Trin-i-tee 5:7 knows about facing the storms of life. The group -comprised of Chanelle Haynes, Angel Taylor, and Adrian Anderson—had to hold on to their faith as two of the girls’ native New Orleans was submerged in 2005 due to the ravaging effects of Hurricane Katrina.  Now that they’ve weathered the storms of life, gotten back up, and scored one of the biggest comebacks in urban gospel music, the best-selling female trio is poised to continue to ride this new wave of success with T57 (Deluxe Edition), an updated, expanded version of the group’s chart-topping, award-winning fourth album.  

With an even brighter outlook on their career, Trin-i-tee 5:7 went to great lengths to make T57 (Deluxe Edition) an apt reflection of where the platinum-selling group stands today. The enhanced disc is their first in four years, as well as their debut project under the management of Mathew Knowles’ Music World Entertainment and its gospel division Spirit Rising Music.  

T57 (Deluxe Edition) flaunts all the style and musical edginess that first made Trin-i-tee 5:7 a breakthrough act in the late ‘90s.  Chanelle, Angel and Adrian dispense 15 memorable tracks dealing with everyday situations wrapped in musical elements spanning R&B, soul, hip-hop, and gospel.  Chanelle says that longtime fans of the threesome will be pleased with the album, especially the group’s musical progression. “What you’re going to hear on this album is an evolution,” she says. “You’ll hear how we’ve grown. Not only do we sing about our relationship with God, but about actual life experiences as young women. This album is us. What you’ll find on T57 (Deluxe Edition) is the DNA of Trin-i-tee 5:7.” 

The three women take much of the songwriting credits on the project—a telltale sign that T57 (Deluxe Edition) is an artistic snapshot of the group. To help them reach new heights, Trin-i-tee 5:7 enlisted the help of a wide array of hit-making producers, including beatmeister Walter Milsap (Alicia Keys, Usher, Yolanda Adams), who delivered the disc’s first single, the floor-stomping “Listen,” as well as two other unforgettable songs, the heartfelt “I Need You” and the uplifting anthem “Beautiful Girl.” 

The who’s who of collaborators that round out the staggering talent assembled for T57 (Deluxe Edition) include GRAMMY®-winning veteran Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige), Music World Entertainment’s in-house production team The Bama Boyz (Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé), Solange Knowles (Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams), DJ Static (Wordsworth, Black Moon), and Armando Colon, a.k.a. “The Beat General” (Shaggy, Das EFX). 

Jerkins mans the boards for the infectious “Get Away,” a horn-drenched banger that’s also the definite highlight of this re-released edition of T57. The rhythmic number serves as a reminder of God’s constant pursuit of His children—a track written from his perspective describing His unconditional love and grace unto us.   

Trin-i-tee 5:7 continues to express no fear in tackling songs about the romantic relationship between a man and a woman. Not afraid to hit the listener hard from beat one, “I Still Love You” is sung from the perspective of a brokenhearted woman who just can’t get over her man. Merging a spiritual message over a classic soul sound, the song is cleverly penned and will find many women nodding heads in agreement. 

Another standout track comes from the pen of Solange Knowles. “Like U” is a catchy urban track about how an earthly relationship can’t compare to a spiritual one. The R&B-tinged song samples maestro Richard Smallwood’s classic “I Love the Lord” over a bed of slick beats.   “We’ve touched on topics that you don’t typically hear mentioned in songs,” Adrian says. “There’s nothing wrong with having a relationship. As Christian women, we have them and we learn from them. This song is a reminder that we as women need to keep the big picture in mind; we can’t make permanent decisions based on temporary situations.” 

Another scorcher is the urban, beat-banging “God’s Triangle.” The James Brown-influenced track will find the listener “stuck in the middle” of a fabulous song. “U Saved Me,” the mega-hit from noted producer and songwriter R. Kelly, gets a tasteful makeover like only the girls can deliver. 

A beautiful worship song, “I Will Lift,” is a solemn and moving cut. Written from the heart of Angel, the song gives us a glimpse into a discussion she had with the Lord. “When I wrote the song,” Angel says, “I was having a conversation with God telling Him what I thought about Him and how I feel about Him. When I wrote it, I was truly expressing my heart to my Heavenly Father.”  The transparency of the song is quite touching. 

T57 (Deluxe Edition) is made complete by two other new cuts, “It Wasn’t Me” and “You’re Holy.” The former is The Beat General’s gift to the world, a one-of-a-kind head-bobber that Trin-i-tee 5:7 makes their own, while the latter is a tender, touching worship ballad that declares with conviction how much the girls need God in their lives. 

In that same vein, especially in light of their braving through life-altering tempest in New Orleans, the trio thought it would be fitting to record Doug Miller’s popular church tune, “My Soul Is Anchored.”  Following their trial, the song seems more than appropriate. With the addition of female voices, this soaring ballad is taken to unbelievable heights. Perhaps it’s the deeply personal nature of the lyrics that’s the cause of such a powerful performance. Two of the group’s members were personally affected by Hurricane Katrina.  “Our families lost their homes—everything,” Angel says. “We lost all of our photo albums growing up and memories. But we were so glad that our families all survived. Although I wasn’t there at the time, I did have to go through that experience with them. It was hard not being able to get there to be with them. Because of the hurricane, our family has definitely gotten closer and stronger.” 

Chanelle was present during the hurricane and felt the devastation firsthand. “It’s a unique situation to be in when you’ve been stripped of all your worldly possessions,” she reflects. “At that point, you realize what really matters. When I was young, I would play with my brothers and we would tease each other, but when I didn’t hear from them for three days, my whole world stopped.”  She continues: “Here I am, just left my fancy apartment in L.A. by the sea a few days earlier, and then only a few days later, I’m lying on a stranger’s floor. Just that fast, everything was gone. I’m grateful to God for bringing me through. And I’m so grateful for the support of my two friends.” 

Outside of the group’s relationship with God, it’s been the friendship these three women share that has been the true strength of Trin-i-tee 5:7. Original members Angel and Chanelle met in New Orleans while in high school. After the departure of a group member, they tapped Adrian, who had been their makeup artist, as the replacement. With the changes and the tests behind them, now they’re ready to take the industry by storm. 

Trin-i-tee 5:7 is the best-selling female trio in gospel. Having released their first project in 1998, they’ve already sold more than 2 million units with their first three projects—their eponymous debut, Spiritual Love, and The Kiss. But the group isn’t awestruck by their material successes. Their goal is to inspire and spread God’s love, and T57 (Deluxe Edition) is an exemplary musical testimony.  “We’re trying to reach people around the world for Christ,” Adrian says. “No matter where we live on the planet, we deal with the same issues; everybody goes through something. When you reach inside yourself, there are so many others that feel the same way you do. It’s just that God has given us an opportunity to speak for millions of other people. We don’t take that lightly.”