Quick Thoughts on Anomaly

After releasing the Grammy winning powerhouse, Gravity, Lecrae's new album was released Sept. 9th. While Gravity had 'mass' appeal (and even featured Big Krit), this album is more personal and reflective. There's only four guest artists while on Gravity there was over twice the amount. It's like we had the Church Clothes 2 mixtape for collaborations and this album Crae kept for himself. It's somewhat ironic now that he's one of the largest (if not largest) non-secular rappers, that this album is named Anomaly. It reminds me that even the most famous people are still people, and they are in need of a savior just like me.

Just as we all have different facets to ourselves, Anomaly is cross genre displaying different types of music. Not many artists could have a song like rap critiquing, big beat Nuthin' and more contemporary Christian sounding Messengers (feat. for King & Country) on the same album. He also has some hip hop influenced tracks like Made in America and Dirty Water. It confronts issues like sex trafficking, immigration, and the effects of slavery. Those surprised me, in a good way. He then lightens the mood with Say I Won't (feat. Andy Mineo) which is almost a continuation of Paisano's Wylin' from Andy's Neverland mixtape. It speaks to the rebel in me, that goes against society's sin loving culture. I think Crae is most in his element with songs like Timepiece and Give In where he is talking to Christians that might have one foot in Christ and one in the world over a great beat. He talks about relationships in All I Need is You and Runners, encouraging fidelity and showing love to his wife while making us laugh too. Broken (feat. Kari Jobe) has some great wordplay and admits to imperfections and a need to be fixed by our Creator. Fear and Good, Bad, and Ugly are very personal and reflective, revealing his fears and past abuse. These songs remind that Lecrae didn't become the man is now overnight, but only through an encounter with God and an intentional ongoing pursuit of Him.

Overall I really appreciated the album. My top tracks are Broken, Give In, and Messengers. I'm looking forward to seeing him in concert in November. 

My favorite songs (at the moment)

The first verse from Lecrae's Don't Waste Your Life is classic Christian Hip Hop. It's a standard I compare other Christian Hip Hop songs too.

I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die
Couple of em thinking they'll be living in the sky
But while I'm here living man I gotta ask why, what am here for I gotta figure out
Waste my life
No I gotta make it count
If Christ is real then what am I gonna do about it
All of the things in Luke 12:15 down to 21
You really ought to go and check it out
Paul said if Christ ain't resurrect then we wasted our lives
Well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive
Everyday I'm living trying show the world why
Christ is more than everything you'll ever try
Better than pretty women and sinning and living 
to get a minute of any women and men that you admire
Ain't no lie
We created for Him
Outta the dust he made us for Him
Elects us and he saves us for Him
Jesus comes and raises for Him
Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser
He made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him
Resurrects him
So I know I got life
Matter fact better man I know I got Christ
If you don't' see His ways in my days and nights
You can hit my brakes you can stop my lights
Man I lost my rights
I lost my life
Forget the money cars and toss that ice
The cost is Christ
And they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price.

Outside of Christian Hip Hop, Hillsong's Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) is a great song. The lyrics are about Peter walking on the water, but we all have been challenged to trust God and have faith at some point so it's very relate-able.

Artist Spotlight: Beautiful Eulogy

Beautiful Eulogy is a group under the Humble Beast label. There really isn't a box to put them in. One might say they are a Christian folk band, another might say they produce very conscious Christian hip hop music with a side of humor.You have to experience it for yourself. This group from Portland has only had one album so far titled Satellite Kite, but this is definitely quality over quantity. The first video is them performing the song "Beautiful Eulogy" live. The second video is a song from Lecrae's Church Clothes mixtape featuring two of Beautiful Eulogy's members plus another Humble Beast label, previously featured artist on my blog, Propaganda.

Artist Spotlight: Michael Tait

Michael Tait has been the lead singer of the popular Christian band Newsboys since 2009. He was previously was a member of DC Talk group with Toby Mac and Kevin Max. DC Talk won 4 Grammys (Toby Mac won a Grammy for his solo album this year). They all met at Liberty University during their college years. He also has other projects such as contributing to books and solo albums. He taught himself how to play the guitar and has a song with one of my favorite Christian hip hop artists Lecrae called Bring Us Home based on Joshua featuring Blanca Callahan from Group 1 Crew. I would have loved to be in the studio when they recorded that!

Lecrae for the Win!

One of my favorite Christian hip hop artists  Lecrae, won the Best Gospel Album Grammy recently for his album Gravity. I have listened to it regularly since I pre-ordered the album last year. I also went to the Unashamed tour  in Orlando featuring him and other artists of the Reach Records label last October. Since I stopped listening to secular music, I've greatly appreciated their music as it deals with real life issues but still glorifies God and not the rapper or culture. My favorite songs on the album are Power Trip and Gravity.

Artist Spotlight: Propaganda

Propaganda is an artist (graffiti and hip hop) under the Humble Beast label. Like Reach Records, this is a Christian label. The artists under Humble Beast provide a great balance to Reach Records artists, which i might go into more detail in another post. Propaganda is one of the deepest Christian hip hop artist out there. His lyrics are profound and thought provoking. His social consciousness mixed with theology is reflected in his latest album "Excellent". I would have stopped listening to secular music long ago if I knew of artists like him.