Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Heavy Rotation: Christian Hip-Hop in 2007
Peace and blessings,
I must say that 2007 has been a great year. Not just because biblically "7" represents the year of completion and freedom (i.e. the year of Jubilee), but also because of the abundance of lyrically and musically solid Christian hip-hop that has came out this year. Although I'm sure there is a ton of good Christian hip-hop that has come out this year (check the website links in the "Holy Hip Hop Resources" section to find out for yourself), I can only speak on the albums that I have personally copped and listened to. Therefore, below are five albums that have been released in 2007, each accompanied by a lyrical quote from the album. A couple of these quotes, as well as the reviews to these albums (which can also be found in the HHH Resources section), are courtesy ofRapzilla, and excellent site for all things Christian Hip Hop. Feel free to share your thoughts on any of these albums that you may have. Until next time, stay blessed and speekonit...
1) "Open Book" by Da Truth
From the song "Star Struck:"
"No, He’s not common at all/ All eyes on Him/Hold your jewels, we gotta priceless gem/Who else can pay the price for sin/ Nobody, and build a whole body/Like a private gym/ Nobody, nobody but Him/He’s Superman but godly, embodied in Clark Kent/ yeah, He came to save the day/ Why would you trade Him to play/ In a crooked world that is fading away?/ Candy paint and wood grain decay, ok?"
2) "HIStory: Our Place in His Story" by Cross Movement
From the song "Spare Change:"
"We lost Truth in this period/and proof is so mysterious/losing absolutes is so serious/how we think we gon' live when everything's relative/is anybody curious?//without a standard of Truth society's deranged/that's why I'm up in your ear begging for change."
3) "13 Letters" by 116 Click
From the song "Evolution:"
"I was a slave to the night life, sex and the chronic/the unki-jerk(?), mad dog, gin and tonic/then God pulled my heart strings, yeah He's harmonic/now i'm gonna live forever I'm bionic/put death in a joke hold and slammed it like onyx/so we can slam dance in heaven it's ironic/after years of research these scientists couldn't figure/how I acted like an ape but evolved from a sinner"
4) "Our World Fallen" by Flame
From the song "Call Him:"
"Let's take a look at the fall man/the One who came down, put His foot on the raw land/gotta question 'do you know who you are man?'/or do you assume that you can do what the Lord can?/I know it's hard fam, trying to live life/lookin' to the left and nobody is livin' right/lookin' to the right everybody is livin' wrong/like we livin' in a movie and doin' it to a song/are your influences throwin' you a zone?/influencin' you to want to do what you're most prone/you Christ He left His heavenly home/not just that, He left his heavenly throne/just to bring Ebony home/or whatever your name is/He definately claims His/plus exhanges filth to anguish/guilt and pain/and makes us stainless"
5) "The Process of Illumination and Elimination" by Everyday Process
From the song "Holla at Me:"
" I guess to say that the Rock's in the building/2000 years flawless He's still rockin' His children/A monument like Plymoth Rock for His Pilgrims/In fact, the impact has got me rocked for a million/Strict life and I don't play in the streets/strict diet, I stay away from the sweets/excuse me kid if he don't eat the king's meat/I'm on my Shadrach tell them boys go 'head bring heat"
I must say that 2007 has been a great year. Not just because biblically "7" represents the year of completion and freedom (i.e. the year of Jubilee), but also because of the abundance of lyrically and musically solid Christian hip-hop that has came out this year. Although I'm sure there is a ton of good Christian hip-hop that has come out this year (check the website links in the "Holy Hip Hop Resources" section to find out for yourself), I can only speak on the albums that I have personally copped and listened to. Therefore, below are five albums that have been released in 2007, each accompanied by a lyrical quote from the album. A couple of these quotes, as well as the reviews to these albums (which can also be found in the HHH Resources section), are courtesy of
1) "Open Book" by Da Truth
From the song "Star Struck:"
"No, He’s not common at all/ All eyes on Him/Hold your jewels, we gotta priceless gem/Who else can pay the price for sin/ Nobody, and build a whole body/Like a private gym/ Nobody, nobody but Him/He’s Superman but godly, embodied in Clark Kent/ yeah, He came to save the day/ Why would you trade Him to play/ In a crooked world that is fading away?/ Candy paint and wood grain decay, ok?"
2) "HIStory: Our Place in His Story" by Cross Movement
From the song "Spare Change:"
"We lost Truth in this period/and proof is so mysterious/losing absolutes is so serious/how we think we gon' live when everything's relative/is anybody curious?//without a standard of Truth society's deranged/that's why I'm up in your ear begging for change."
3) "13 Letters" by 116 Click
From the song "Evolution:"
"I was a slave to the night life, sex and the chronic/the unki-jerk(?), mad dog, gin and tonic/then God pulled my heart strings, yeah He's harmonic/now i'm gonna live forever I'm bionic/put death in a joke hold and slammed it like onyx/so we can slam dance in heaven it's ironic/after years of research these scientists couldn't figure/how I acted like an ape but evolved from a sinner"
4) "Our World Fallen" by Flame
From the song "Call Him:"
"Let's take a look at the fall man/the One who came down, put His foot on the raw land/gotta question 'do you know who you are man?'/or do you assume that you can do what the Lord can?/I know it's hard fam, trying to live life/lookin' to the left and nobody is livin' right/lookin' to the right everybody is livin' wrong/like we livin' in a movie and doin' it to a song/are your influences throwin' you a zone?/influencin' you to want to do what you're most prone/you Christ He left His heavenly home/not just that, He left his heavenly throne/just to bring Ebony home/or whatever your name is/He definately claims His/plus exhanges filth to anguish/guilt and pain/and makes us stainless"
5) "The Process of Illumination and Elimination" by Everyday Process
From the song "Holla at Me:"
" I guess to say that the Rock's in the building/2000 years flawless He's still rockin' His children/A monument like Plymoth Rock for His Pilgrims/In fact, the impact has got me rocked for a million/Strict life and I don't play in the streets/strict diet, I stay away from the sweets/excuse me kid if he don't eat the king's meat/I'm on my Shadrach tell them boys go 'head bring heat"
Labels: 116 Click, 2007, albums, Christian hip hop, Cross Movement, Da Truth, Everyday Process, Flame, freedom, HHH
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Featured Artist: Mark J
Peace and blessings,
Next up among the long list of Gospel Spitters, is Mark J. who's repping the ATL. The following tracks are from his album, "Soulutions." The premise behind the album is that the solutions to any problem we face is teh renewal of our souls through a relationship with JC. The first track is actually the last track on the album and its entitled "The New Slave Trade." It's basically comparing physical slavery to spiritual slavery, focusing on contemporary pop culture. Let the track play after the song ends, because he leaves you with some food for thought.
The next track is called "Intercession" and in my opinion is the dopest track on the album. It features my boys Japhia Life and Ahmad from 4th Avenue Jones (both have been previously featured on this site). The song centers around the fact that as Christians, we are called to pray for others. Let's get it going...
This track, entitled "God of Israel," is a shot-out to God for the many ways He provides. Isn't He good?
Last but not least, this song is one of the more thought-provoking with regards to the internal (spiritual) battles that we face on a regular. Three stories, one theme...
Ok for real, this is the last song. "Espananza" deals with an issue that everyone who has been or are currently in a serious, meaning relationship can relate to. I need to call my baby right now and tell her how much I love her, lol... Oh yeah, and regards to teh woman's question at the end of the song. Why do you ladies ask those type of questions?
Any thoughts on the tracks? Enough to make you cop the album? Share your thoughts and speekonit...
Labels: albums, ATL, Christian hip hop, God of Israel, JC, Mark J., New Slave Trade, slavery, spiritual
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