By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Gospel music balladeer Darwin Hobbs is making way for his fifth recording project, aptly titled 'Free,' set for release Aug. 26.

The title of the new opus, which will be released on his newly-formed production company, Liaison Records in partnership with Tyscot Records, is meant in the very figurative way.

As the centerpiece of 'Free,' the Cincinnati native addresses finally being able to come to terms with the sexual abuse he experienced as a child.

Now at the age of 40, he decided to share publicly his past of childhood sexual abuse with his newfound sense of freedom. The project puts an exclamation point on his personal statement of having been set free from the shackles of molestation.

"This album is to date, the absolute most accurate depiction of who I am as an artist, a worshipper and a human being," Hobbs said of the 12-track praise & worship collection. "It's the very first album I've recorded as a free man."

"Never before have I walked in such transparency or nakedness as it pertains to the most private parts of my life," he continued. "For years, I've been bound by the haunting reality of the past. It's almost as if I'd been under the restriction of a gag order placed on me - as if I was walking through an earthly version of hell. Because of contractual obligations, I often had no choice but to record albums from unhealthy places in my heart. But God's been faithful, He never left me. And just as He promised, 'If I walked in truth, He'll set me free.'"

Hobbs gained moderate mainstream attention with his 2000 album, 'Vertical,' in which he covered the Luther Vandross classic ballad 'So Amazing.'

Years before, the sought after Praise & Worship singer – a former worship leader of the Atlanta mega-church New Birth Cathedral – gained a following because of his vocal capabilities, which was often compared to Vandross.

Having sung for several years with a roster of "Who's Who" of modern gospel and pop music with artists such as CeCe Winans, Michael W. Smith, Michael McDonald, and Donnie McClurkin, among others, he is well-respected by many in the gospel/ Christian community and beyond.

After Hobbs and his wife Traci moved to Nashville, he was signed to EMI Gospel where he released four albums including his successful 1999 debut, 'Mercy,' the sophomore follow-up, 'Vertical,' released in 2001, selling over 100,000 copies, followed by 'Broken' and the compilation, 'The Best of Darwin Hobbs.'


On 'Free,' he makes his debut as a songwriter – penning three songs, including the title track which was written on the eve of Hobbs breaking his silence to his mother about a 30 year secret of sexual abuse.

The perpetrator was her now deceased husband.

While the record label is prepping the single to be serviced to gospel radio in June, a bonus track has already surfaced on the Top 20 of playlists across the nation; 'He's Able' -- written and produced by gospel music dynamo and Hobbs' labelmate Deitrick Haddon.