A musical movement that seeks to place traditional gospel, worship, hip-hop and contemporary culture in the same room is expanding its reach. BRVNDONP, the founder and creative force behind Anthem Nights, has announced plans to establish hubs in major cities around the world, including Chicago, Atlanta, London and cities across Africa, as the project's latest release gains attention on streaming platforms.
Anthem Nights is not simply a concert series. For BRVNDONP, it is a gathering where creators can worship, sing and make music together. «Anthem Nights is really an event for creators to just come together and worship and sing and create an amazing moment in time», he said. «And songs come from it.» That creative process has already produced new music, most recently «Thank You Chant», a collaboration with gospel singer Lisa Knowles-Smith.
Knowles-Smith, known for her work in the traditional quartet tradition, described the Anthem Nights atmosphere as a rare convergence of styles that are not usually placed side by side. «You kind of get old school, new school, trap, worship», she said. «It's all in one conglomerate of a moment.» That mix was part of what drew her to the project. She said she wanted to be part of something larger than herself while also protecting the traditional quartet sound that has shaped her musical identity. «I appreciate him for allowing me space to be myself in their world», she said.
The collaboration also introduced Knowles-Smith to a younger audience. She recalled attending an Anthem Nights event where young people stood and danced throughout the experience, joking that she wondered whether «Auntie» would be allowed to join in. The moment illustrated the intergenerational appeal that BRVNDONP hopes to cultivate as the movement grows.
The idea for «Thank You Chant» took shape after BRVNDONP noticed a music clip gaining traction online. He recorded a verse, and the concept gradually developed into a full song. After hearing Knowles-Smith's music, he knew he wanted her involved, though he was not sure how the connection would come about. «God just brought it together at the right moment», he said. The song is now available across streaming platforms.
With Anthem Nights, BRVNDONP is aiming to create space for different generations, musical styles and expressions of faith to meet. The planned expansion to Chicago, Atlanta, London and cities across Africa signals an ambition to turn a local gathering into a global network of creative worship. The vision also includes Los Angeles, which was added to the list during a conversation between Knowles-Smith and media host Erica Campbell.
The project arrives at a time when conversations about the relationship between faith and contemporary culture continue to draw interest across religious and artistic communities. By bringing together gospel veterans and younger artists, Anthem Nights reflects a broader effort to bridge generational and stylistic divides without asking either side to abandon its identity. For Knowles-Smith, that balance is personal: she remains committed to the quartet tradition while welcoming the chance to reach listeners who might not otherwise encounter it.
As «Thank You Chant» circulates and plans for new Anthem Nights hubs move forward, BRVNDONP's experiment in blending worship with hip-hop and modern culture is testing whether a single event can hold multiple musical languages at once. The answer, so far, appears to be yes — and the movement is only beginning to scale.