The Season of Love | Posted May-06-2015
It has been a minute since we have heard from Chris Cobbins, but the wait is over. With August Season (Take One), Cobbins is back with his high energy sound that we have come to know and love. This EP is eight tracks of hard hitting bass, on point vocals and, most importantly, a groove that keeps you bobbing your head.
The album opens with the hard-hitting "Up." This is classic Chris Cobbins. This was refreshing, as some artists come back after a long hiatus with a new sound. Cobbins' fans will be happy that he remains the same. The song features a solid verse by Jus B which adds to its hard-hitting nature.
Cobbins has found a formula that works. His music has mass appeal, yet he still pushes limits by playing with sounds and topics. "McFly" and "Whoa!" have a dubstep feel, while "Hitman" and "Backseat Driver" have a standard EDM vibe about them, and "You Care" and "You da One" have a slower tempo.
As far as topics, the album deals with various types of relationships. Whether it's the relationship we have with God, the relationship that God has with us or relationships in general, Cobbins touches on them all.
Closing Thoughts:
It is good to hear from Chris Cobbins again. This album was clearly a labor of love. Some may question a song title like "Lover [4 the Night]," but then again those same people may question Song of Solomon and its place in the Bible. Cobbins delivers a good album with August Season (Take One), and I for one look forward to Take Two.
Telling Redemption Stories | Posted May-12-2015
Beacon Light, the young Grand Rapids, MI native, is back with what could only be described as a young man's story of redemption. Open Eyes is evidence that the church is becoming bolder in telling the truth and, although some may be not ready to hear the truth, young artists are beginning to infuse a level of reality into their artistry that was once considered taboo.
On first listen I was surprised at a few things-- some negative, some positive. On the negative side, I was surprised at how much "Open Eyes (Intro)" sounded like another young Michigan native, namely NF. On the turn up track "YWNTMD," Beacon's sound changes and morphs to that of Skrip, and on "Overload" it sounds like Andy Mineo showed up. I'm not sure if this speaks to a young man trying different styles to find his niche, or to the current homogeneity of Christian Hip Hop.
But this album is not just about style. Beacon shares his heart. This is the heart of hip hop: challenge your listeners, tell the truth and do not be afraid. On "Overload," he talks about the overwhelming love of Christ that overloaded his life. With "Heal Me," Beacon lays out struggles with his faith, the hurt of a daughter who died and the divorce of his parents. He lays the pain inside in front of the cross and asks Jesus to heal him and all of the broken hearts that are in the church and around the church. This is an open prayer that we can all pray.
The boldness is front and center on "Color Blind." It is not common for race relations to be talked about in Christian music, and it is even less common for a white man to ask forgiveness for the actions of his ancestral past regardless of his direct involvement. The song resonated with me given my own personal history.
In what is the most honest and heartbreaking track I've listened to since Tedashii's "Chase," "Jesus Loves Me" is Beacon's personal testimony. It goes from being raised the church, the damage done when he was molested, the questions of whether or not Jesus loved him during this time and then the pain that went through the family when his parents were divorced. It is a heart wrenching song, then there is hope in the voice singing the children's song: "Yes, Jesus loves me / Yes, Jesus loves me / Yes, Jesus loves me / the bible tells me so." I found my heart beating faster and my emotions rising as I listened, leading to the prayer of faith and the moment of redemption for both Beacon and the album.
Closing Thoughts:
I applaud Beacon Light for his willingness to share openly and to be honest about his past. This may not sound any different than any other general market hip hop, however, Beacon Light does not glorify his past, but glorifies the God that saved him and redeemed him from his past. If you have been struggling with your faith in any way, shape or form, this album carried a clear message of redemption in a young man, and a message of redemption that you too can grab a hold of, pray for Jesus to heal you and know that He loves you.
A House With Many Rooms | Posted May-12-2015
I had the pleasure to review NF's self-titled EP back in August and honestly, I was surprised to see a full length album so soon after. The latest offering, Mansion, is a house filled with many rooms. One room contains hard hitting beats, another contains melodic hooks, a third contains metaphoric melancholy and a fourth is filled with rage. These rooms define the artist that is NF, each room a side to his delivery.
The title track takes us to each of these rooms. We hear the pain and anguish of a young man who has lived more life in his first 24 years than most of us would care to live in our entire life— from physical abuse to a mother who was taken from him at a young age by a drug overdose. Walls have built up over the years compartmentalizing his life to stay safe, to avoid being honest and real, but now he is opening the doors to let the grace of God overcome the fear.
The new album contains two track from the EP, "All I Have" and "Wake Up." The production ethics of these tracks along with the lyrical content and the beats/instrumentals used make it fairly clear that they were intended for this album all along.
Perhaps the most impressive part of this album is the ability for a young man to be brutally honest. In a culture where the vulnerability of men is frowned about, NF covers topics such as broken relationships in "Wait," depression and fear in "Face It," and the real motivation behind the man in "Motivated." Each song is a doorway into another room in the mansion.
The most worshipful moments in the album come as the rage resides and rest and faith are explored in "I'll Keep On" and "Can You Hold Me." "I'll Keep On" is an acoustic guitar driven, melodic song featuring Jeremiah Carlson of The Neverclaim. The song builds throughout and ends in a worshipful chorus singing "I'll Keep On." On "Can You Hold Me," NF flexes his vocal muscles alongside the haunting tones of Britt Nicole. This is the end, the moment of surrender on the album.
Closing Thoughts:
When I first received the album, I was somewhat disappointed that only 7 months after the self-titled EP Mansion only had nine new songs. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the two repeats fit so well within the storyline of the album. The album is a step in the right direction for the young artist and bodes well for future projects as he grows both lyrically and spiritually.
Song to Download Now:
"I'll Keep On (Feat. Jeremiah Carlson)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
An Honest Answer | Posted March-02-2015
With his sixth album, No Filter, Json brings us an album filled with honesty about his identity and our identity alongside anthems that we can shout to make a defining statement of who we are according to the Word of God. I enjoyed reviewing this album since Json's fourth album Growing Pains was one of the first albums I ever reviewed, and I have followed his progression closely since. No Filter carries a clear theme throughout, similar to what Growing Pains did, and although not as personal (by Json's own admittance), the album is powerful.
The majority of the album was produced over a period of five days at a studio in Miami. The main team working on the album was Json, J.R., D-Flow, Mashell Leroy and G-Roc. This brings a cohesiveness to the album that wasn't quite there with Braille. Another difference in the production on this album from previous installments was that J.R. did most of the recording, which both allowed Json to flow in the studio while also pushing him in terms of lyrical delivery. This is evident on "Get It Got It." Even though it maintains Json's signature sound, he plays with cadence throughout the song, always maintaining your interest like a good public speaker.
The heart of the album is about tearing away the facades that we build up, taking off the many filters that we put on our lives. "Light Up" is a cry for our true selves to be shown, to not live in a lie any longer. A clear statement is "You can be yourself, because everyone else is already taken." "Identity" continues to follow this message. It is about understanding our identity in Christ instead of the identity that is placed upon us. Jai features on the hook, and the depth and soulfulness of her vocals rounds out this heart wrenching song.
The highlight on the album for myself is "Remember." It is a song reminiscing mostly about the early nineties. The song has a laid back, neo-soul feel, yet the bass still hits hard. J.R. shows up on the hook, and as always, he takes the song to the perfect place.
The album transitions into songs that are statements about God and how his identity is our identity. The first is the heart hitting "My G," followed by "Stunna" and "Love to Do It." "Love to Do It" rocks a west coast feeling, featuring upcoming west coast rapper Keno Camp. This track just begs to be cranked up with the windows rolled down (if I could rock hydraulics on the family SUV, this would be the song to do it to).
The album ends with "Stronger" and features Hillary Jane on the hook. This song once again tells us where our strength can be found. It is a perfect ending to this album.
Closing Thoughts:
I am a fan of Json, and this album didn't let me down. I am also a big fan of honesty and reality. I like when an artist can unpack their feelings into beautiful music that comforts and soothes yet gives us a chance to cheer. Json gives us a glimpse into his past with this album, and by letting us see his past, he allows us to see our future in Christ. The fact that two of the most personal songs any artist has ever released, "Secrets Part 1" and "Secrets Part 2," make another appearance as bonus tracks on this album, shows the commitment that Json has to being open and honest about his life and struggles, strengthening the juxtaposition they create against songs like "Stronger" and "Identity."
Soundtrack for the Renegades | Posted February-15-2015
A renegade is a person that leave one group and joins another that opposes it, or a person that causes trouble and cannot be controlled. As Christians, we have become renegades to our sinful nature, opposing sin and our former sinful nature at every turn. We are called to cause trouble for the enemy. Skrip's latest album, Renegades Never Die, is a soundtrack for that kind of renegade. The album glorifies God and provides the renegade within each of us with turn up anthems.
The album opens with "iDols." This theme has been very common in Christian Hip Hop lately, the idea of living for God and not for ourselves. It's a song that speaks to the part of us that would rather build our own kingdom than that of God. With the album starting safely, I was sure that it would begin to challenge the listener as it carried on.
The production quality of the album is top notch throughout, and Skrip's artistic vision on this album was carried out with precision. It continues to impress me that Christian artists are no longer happy with maintaining a status quo. The bass is low, the beat hits hard and there is just enough gimmick on the album to keep things interesting. "How We Do It" features a nice touch of Spanish and beat boxing, and "LYMMD" features Brazilian rapper Pregador Luo. It is touches like this that show how Skrip is pushing limits with his music.
Forgoing the excessive sampling that was used on his last album, Skrip focuses on his own lyrics on Renegades. "When the Beat Drop" and "Right Now" are tracks where Skrip flexes his lyrical muscles.
Another nice touch on the album is the non-homogenous sound. Each track brings a different flavor. "Heir in the Air" and "Tonight" bring an EDM vibe that will garner attention from a new audience. "Memorandum feat. Social Club" has a laid back vibe and a challenging message, and "I Wanna Go There" is a worshipful track that talks about the reality of the Christian walk and the ultimate goal of Heaven.
Closing Thoughts:
Renegades Never Die provides fans of Skrip with the sound of an artist who has matured since his last album two years ago. The album also welcomes newcomers to Skrip by sounding wide and varying without seeming messy. Skrip is an honest artist. His faith is clearly represented, and his attention to detail is established throughout the album. There are very few artists who have made such a leap in their music between two albums. Skrip has proven that being a renegade, although scary, can truly pay off in the end.
Song to Download Now:
"Memorandum feat. Social Club" (Get it on iTunes here.)
No Gimmicks | Posted January-26-2015
J-Giles Son can only be described in one way: grinder. Anyone who drops five full length albums in less than two years, with four being released in 2014 alone, deserves the title. Only a man with a true Christian work ethic can continue to write and record on such a consistent basis.
His latest effort, Feels Good Right?, is a solid offering of Christian Hip Hop with a nice mix of real life issues, fun and theology. Sonically, the album combines classic boom-bap, trap and a touch of EDM thrown in for good measure. Lyrically, his style is constant throughout: a classic rapper with no gimmicks in his vocals or in his cadence.
A nice addition to the album is "Feel the Movement." This track is an EDM-style worship track. It is all about feeling the move of God. Surprising it doesn’t feel out of place between the harder hitting "Fuera de Ti" and "Yueh (Remix)." At times big changes in style like that can be jarring and distracting, however, on this album it shows the depth and breadth of the artist.
"Forget It" speaks truth about the real content in non-Christian Hip Hop music. J-Giles himself used to be deeply involved in hip hop culture, even after coming to the knowledge of Christ, however, he realized that the music was not uplifting and his spiritual walk suffered from it. Now in this track he simply says forget it.
Closing Thoughts:
This album is no doubt the result of hard work and an open heart to do work for the Kingdom. The Georgia native shows influence of his birthplace and his current home of South Florida in his music. The beats hit hard, the lyrics flow effortlessly and there is a clear gospel message.
Song to Download Now:
"Feels Good Right? (feat. Wise)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Building a Kingdom for the True King | Posted January-21-2015
Derek Minor is back with his fifth studio album. This journeyman of Christian Hip Hop has been grinding for almost a decade, writing, producing, performing and running his own label, Reflection Music Group. It has been a couple years since he introduced us to Minorville, and now he is all about building a brand new Empire.
Empire-building for most people conjures up images of braggadocio and swagger, however, Minor is dead set on ensuring that the only Empire he is building here is the Empire of God, helping to get the word out that His is the only empire worth building.
The album is full of hard hitting beats, but this doesn't stop it from making you sit back and reflect on who we are serving, think about whose kingdom we are building. No single song does a better job at making us think about this than "Kingdom Come." The song tells a story of a man who lived solely for the purpose of having his own kingdom come, but in the end it was the Kingdom of Heaven that was at hand.
On "Fly" we hear a side of Derek Minor that I have never heard before: singing. With a soulful tone reminiscent of Mali Music, Minor delivers with precision. His vocals on the verse are perfectly balanced with Colton Dixon’s vocals on the chorus. This is an incredible track that should easily find its way into regular playlists.
The highlight of this album for this reviewer is "Party People," which features Social Club. It is to this album what "Loud Music" was to Minorville. The beat hits hard, and you can’t deny yourself the need to jump, dance and shout.
Minor is a highly respected member of the CHH community, which is apparent given the producers who lent a hand and the artists who featured on this album. A majority of the album was produced by Dirty Rice, but Gawvi, Tyshane and Jonny Grand also show up in the credits. Besides Colton Dixon and Social Club, other features include Tedashii, Lecrae, Tony Tillman and B. Cooper.
Closing Thoughts:
The only low point on this album for me was "Who You Know." It just sounded too much like "Manolo" by Trip Lee for me. The rest of the album is truly provoking and, as has become expected, the quality is top notch. A couple of years ago, this would easily have been a solid 5 star album. This shows the growth of Derek Minor and the rest of CHH. What we have here is a perfect start to what is shaping up to be a great year for the genre.
Song to Download Now:
"Party People feat. Social Club" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Rising Again | Posted December-01-2014
After a short hiatus from the music industry, much like the mythical phoenix Trip Lee has risen again. Latest album Rise is a strong return for Trip. His style turned up from previous releases, the hiatus seems to have given the Reach Records artist renewed focus and a new strength. A key focus of this album is truly the re-birth of an industry veteran.
One of the interesting production notes is that producer extraordinaire Gawvi crafted each and every song. With typical Gawvi style, the beats hit hard and there are interesting production notes in each of the tracks. From the intro on "Rise" to the orchestration of the beats on "Manolo," the album is signature Gawvi.
The one thing that hasn't changed about Trip is his ability to turn a phrase and to draw people into the music. He works the mic with perfection on "Shweet." My first reaction was a puzzled look, but the groove is infectious and the message is deeper. The song is all about bragging on God and not on our material possessions. Trip's unique voice combined with the beat put together by Gawvi is really something to behold. The changes in tempo on the track are seamless, and you are continually waiting for the next drop.
"Manolo" may be one of the hardest hitting songs of the year. It is definitely a track on which the listener is immediately engaged when the beat drops. The fact that the song is about the power of the Word of God is a definite bonus.
From the hard-hitting "Manolo" to the melodic "All Rise Up" to the extremely personal "Beautiful Life 2 (Mine)," this album crosses so many sonic and thematic lines. The hooks are tight, and each song tells a story. Speaking of hooks, Dmitri McDowell features on two tracks, adding a wonderfully lyrical touch to the album.
And speaking of features, Lecrae, This'l and Andy Mineo all lend a hand on this one. Mineo features on "Insomniac." This track is like a wild jazz session with Trip and Andy throwing down over some extremely heavy bass. You definitely won't be able to sleep on this track.
Closing Thoughts:
This album is brilliant. From top to bottom, each track keeps you on the edge of your seat, and on each listen you will hear something new. For a lot of us, music provides an underscore throughout our days. However, with this album I encourage you to listen deeply and closely. Hear the message, find the nuances, and use it to Rise over whatever you are facing.
Tradition With a Twist | Posted November-19-2014
When it comes to Christmas music, Christian artists are usually not the first place I look. I enjoy the classics as sung by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and the smooth baritone of Bing Crosby. So when I listened to the new offering from Kim Walker-Smith of Jesus Culture, When Christmas Comes, I was very pleasantly surprised.
Walker-Smith offers a combination of classic Christmas carols such as "Silent Night," "The First Noel" and "O Holy Night" along with what I would deem Christmas favorites like "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "White Christmas."
An interesting addition to a Christmas collection is the Franny Crosby hymn, "Tell Me The Story Of Jesus." The song is tender and worshipful, and Walker-Smith clearly delivers the gospel up front in the album, speaking of the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus right from the start. It is not a hymn I hear very often, but it is perfectly placed as the introduction to this collection of songs.
The only miss for me on this album was "Carol of the Bells." Call me a "Carol of the Bells" snob if you want, but after hearing The Trans-Siberian Orchestra version and David Foster's arrangement, I just feel it is a song that should be treated with a large orchestral sound.
Closing Thoughts:
My favorite part of Christmas is the traditions associated with it. Yes, new traditions can be created, however, overplayed "new" Christmas songs at the expense of classics are the bane of my holiday season, and I always go back to my favorites. This album will be added to the rotation of favorites this year. Kim Walker-Smith treats the classic carols and traditional songs with care, adding just the right amount of her own flavor to the songs to make them quite worshipful.
Changing the Pop Game | Posted October-29-2014
With her sophomore release, Be the Change, Shuree returns with her positive, upbeat, gospel centered sound. The album is reminiscent of the likes of Mandisa and Francesca Battistelli, with a solid pop sound and catchy melodies that you find yourself humming for no apparent reason other than that they make you smile.
The album opens with "Be the Change." It is an upbeat song that would fit neatly as the closing credits to an American Girl movie. The message in the song is clear: God changed your heart, now let that change shine through and be the change in whatever the circumstance. Simple, effective and catchy, all the makings of a great radio song.
Shuree follows this up with "Superstars." It doesn't offer the secular worldview of being a superstar, but rather being God's superstars shining a light into the dark places. It is a clever turn of phrase that is refreshing in this genre. "Heartbeat" is about being in sync with God, how we need to make sure that the rhythm of God's love is moving in and through us, that we are moving in time with the Holy Spirit.
The album slows down with "Listen to Your Heart" which about listening to God's heart and not our own desires— a fitting complement to "Heartbeat." With "Louder Than Words," the sound turns from modern pop to Cyndi Lauper-esque 80s pop. The song is about the power of love, the one thing that speaks louder than words.
The up-tempo "Runaway" closes the album. This track features Manwell Reyes of Group 1 Crew and speaks to running from fear, shame and sin, being free in the freedom Christ has given each and everyone who chooses to believe in Him. It is a perfect call to action at the end of the album.
Closing Thoughts:
This album is positive, uplifting, fun and (most importantly) focused on God's power in our lives, unlike most pop music which focuses on our own ability to change our circumstance. This is a perfect album for the young lady in your life. I know I will be playing it on repeat for my daughters.
MarkRyan_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
