Imade iN Truth

After getting an advanced copy of Sho Baraka’s Talented Xth album, I arrived at one important conclusion: Sho Baraka is Hip Hop’s Bill Cosby.  No, not in the cranky old man, frumpy hoodie, why-is-he-wearing-sunglasses-indoors type of way, but something much deeper.  Sho embraces his fatherly role in restoring true manhood.  His boldly discusses society’s void and God’s solution.  Talented Xth is the definition of a true crossover album.  It’s for bastards and church pastors, and everything in between.     

The review is super long, so if you don’t have time to read it, just check out the bold section titles! 

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When Lecrae announced he was doing Church Clothes, my unborn child (that I’ll have in 5 years) leaped in my womb.  Finally, Lecrae was going to embrace his potential and focus on lyricism and diverse production.  As a person who was suffering from CSRF (commercial southern rap fatigue), listed producers like 9th Wonder made me feel like I was going to fall in love with Lecrae’s music all over again.   

But then this happened. Not a naan thing was on DatPiff and people were already calling Church Clothes the most important Christian Hip Hop release of all time.  Don’t you need a historical perspective to make that decision?  I don’t claim to know everything about Christian Rap (I’m just a lowly Sphere Of Hip Hop message board stalker) but I want to discuss how I agree and disagree with that statement.  

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Is it me or is Reach Records going through a renaissance?  Lecrae, Andy Mineo, and now Trip Lee have released one impressive video after another.  You guys already know that “Fallin” caught my ears by its sonic maturity.  While some are drawn to the numbers that The Good Life pulled in, I’m praying Trip Lee’s commercial success leads to an eternal impact.  Underneath its CGI video game awesomeness, “Fallin” has a life changing message about sin’s damaging effects and God’s merciful restoration.  And it all begins in the garden.  We see Trip posted up by the tree of life until an eye catching graphic shows he’s enticed and entangled by sin.  As Trip Lee falls away from his intimacy with God, we see him at the edge of the bed (after he’s done the nasty).  It’s not until Trip Lee reaches the bottom that he looks up. J.Paul’s vocals glues the track together and provides a great soundtrack to Trip Lee’s redemption.  ”Fallin” is an artistic landmark in Trip Lee’s career, and most importantly, an eye opening reminder that God can and will pick you up.

My thanks goes to producer Jesus Diaz and director Francis De La Torre (of 8Bit Films) for making an inspiring music video! 

Courtesy of All Hip Hop     

Is this real life Christian Hip Hop?  Oh, I forgot we don’t say that anymore Just this week, Lecrae released the video for “Church Clothes” that featured drops from Hip Hop legends like DJ Premier and rising stars like Kendrick Lamar.  It was a simple, yet through-provoking video that should be on World Star Hip Hop and the commercials during Basketball Wives.  It’s just that relevant.  Now, his Reach Records label mate Andy Mineo seems to do the Kirk Franklin stomp right on Christian Hip Hop’s self-righteousness.  Not only is he citing a “secular” influence, he’s openly sampling Busta Rhymes’ “Hands Where My Eyes Can See”! And includes G. Craig Lewis music video clips! GASP!  We’re not in Kansas anymore.

What I love about Andy Mineo’s new weekly “Saturday Morning Car-Tunez!” series is that we get to see his personality.  He steps beyond the Drake comparisons (that I’m now retiring) and the Reach Records pigeonholing.  At the end of his remake with Humble Beast producer Courtland Urbano, I just get to see Andy.  Yes, it’s awkward to see an Andy manwich with a hairy, topless man, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Because at the end of the video, I get to listen to the spiritual integrity of “Hands High”.  It’s a song that shows the musical freedom of a man coming into his own.  Youtube  Twitter  Facebook  Website    

Originally plugged by mywillbedumb 

If songs like “They Like Me” were made during the East Coast/West Coast theology beef era, I’m pretty sure Cross Movement and The Tunnel Rats would have had a lot less drama.  ”They Like Me” by veteran emcee KJ-52 bridges the racial divide in collaborating with mainstream star Lecrae.  It’s a candid song that Christian Hip Hop desperately needs.  Here’s my initial thoughts:

1. So errybody on Reach Records can sing? Is there some unwritten rule? 

Have you noticed that almost every artist on the Reach Records roster can low key sing? And it’s not just Drake’s cousin Andy Mineo.  There were moments when I questioned Reach Records’ commitment to cutting edge music , but this label has creativity bubbling right underneath the surface.  In collaborating with jazz saxophonist Kenneth Whalum, I expect Lecrae to embrace musicianship on his upcoming Church Clothes mixtape.  There is so much potential that is yet to be tapped.  

2. KJ-52 is more than than a youth group rapper 

I admit that I fell off the KJ-52 bandwagon after “Dear Slim” part 25. Unfortunately, I saw the stereotype of KJ-52 more than the artist himself.  He’s more than a bubble gum rapper.  ”They Like Me” off KJ-52’s Dangerous album shows that he’s capable of making substantive material.  More than that, it shows that KJ-52 is INTENTIONALLY embracing the diversity of God’s people.     

3. Christian Hip Hop Needs Unity Under Jesus

Have you noticed the racial boundary lines in Christian music?  White dominated CCM and Black dominated Gospel might as well be Jim Crow water fountains.  After many decades, these organizations are JUST becoming integrated.  With mindsets needing to be changed, it takes more than a token emblem of diversity.  That’s why “They Like Me” is more than just a song, it’s a reflection of the kingdom of God.  KJ-52 and Lecrae fellowship on a level that’s deeper than album sales or high profile appearances.   They unify under the banner of Christ.  It’s not selling out or being “Eminem”, it’s doing what God has called us to do. Kudos to KJ-52 and Lecrae for preaching and living reconciliation.  

Trip Lee has been a Christian Hip Hop wunderkind since releasing If They Only Knew in high school.  We’ve all seen Trip Lee’s evolution as a young artist, but I hope to see his evolution as a man.  ”Fallin’” may be a picture of that.  Reach Records can pump out trap music by the dozens, but “Fallin‘“is for the heads who want a more acoustic approach to Hip Hop.  Trip Lee’s subdued melodic flow is devoid of the catchy one-liners we’re accustomed to.  This isn’t stadium music, but a heart searching anthem for contrite people crying out to God.  Over a sparse breakbeat, trickling keys, and sweeping violins, Trip Lee discusses the temptations he faces as a married man and the spiritual escape he so desperately needs.  J.Paul gently comes in on the hook and expresses Trip Lee’s yearning pain.  While many collabos can be uneven, the partnership between Trip Lee and J.Paul is very cohesive.  ”Fallin’”, in all it’s non auto-tune glory, is a refreshing God send.  In between the club bangers, Trip Lee takes the time to examine his heart with unrestrained honesty.  The April 10th release of The Good Life is likely to mark a new phase in Trip Lee’s maturity.  And that is a good life indeed.  Twitter  Facebook  Bio 

Courtesy Of Rapzilla

I need the attention of a part-time job, a legal side hustle and an illegal one in order to keep up with theBreax’ music.  To be honest, I have been a little behind when it comes to their frenetic output.  I just listened to theBreax latest album, Never Arrive, with a hazy feeling wondering if this was an album or another one of their “album-like” mixtapes.  However, once I got my bearings, I was pleased that their edgy approach was not diluted in their ambitious musical efforts combining pop, rock, and of course Hip Hop as the foundation.  Taking the spontaneous energy of their live performances, theBreax have been able to raise the bar of innovation and challenge their peers to do the same.  

It couldn’t have been more appropriate that the music video for Never Arrive comes in about thirty seconds after the album release.  It contains dynamics that are often missing in Christian Hip Hop videos, like a cohesive, singular story line that cogently ties the song’s concept and visuals together.  On the surface, Never Arrive is just another video among Christian Hip Hop’s upper echelon of talented artists.  But if you take a deeper look, there are two important themes that emerge:

1. “Mainstream” Christian Hip Hop and “Crossover” Christian Hip Hop Should Reconcile

Anyone with a vague sense of Christian Hip Hop history know the “beef” between Cross Movement and Tunnel Rats fans.  It wasn’t an East Coast-West Coast rivalry, but a fabricated conflict between explicit Christian teaching and more culturally based spiritual messages.  Even today, that ideology continues as some fans only listen to “those Reach Records artists”, as if no other Christian Hip Hop can exist outside of that paradigm.  But with Never Arrive, we see something different.  Lecrae, representing the “establishment”, freely spends time with Ruslan and Beleaf of theBreax as friends.  This explicitly shows you don’t have to do the same thing to love the same God.  In many ways, Never Arrive points to what Christian Hip Hop can become.   

2. Music Needs to Be Shared as a Heritage and a Mentoring Tool 

In today’s “do it yourself” society, we applaud people who do things on their own apart from any help.  Our attention is drawn to self-taught musicians who make music by themselves, create a fan base on their own, and deliver a “perfect” pre-made package to major labels.  But there was a time when music was not a profession, but a heritage spanning multiple generations.  Children were groomed from a young age to appreciate the art of their ancestors and continue their family’s legacy.  We see a return to this in Never Arrive.  A child is surrounded not only by godly music, but godly men who see his potential and invest in his life.  Teaching Hip Hop as a discipline requiring significant practice and knowledge is the key to perpetuating the culture.  With this display of mentoring by Lecrae, theBreax, and J.R., I’m so glad that Christian Hip Hop has the ability to exist even after their accomplished careers come to a close.  Twitter: theBreax  Lecrae  J.R.     

Video originally discovered through Dasouth

Andy Mineo just released his Formerly Known album on September 29, but I feel like I’m one of the last people to come across this project.  The impact of this album is definitely being felt as a friend suggested this project as one of the year’s best releases.  Even to my surprise, my cheap fiscally conservative self wishes Formerly Known wasn’t free because it’s worth so much more.  I do have a personal gripe that Andy can sound one emo jeggins away from a Lil Wayne-Drake impersonation, but I’m sure that Andy will continue to find his own voice.  All biases aside, Andy Mineo’s Formerly Known project will melt your face off.  Let me explain why.

1. He Has A Lot to Say

The beauty of debut albums is that an artist can glean from a lifetime of experiences.  Reach Records artist Andy Mineo, formerly known as C-Lite, has a heavy burden to bury his sin-filled past and live a life that advances God’s kingdom.  He rhymes like a man who has no time to waste after producing ungodly music as a studio owner in his Syracuse, NY hometown. As a listener, you feel the weight of Andy abandoning his past persona in Goodbye, Formerly Known, and Pressure.  Andy’s tense, emotion filled lyrics capture a man going from death to life.

2. He Has an Attention Getting, Edgy Sound

I don’t know when or how Lil Wayne and Drake had a baby, but it apparently happened.  Andy’s weighty voice has an edgy nasal texture that he wisely adapts to grimy, trunk rattling beats.  Combined with his understated, yet catchy singing hooks and you have a recipe for widespread acceptance.  Songs like the Lecrae assisted Let There Be Light and Young serve as the defiant voice for today’s Christian generation.  Just like Andy’s Heart of the City anthem, these songs tap into a shared subversive attitude that cuts across socioeconomic barriers. 

3. He Knows He Can’t Do Everything 

This is an important statement.  Some artists get in the way of their own success when they do everything by themselves for the sake of impressing others.  Yes, Andy could have sang every hook, but then we would not have witnessed the singing prowess of Co Campbell.  He’s the pinch hitter on this album as his flexible, melodic voice takes Formerly Known and Every Word up a few notches.  Even Andy’s rap features add another dimension to his album.  KB provides his signature double time flow and Thisl brings his trademark duffel bag stories to Andy’s project.  

After the Sin is Wack mixtape, did I think that Andy Mineo could produce an album as epic as Formerly Known? Absolutely not.  But I’m sure this won’t be the last of surprises from Andy Mineo.  As impressive as this project is, Andy is an artist that shows promise of an even greater artistic output.  Biography  Twitter 

Andy Mineo - Formerly Known by NewH2O

Ambassador and Da T.R.U.T.H. Leaving Cross Movement Records

Though this is somewhat old news, the impact of Ambassador and Da T.R.U.T.H.’s January move to Xist Records still reverberates across the Christian Hip Hop community.  I still slave moan a little from the nostalgia I have for the Cross Movement Records I grew up with.  Da T.R.U.T.H., and especially co-founder Ambassador, physically embodied the principles of Cross Movement.  CMR wasn’t just a record label, but a movement of unapologetic Christian emcees with Ambassador at the helm.  To be honest, Amba was and is my favorite CM artist.  It amazed me that Ambassador has the wisdom of a Hip Hop theological veteran with the cultural relevance of an artist in his prime.  With Ambassador’s departure from Cross Movement, I’m confronted with the fact that I made Cross Movement the source of his identity and credibility.  In some ways, I’m grappling for the comfort of the past because I want to define Ambassador by what I’m most familiar with.  Hopefully, with this new move to Xist Records and an upcoming tour in the fall, Da T.R.U.T.H. and Ambassador can get to the core of who they are, which is hidden in Christ.  Ambassador Facebook   Ambassador Twitter   Da T.R.U.T.H. Twitter   

Sho Baraka Leaving Reach Records

Now to more recent news.  Sho Baraka made a recent announcement that he was leaving Reach Records (home to Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, and others) and starting a new music thingamajiggy called High Society.  In typical Sho Baraka fashion, he confuses some while intriguing others.  Personally for me, his departure doesn’t come as a surprise.  Sho would often differentiate himself from the ministry approaches of other Reach Record artists.  It seems that Sho wants to impact the culture through lifestyle entertainment ventures like High Society.  Leaving Reach Records could give Sho more time to direct music videos (like Bless’ED’s Run Away), work with other artists outside of the Reach umbrella (like Swoope), or do charitable efforts like A.B.N.Y. Shades to support those with autism.  Sho Baraka has a huge vision for his artistry, which is evidenced by the stellar arrangements and song concepts explored in his recent album Lions and Liars.  I’m sure that leaving Reach Records is not equivalent to some “moral failure”, but a launching pad to more creative opportunities.  Press Release  Facebook  Twitter  High Society         

KB - Who Is KB? by NewH2O

Have you ever tried to google search the letters KB? Spoiler alert, Reach Record’s new artist doesn’t pop up.  I’ve been searching for KB since I was dougying in the spirit to his acrobatic rhymes on Lecrae’s Used to Do it Too.  Though I couldn’t find much on him, I knew the marketing powerhouse that is Reach Records was up to something.  Lo and behold, after releasing KB teaser videos that introduce us to the humble and passionate 22-year old emcee, KB comes out with the Who is KB? mixtape that is absolute FLAMES.    

KB already shows signs of greatness with just a 9-track mixtape.  This man goes ADD on the track.  To my limited knowledge, outside of Tedashii, Willy Will, and Dwayne Tryumf, there’s very few Christian emcees that can match KB’s triplet machine gun flow.  It’s almost a crime against humanity that KB is not paired with Dwayne Tryumf on the Don’t Waste Your Life Remix.  That would be a collaboration of EPIC proportions, and I’m hoping it happens on KB’s future album.

The beauty of mixtapes is that it’s an appetizer for what’s to come.  KB might not have a trademark voice, but he sure has a trademark flow.  If he couples his acrobatic rhymes with a powerful album concept and well arranged songs, KB will not only be a star, but a legend in the making.  Facebook  Twitter

Favs: Head to the Heavens, Lighter Fluid, Go  

Courtesy of Rapzilla and NewH20