Brvndon P Delivers A Top-Notch Debut | Posted June-13-2016
Who is Brvndon P? Brvndon P was formerly known as "Black Knight." Now he might be ringing a bell, and he should. He has traveled extensively as the drummer for Andy Mineo, not to mention producing tracks for the likes of Lecrae, RPSMG, Mineo, Derek Minor and countless others. His growth as a rapper and an artist is so evident on his new self-titled album. Some albums that are feature-heavy can seem disjointed at times, but the cohesiveness of this collection of songs is on point. He produced the majority of the album with the help of K. Agee on "Dreaming" and "ICU".
The songs with features did not disappoint. However, this brother also holds his own alone. The way he starts the album off breaks the mold. Most artists want to either come out of the gate firing or they will have some sort of interlude, but "Do You Believe" is chilled out with knocking kick and snare. The song chronicles elements of Brvndon P's life and his aim to push past self-doubt. From being bullied as a child because of his skin color to contemplating a serious relationship, he immediately shows that this album is going to be versatile.
On "Soul Cry (feat. John Givez)," Brvndon P follows this inner struggle and battle to continue to live the Christian walk. This is song teeters on the boundaries of hip hop, soul and rock topped with guitar and a dope bassline. Givez, a clever, gifted and very honest rapper, does a great job singing the hook: "Mama never warned me about these days / Papa always told me, 'you gon' need faith' / And it's a war out there for my soul... listen to my soul cry."
"Chain Gain" starts off like many trap songs do with Brvndon P doing a little singing, but it jumpstarts as he raps and basically has a chorus of people echoing him. Another banging track is "Coolin," where Brvndon P and Beleaf both smash it (check out the distortion that is put on Beleaf's voice).
Lecrae adds his bars to "What You Get" along with JustKristopher, but I had to listen twice to distinguish which rapper did what verse. Mainstream rapper E-40 makes another appearance on another CHH affiliate's album and does it with a West Coast, synth party jam called "No Fakery." It is nice to see that E-40 is giving positive music a chance, and he is not ashamed to be associated with it.
The use of real instruments continues on "Workin (feat. Mouthpie3ce and Drew Allen)" and the more heartfelt "Over the Clouds." The latter song shows the Lecrae/Mineo influence, topped with acoustic (and rhythm) guitar and a pop singer on the chorus. It highlights two stories: a teenager beating cancer and a married couple who after four miscarriages had their first child.
The Bottom Line: This is a well-produced album that was carefully put together. Brvndon P grew leaps and bounds, adding layers to his artistry and depth spiritually. He gives his take on life from a Biblical worldview and offers hope instead of just leaving people with only his struggles. He also knew that an album full of only trap beats would have been yawn-worthy after a while and shows skill in mixing it up.
Song to Download Now:
"Soul Cry (feat. John Givez)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Instantly Unforgettable | Posted June-08-2016
Uri Grey: the name alone is unique and one that sparks curiosity. Uri means "light," and she used grey because it is the color of intellect. Uri is classically trained and plays several instruments including piano and acoustic guitar along with a little sax and violin. Her EP is titled Colors, and that is a great way to describe her voice and approach: colorful. Uri produced and wrote every song with help from Jaime Arroyo on keyboards and programming.
Colors is a collection of empowering songs and a narrative of the everyday person. Take "Fly" for instance. Uri (with the piano following her every note) speaks of a girl who had big dreams but wondered if they would ever come to life. Obviously, she decided to step out and "spread her wings."
The cliché about one's voice being an instrument is definitely true when listening to Uri sing "Very First Time." Maybe it is the tone in her melodic alto, or it could be the way she can weave in and out of her falsetto. The lyrics are equally rich: "I want to love like I've never been wrong / I want to live like I have it all / I want to be lost in your eyes / I want to love like it's my very first time."
"I Just Wanna Be" is a fun and liberating song about shunning popular opinion and being yourself. "Inside Out" is one of those power ballads that will never get out of your head. Think about songs like "Wrecking Ball" or "You Are Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera. Wonderfully written and carefully constructed, the song exposes Uri's vulnerability.
The Bottom Line: This singer-songwriter who just moved to Los Angeles (from Houston, Texas) will make waves in mainstream music. Her lyrics, approach and heart is just what is needed for today's youth and young adults. You can only "turn up" for so long, and the songs on Colors have so much depth that they will make a lasting impression.
New Breed Vocalist Takes Center Stage | Posted June-07-2016
Oftentimes the background vocalists' value is not realized by the normal music lover, but they are invaluable. It is more than "oohs and ahhs," and the artist they are supporting will agree that they help to make the "sound" of that artist.
Charlin Neal serves as the vocal arranger of Israel and New Breed, and her soaring soprano voice stands out in both lead and background. She has also done vocal production for B.J. Putnam and Onaje Jefferson. Her voice takes center stage on her EP More of You. She gets help from her own siblings and mother The Moore Family on background vocals.
The title cut "More of You" is the only upbeat track on the EP, and it features some cool riffs from Charlin as she expresses her dependency on God. I don't know this for sure, but I would bet that Charlin is a big Yolanda Adams fan. Listening to "Trust Me," I can't help but to hear the huge influence of Yolanda's "Just A Prayer Away." The piano serves as the lead instrument, it has strong vocals and it is sung in first person as if God is speaking to us. It is basically the sequel.
The direction of the EP is vertical in its lyrics (which is welcome and expected) and quite chill musically. However, you can expect Charlin to take things higher as the songs progress. "You Are Invited" showcases Charlin's head tone for the majority of the song, but nails it. The pop rock tune "Yours Forever" has a serene feel a la "True" by 80's group Spandau Ballet. Meld it with Babyface's "When Can I See You Again," and you have "Yours Forever."
The Bottom Line: This is a nice offering from such a strong vocalist and a very genuine person. I am sure that we will be getting a full length album from her soon!
A Movement's Growth | Posted April-20-2016
Renaissance Movement Music is a group of rappers (Legin, Mike Bell and Sinai) based in Virginia. Just like the Renaissance period, these guys hope to bring a fresh movement of believers through discipling and witnessing. Their growth lyrically and musically is very evident on new release Lions In Suits.
Mike Bell goes in on critics on "Don't Get It Twisted," although at times his flow gets a tad sloppy. Any Christian will be able to identify with "Harvey Dent." Batman fans are familiar with the character Harvey Dent, the once-lauded district attorney who became the villain Two Face. He flips a coin to decide the fate of his victim. Mike Bell and Sinai paint a vivid picture of the life of someone who lives for Christ and struggles with his sin nature at times: "I can flip at the flip of a coin / you can't tell if I'm cold or I'm warm / and I know I'll be changing my mind / that's okay. That's okay, I'm fine."
Laquan Green is featured on a few songs as well as producing a few tracks on the album. The beat that he lays on "All It Is" is pulsating and just right for Legin and guest Erica Cumbo to explain their mission. It is so great to hear the raspy-voiced Cumbo spit on this track. "Hands High" by Sinai (backed by Elder Q's beat banger) had me nodding my head and making that "stank face," because it bangs.
It's a celebration of sorts for Sinai and Legin on the urban jam "Black Tie Affair" as they rejoice in being made for the calling of Christ (trials and all). "There He Go" is another real, honest and raw look at temptations and escaping. Other songs that must be checked out are "Spurgeon Theory" featuring Jeremiah Bligen and "Ball," featuring the impressive vocals of Laquan Green.
The Bottom Line: RMM is bold and deliberate in their faith. Although some may argue that this is what all Christian rappers do, it is great for them to continue with their mission and stay in the lane that God has them in. They are growing in their craft, and it makes me look forward to their next release.
Promise's Good Fruit Debut Impresses | Posted April-18-2016
Call it being stuck in a rut or just being ready for something different, but I always love when artists break out of societal or musical norms to make art that is organic in nature. Rapper Promise has always provided music that does not beat to the same drum of current trends. Having recently signed with Good Fruit Co, Promise is dropping his latest release, TellAVision.
This five track EP captures many sides of his musical makeup. The artists he enlists as guests on "Who You Are" are as noteworthy as the song itself. No Malice left the duo The Clipse as he was seeking to leave a lifestyle that he felt was detrimental to him spiritually. MC Jin, once signed to Ruff Ryders Entertainment, gave his life to Christ and made a foray into Christian hip hop, although he has now doing stand-up comedy. Lastly Montell Jordan (yes, "This Is How We Do It" Montell) is now a worship pastor. So all four artists were perfect to talk on this track about not following trends and doing things for God's glory.
"Cliches & Trends" is vintage Promise in terms of flow, but he has a sort of alternative soul feel to his singing, and it works. I have to admit that I totally forgot that D.A. T.R.U.T.H. was singing the second verse because he offers his crooning to the backdrop of the kick drum and simple strumming of the guitar and bass.
Promise's only solo song, "Why Don't You," is one of those songs that could have a double meaning. It could be a man asking a woman to be in a relationship that is meaningful, while also serving as God asking someone to let Him in and accept His salvation. Crystal Nicole blazed her feature on "Right Now." She has been appearing on more and more albums because her vocals are just butter. "Right Now" continues the theme of breaking out of the cookie cutter mode of society's expectations.
"Alleyway" is a song of advice from God about watching out for the pitfalls and the traps of hip hop. Promise enlists the help of Shad, John Hope and singer Aria Zenua to hammer down the point of what needs to happen to keep hip hop alive.
The Bottom Line:TellAVision is dope, and Promise is one person that can definitely be an ambassador to advising artists to be themselves. At five tracks the EP is short, and if you love music, you may feel a little slighted. Thankfully, there are songs that stand out.
Bringing the Heat and Keeping it Real | Posted March-28-2016
Dream Junkies are the eclectic group of rappers who represent the West Coast geographically while striving to represent Christ with their lifestyle. They also speak for the everyday, Monday through Sunday Christian. All these things collide to form their new album, Good Religion.
To me it is both refreshing and frustrating that the Dream Junkies do not fit in certain boxes. It's only frustrating because some people can't connect with them because of their complex subject matter and lack of enough trap beats and songs to "turn up to." Before you listen to this album, you have to understand the rappers that form the collective: Beleaf, Ruslan and John Givez. All three individuals have owned up to their own shortcomings and even vices, but their pursuit of seeking God's best for their lives is something that separates them from others. The resulting realness can leave them in limbo between Christian and mainstream acceptance, but they just stay in their lane. Producers Anthony Cruz and JRuckers laid down the tracks to fit the mood and subject matter.
The trio support each other well on "Answer Your Call" featuring Carlene Crawford, and they get retrospective while embracing what is in front of them in "Take Me Back." These road warriors give a bird's eye view of the realities of tour life on the percussion heavy banger "Show Biz." Each one hilariously giving their take on some of the funniest and most frustrating experiences from the road.
Murs guests on "Left Coast" to help deliver an ode to the West Coast. The slowed beat goes well with Givez's harmonizing background vocals (which are topped by the low octave serving as the melody). There is no doubt that "I Got the Juice" is garnering the most attention because of the energy of the beat, the flow of each rapper and the accompanying music video.
The Bottom Line: Dream Junkies are blazing their own trail, and you should follow them. Yes, they will at times have you wondering "did they really say that?", but these guys are the real deal.
Jackson Seale Brings Something Fresh | Posted January-23-2016
We love our established artists and those who are consistently putting out songs that pierce our hearts. However, there is room for new artists and those are not known yet. Jackson Seale is a twenty-something worship leader residing in the small town of Huntsville, Texas, and he is an artist that I will gladly make room for. I met Jackson about 15 years ago, and he comes from a very solid family who is both kind and talented musically. The Celebration EP is his first offering, and quite an impressive debut.
The texture and tone of Jackson's voice definitely screams pop, but there is a hint of soul in there. Time was clearly taken to write and record the powerful tune "All Around Us." As Jackson sings and urges us all to help those in need and use our sphere of influence to reach out to others, it definitely has me tearing up.
"We sing our song of praise to You / Your name be lifted high / Oh we sing a song of praise to You / Your name be glorified / Glory to our God for He is worthy / He reigns forever more..." These are some of the lyrics to "Glory to Our God." I can see this song as a highlight in his praise and worship set. I would not be surprised if other worship leaders add this song, as well as the celebratory "Ransomed My Heart." The latter song is catchy and needs to find its way onto radio and worship sets.
Closing Thoughts:
Jackson Seale is a name that you should remember, look up and make sure to buy his EP. Hopefully we will hear more from him soon because four songs did just enough to whet my appetite for more from this promising artist!
Joy Enriquez Makes Her Return | Posted January-23-2016
She is the mother of 4 kids, wife to super producer Rodney Jerkins, sung backup on the Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston duet "When You Believe" and has released a mainstream R&B album and an urban gospel/praise and worship album. Now Joy Enriquez is back with a Contemporary Christian record, The Call. Rodney handles production with Matt Champlin, Kirby Lauryn and Tony Hennings.
"Hallelujah," in both English and Spanish, is a folksy, animated song of praise. "Shine" continues in the same vein. Joy has a strong voice that moves from her lower register to closer to her soprano range so effortlessly. This has been passed down to her six-year-old daughter Heavenly Joy. Heavenly finishes the song with her rendition of the popular Sunday School hymn "This Little Light of Mine."
Those who loved her urban music (I being one of them) will have to go online and buy some of the tracks she released from her reality TV Show. This album is intentional in the direction shift. "70.000" shows this change towards CCM. The strum of the guitar and piano accompaniment aid Joy in expressing awe in the extent of the forgiveness that she receives from God. Matt Maher's "Lord I Need You" gets a Joy Enriquez spin to it, but she stays true to the essence of the song as she sings the standout lyrics "So teach my song to rise to You / When temptation comes my way. When I cannot stand I'll fall on You / Jesus You're hope and stay."
"Imagine That" is an EDM party laced with trippy drum patterns on the chorus and the simple riding of the kick drum on the verses. Imagining life without God's favor and life without God is something that Joy cannot fathom, so therefore she expresses this throughout the song.
Closing Thoughts:
The Call just works, and it is not forced. Joy should do really well in CCM, and my hope is that radio and fans alike will give her a chance to win them over. Her "call" is to spread Christ's love and for people to hear her redemption story. Rodney Jerkins shows his versatility while knowing who to enlist to make sure that he captures the pulse of the CCM genre.
Corey Paul Comes Out Swinging | Posted January-20-2016
H-Town stand up! Corey Paul is releasing his debut album with Collision Records, Today, Tomorrow, Forever. Corey brings a needed more gritty, aggressive edge to the Collision roster.
Swoope executive produced the album and provided the soundtrack for a good portion, giving Corey the heat to bring his storytelling. "100 In the Summer" kicks things off, backed by eerie piano loops and kick drum with a trap beat peeking through. In signature Corey fashion, he paints a vivid picture of how he reaches out to the people in Third Ward, where he grew up. Never forsaking where he came from, they know he is transformed man with a different mission.
"Momma We Made It" takes a more thankful approach to making it through the ills and traps set up in the hood. If you want to turn up, Derek Minor is the go-to man to get the crowd hyped. He and Corey fall right with "Top Right," one that will be sure to get a stamp of approval from preteens to young adults. "Tear It Up" goes hard. Even though part of me wants to be aggravated when he yells "rolling out with my squad!" because it's so over-used, part of me also wants to go crazy with kids and watch as the place gets lit.
The great thing about Collision's partnership with Corey Paul is the fact that they do not try to change Corey into something he is not. Though he is one of the nicest dudes you will ever meet, he has a past and a passion that serves as a foot in the door to minister to and have conversations with folks that still distrust of church. The title track "Today, Tomorrow, Forever" will stop you in your tracks as he talks about how his mother was going to kill herself and leave custody of Corey to his aunt, but it did not happen, and she is now 56. Swoope takes the second set of bars to talk about the biases against the black community. In the third verse, Corey comes back to talk about some of the challenges and mistakes coming straight from the black community. They really come to let people know (courtesy of Jordan Jones' hook) that the "Devil's coming for your soul" and there is no time to waste or wait.
Closing Thoughts:
Corey Paul's experience as a firefighter, facing and seeing some tough family issues as a child and growing up in the hood serves as a unique backdrop for one who has compassion for the everyday person. Today, Tomorrow, Forever is a nice soundtrack to go with his testimony and offering of hope.
Song to Download Now:
"Today, Tomorrow, Forever" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Introspection Turned Outward | Posted January-02-2016
Dre Murray is the quintessential emcee who has set the standard while defying stereotypes for southern rappers. Some believe that rappers from the south usually do not wax poetic, but mostly "turn up." Insert new album, 34. In terms of his use of metaphors and double meanings with the southern drawl, his repping the south has not changed. Sonically and musically, it is a change from Gold Rush: Maybe One Day, which raised the standard in Christian Hip Hop.
A little psychedelic beat flowing into a slowed down, hard hitting beat is the backdrop of the hook for "DWB," featuring David James. Tragic Hero worked with Dre to drop some heat on Tragic's album My Own Worst Enemy in the form of the clever "1984." I was not expecting a sequel of sorts, but "1989 (Taylor Swift)" is just that. The chorus is an ill and out the box way of telling a story of cocaine use in Houston Texas during that year: "1989 had Taylor Swift in my city (x2) / That's all white with no fight / they like gas like all night." Stay tuned for the interview that I did with Dre for further explanation of why he chose the association.
Another difference in the album is that it is more autobiographical in nature as he speaks to a very sobering moment of two daughters who are growing up quickly in "Play Me At
Your Wedding." He also speaks of his hopes of them being with the right man when that time comes for marriage. "Paintriot" is Dre's insecurity of wondering if some black people will question his addressing issues that affect the black race since he is married to a woman who is not black.
Closing Thoughts:
Lyrically this album is incredibly strong, but something seems to be missing. Maybe I was just expecting more than 10 songs, or maybe there could have been more variation in beat tempo. There is still plenty to chew on, and you have to respect his look at life now that he is 34 years old. He is still one of the best out there.
DwayneLacy_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
