Meet Group 1 Crew
Mar 13th, 2009 by admin
Three of the most beautiful, diverse and eclectic young people you’ll ever meet can currently be found on stage at the Revolve Tour. No matter where they go, Manwell, Blanca, and Pablo stand out in a crowd with their out-of-the-box fashion sense, rap/rock/soul/funk music and faith-filled, God-sized dreams. But life wasn’t always so sunny for this fascinating trio…
Before Group 1 Crew was Group 1 Crew, Manwell, Blanca, and Pablo found themselves living very different and unsatisfying lives. “Before I discovered music, I was a mess,” group emcee Manwell confesses. “I was a horrible kid. I was kicked out of three schools, did the whole crime thing—I robbed, stole, traded merchandise, etc. Teachers were scared of me, my family was disappointed in me…I didn’t even like me.”
Meanwhile, lead singer Blanca was struggling through her own childhood issues, “My dad was a member of the Latin Kings. He left my mother, brother and me alone with nothing when I was seven. All we had was each other.” Her parents got divorced and she was also sexually abused by an outside family member.
Pablo’s life as a pastor’s son in Guatemala wasn’t perfect either. After getting involved in drugs, alcohol and the bad crowd, a car accident woke him up. “After walking away from a crash that should have killed me, I suddenly got a whole different perspective on life,” says Pablo. “Life is short and I wanted to start making something of myself.”
United by their love for music, the trio eventually came together through a Bible study after college. Released on Fervent Records, their debut album won a Dove award and helped pave the way for their current project, Ordinary Dreamers, on which the group encourages other young people to pursue their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.
“We’re still ordinary people, but we’re doing extraordinary things,” Manwell says. “That’s an oxymoron, but it’s made so that the dreamer mentality can be on typical people’s minds. Nobody’s born a rock star. Nobody’s born famous. It’s just normal people who’ve done amazing things and are now esteemed for those amazing things. We feel that’s everyone. Everyone has that possibility.”
The members of Group 1 Crew overcame outstanding odds to be the trio that they are today. They are passionate about letting the world know that you can make your dreams come true, as well. Check them out on the Revolve Tour at a city near you! For more information, visit www.group1crew.com.
You guys are so awesome. I can’t wait to hear you at revole. I love this story and i love this part right here. “Life is short and I wanted to start making something of myself.” I love that!!
hey! i heard you guys at revolve last year and I loved you guys! i got your cd and its AMAZING! i cant wait to hear you again this coming year! its gunna be alot of fun!
hey i love your songs there great i had a blast lissening to you guys hope i see you soon xoxo!!! loveing GOD loveing you
You guyz were nutz at REVOLVE!! i bought your cd without even thinking bout it.. you guys are such an inspiration for me! you help me to keep moving forward and your lyrics seem like they were written just for me!!
… well thanks group 1 crew for letting GOD open your eyes and grasp your hand and lead you to music cuz without you who knows if i’d still be here..
stay amazing,
mariah joy
YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant wait till we can see you at revolve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU
Dear, GRoup 1 crew,
I know thats not your names but you know. I wanted to thank you for helping me be introduced to christain rap . I used to think that rap was just all bad but when i heard you i realized that it is not all bad. I also found out that I sorta Engoy it sometimes but down roots nomatter what eople say Ive allways been sorta a “country music girl”.
sincearly your fan, ?????
kelsie do you think the
spelling of my name is uniqe.
I absolutely love you guys! We saw you in Rochester for the first time. I am an old fart and I get head aches from loud music….but you guys were awesome. My three daughters loved you guys and we are hooked! I listen to your CD at work even! I loved this testimony and wish that my girls could have heard it at the Revolve Tour. God is in the business of changing lives and we never get tired of hearing that!!! God Bless all three of you in your ministry of music!
i really love you there is alot of sings that i love and you are one of the best ones that i like
Hey Guys and Gal (Blanca, lol)-
I absolutely love Christian rap but, you took it and totally made it your own and I think that is totally awesome. I have always wanted to go into the music industry but have always been told not to bother because not very many people make it big. I don’t really care if I make it big…I just want to make a difference. I actually rap myself and I am learning to play the guitar. I am graduating this spring and because of you guys I am not giving up on my dream. Thank you for letting God work through you guys in such amazing ways.
I saw you guysat the rochester revolve tour.. I think your music and your life stories are amazing. You were one of the many people at revolve tour that helped me grow closer to god and share my own hard times. I thank you so much for helping girls my age everywhere!
<3 ashlie
(from long island)
Group 1 Crew is like my idol if i would ever get the chance to meet them it would be the most amazing day of my LIfe(besides the day i first connected to god of coarse
hey i loved the revolve tour and it was amazing!!!!!!!
I just love love love Group 1 crew. You guys rock and I love your music. I went this year to the Reveolve tour with my Mom and seeing you guys for the first time rocked. Keep on prasin!!!!!! God Bless
Rebekah, age 14 from North Carolina.
Wow! That is a great story. It makes you realize that even though you are a christian, you’re not perfect and your past doesn’t matter. You can be famous and have hit selling records, but on the inside you are just a regular person like everyone else with a few extras. I just wanted to say I didn’t really listen to christian music, except for in my youth group, until I found this awsome group. In my opinion you can like any style of music, and still like Group 1 Crew. You guys are extremely awsome and have rockin’ music.
I LOVE YOU AND YOUR MUSIC. YOUR STORY WAS VERY INSPIRING. I CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT REVOLVE TOUR.
GROUP 1 CREW,
You guys are soooo amazing!!! You can tell that God is definitely an awesome God through what he did though you guys! i’m so glad i came to the revolve tour this year, so that i could have Christina music that i luv! Thanks sooo much!!
Luv u guys,
~Autumn~
I mean Christian music in what i said before!! lol!!
~Autumn~
Dear Group 1 Crew,
You guys are my inspiration I LOVE you!
your #1 fan,
Haley
Hey yall’s is so tight u anit no joke
I absolutely love Group 1 Crew! Their music is awesome and they are all so cool and talented. I can’t wait to see them at the next Revolve Tour!
I love you guyes!!! Thank you sooo much for introudicing me into your genra of music I absolutly LOVE your song iContact!!!!
A sis in CHRIST,
Jessica
You guys are a great inspiration. I never liked listening to rap because either I couldn’t understand it or it was offensive. Your songs are uplifting and its cool to listen to rap that doesn’t tell me i’m horrible.
Thanks SO much!!!
Amber ♥
Hey guys,
I loved your music at the Revolve Tour! I hope you come 2 it next year! You guys are such an inspiration to me, keep being awesome!
-Kadin
I went to my first revolve tour this past year and heard you for the first time. AMAZING!!!!!!!! Your cd puts me in such a great mood. Thanks so much for everything, and keep doing what you’re doing!
Love Hannah
Hey G1C!,
I just wanted to say you guys are amazing! I love every song you have!! I even did a magazine about you for a school project! And during the Revolve Tour I am going to give you a copy. I will be at the very first concert of the tour in Columbus, Oh on Sep. 11-12, 2009.. Can’t wait to see you guys there!
Lots of Love,
Emily =)
Hey u guys i came an saw yall in Greensboro,NC in January 2009!!! I love the whole rap style but a lot of it is really bad. But with u guys i dont have to worry about what God thinks!!!! ILY stay safe!!!!!
I LUV U GUYS!!! <3
Jesus is 4Real!
Hey *soccerchic*, how come, “a lot of it is bad?”That is what u said, WHY??? how is it bad?!?! it is not!! plus, we do have to worry about what God thinks!! Are u even a christian??!!!
Hey! You guys are awesome! Everyone in my youth group loves you! You are big roll modles for us! Keep shanring your faith! Thank you so much!!
Hey Guys,
You guys are so inspiring! I love you all!!! Thank You for just being you and being what you do. You guys understand what us teens are going through, Oh Ya!!!
-AnInspiredChildOfGod