NRT's CHH contributor Joshua Galla collects what's new in Christian Hip-Hop and Urban Soul for the week of Friday, February 19, 2021. (Photo: Derek Minor)
Each week, dozens of singles and a handful of projects are released in the Christian Hip-Hop (CHH) and Urban Soul spaces. Below, we listen to a few highlights and list the rest for your own discovery. As always, follow our New Christian Rap & Hip Hop playlist on Spotify and Apple Music to listen to all the latest.
Derek Minor - "Clean" Reflection Music Group's (RMG) co-owner releases his first single of 2021, titled "Clean." The single speaks to beginning with a clean slate of sorts in 2021 since 2020 was quite the "dumpster fire" of a year for most. Minor calls his listeners to leave the past behind and begin anew. Self-produced, Minor is truly coming into his own as an elite rapper and producer collectively. The vibe is chill, yet presents classic hard-hitting bars from Minor as well as crisp rhyme schemes beginning to end. Minor is only getting started in 2021 as it won't be long before our ears fill with additional hip-hop bops from one of the main influencers in CHH.
NF - "Clouds"
Nate "NF" Feuerstein returns with force in 2021 with not only the "I'm going to be a dad" announcement, but promise of a mixtape dropping on March 26. The first single and title of the mixtape "Clouds" dropped today as a bit of a surprise to fans everywhere. Longtime friend Tommee Profitt produced the track as these two go together like Batman and Robin. One thing I absolutely love about the instrumentation behind the song is the use of several strings, brass, and even a choir. Similar to Baskin Robbins, there seem to be 101 layers behind the production of "Clouds." As usual, the visuals are quite cinematic and embrace who NF represents. In a short 11 hours, the video has nearly 1.5 million views. Definitely, one to check out!
Limoblaze - "Mind"
Afrobeats artisan Limoblaze has been dominating music as of late. First, his collab EP with Da' T.R.U.T.H. last year titled, Bridges, then hot new tracks such as "Mind." His sound is refreshing, optimistic, and a breath of fresh air while otherwise trap music still smothers the scene. A driving snare guides the tone for the track while commanding listeners to move their bodies in sync. Infused with themes of love and devotion, the track speaks to how our loved ones always infiltrate each other's minds leaving a lasting impression. A perfect bop for the weekend, go and enjoy!
