Birthed out of one of the busiest times of her life,
Jackie Hill Perry will release her sophomore album
Crescendo (Humble Beast, Fair Trade Services) on May 11. The rapper, writer, preacher and poet presents a 14-piece collection of musical art that serves to reveal a journey that she has taken personally, spiritually and artistically. Amidst the rich tapestry of sounds, beats and words, the constant thread running through the growth-aligning
Crescendo centers on Perry's sense of brokenness entrusted to God's care.
"A crescendo should be lowered at some point to grow," explains Perry. "It needs to include a place of lament. The truth of the Christian walk is weakness: It's riddled with suffering. I wanted an album that would carry the idea that how, when you grow in faith in Christ, your life gets louder. I wanted to make that connection: Our lives should be a constant crescendo. We should be growing in love for God and our neighbor. This is really a story about what it's like to grow."
Notable tracks found on
Crescendo include, but are not limited to the urging first single "Fall Away," the courageous anthem "Woman" and the vulnerably driven "Mustard Seed." No Ways Tired" finds Perry taking her cue (and her title) from the gospel classic by the Rev. James Cleveland, "I Don't Feel No Ways Tired" while "Lamentations," a track that features Latifah Alattas of Page CXVI found its origin in one of the lowest parts of Perry's life.
In the spirit of growth and change, Perry says "there's a big difference when you write a record as a 24 year old as opposed to a 28 year old. I approach melody, content and rapping differently. I've been five years married now. I have a toddler. I'm in a different season and grateful that it took so long because it allowed me time to mature as a woman first."
Crescendo will be available at
Apple Music,
Spotify and
Amazon.
Crescendo track listing:
1. Lamentations
2. Hush
3. No Ways Tired
4. Fall Away
5. Melodies
6. Thy Neighbor
7. Hymn
8. Mustard Seed
9. From Heaven
10. Woman
11. Restless
12. Maranatha
13. Crescendo
14. Reprise
