2013.
  16. Web site: Sketch the Journalist. Christian hip-hop star to appear on Omarosa's reality show. Houston Chronicle. July 31, 2018. November 23, 2011.
  17. Web site: TV One (U.S. TV network). Rawsrvnt & Omarosa on Donald J. Trump presents The Ultimate Merger. YouTube. July 31, 2018. November 1, 2011.
  18. Web site: Sketch the Journalist. Houston gospel singer Yolanda Adams and Christian rapper Rawsrvnt perform at Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade's 30th birthday brunch. Houston Chronicle. July 31, 2018. January 17, 2012.
  19. Web site: Gluck, Jeff. Bristol: NASCAR Drivers pick Theme Songs for 2011 Night Race. SB Nation. July 31, 2018. August 26, 2011.
  20. Web site: Sketch the Journalist. Christian rapper Rawsrvnt rocks NASCAR. Houston Chronicle. July 31, 2018. November 23, 2011.
  21. Web site: Rawsrvnt.com. Rawsrvnt's "There Go That Man" featured on ESPN's "First Take" during NBA Finals. Rawsrvnt.com. July 31, 2018. June 1, 2017.
  22. Web site: Rawsrvnt.com. ESPN + NBA + Rawsrvnt's "There Go That Man" = A Winning Team. Rawsrvnt.com. July 31, 2018. June 27, 2017.
  23. Web site: Sketch the Journalist. Rawsrvnt gets married with a ceremony that blends Christianity and hip hop. Holy Culture. September 5, 2015. July 29, 2014.
  24. Web site: Leslie. Streeter. Gardens Christian rapper, TV bachelor finally merges with his match . The Palm Beach Post. September 5, 2015. August 4, 2014.
  25. Web site: Ava Marie Puyol. Eddy Puyol. Instagram. September 5, 2015. April 4, 2015.
  26. Web site: Olivia Grace Puyol. Eddy Puyol. Instagram. July 22, 2016. July 21, 2016.
  27. Web site: Sketch the Journalist. New visual for Rawsrvnt's "On the Line" feat. Japhia Life shares serene/street vibe with lyrics that are deeper than they first appear. Rawsrvnt.com. July 29, 2018. July 9, 2018.
  28. Web site: Eddy Puyol. Divorced and Co-Parenting. Rawsrvnt.com. March 18, 2020. March 18, 2020.
  29. Web site: Eddy Puyol. Bounce Back Champs. Instagram. March 20, 2023. March 11, 2023.

External links