2011's Best CHH Releases

One year comes to an end, another starts. There's just no let up; it's always one year or another. Last year saw my return to listening to Christian Hip Hop after relinquishing my duties writing for my own secular Hip Hop site.

In terms of music it's been a year I've enjoyed greatly. For the couple of years previous I'd been listening to way too much music, some good, some bad (for different reasons) because I committed to providing a very comprehensive coverage of the UK Hip Hop scene. This meant I no longer listened to music for pleasure. This year, picking up albums at my own pace, and listening to them for my own enjoyment has been great. Having said this, some of the albums I've listened to and enjoyed this year are ones I've had the priviledge of reviewing for SphereOfHipHop.com - an opportunity I've been very thankful for.

Now, in no particular order, and in no way definitive (because I've not listened to everything that's been released this year!), a list of my favourite Christian Hip Hop albums:

shai linne's 'The Attributes of God', was one which I was looking forward to. I love everything he'd done previously and he's been my most-played artist of 2011. The production on 'TAOG' didn't really do it for me but the lyrical and theological content is just so powerful that this is an album I'll be listening to for a lot longer. It also inspired me to finally read A.W. Pink's book of the same name, which is most excellent, although I do need to get on finish it now - it's only a short book! Get the download for $10 at the Lampmode site.

Braille's 'Native Lungs' was probably my most favourite CD this year. The beats are heavy, the rhymes are open and honest and Braille brings the gospel message clearer than most have ever done. This was a free download but I bought a CD because I loved it so much.

JGivens' 'Run' just popped up from nowhere for me. I'd never heard of him, or his music before but it blew my socks off. Creative and humourous whilst delivering messages of utmost importance JGiven's became my favourite new rapper. Fact. 'Run' is also now a free download on the JGivens Bandcamp page.

Earlier on in the year, right at the point of my return to CHH, two albums were released by Illect Recordings. The first one was muzeONE's 'Cold War', an album which reminded me of how credible the CHH scene can be - it's full of hard beats and clever, insightful, well-written rhymes. Solid stuff. You can get it for the ridiculous sum of $5 at the Illect bandcamp site.

The other Illect release was Sintax the Terrific's 'Prince With A Thousand Enemies' which was another release that got me inspired to read a book: Richard Adams' 'Watership Down' (another one that I've not finished because I had to take it back to the library - really want to finish it though!). The album takes concepts from the book and applies them to the life of a human, particularly to the life of a Christian. It's one of the most poetic releases I've heard this year and despite being based on a (so-called) children's book, it's also one of the deepest and most thought-provoking. This one can also be had for $5.

Another free download, and again from the Humble Beast stable: Theory Hazit's 'The Rock Is Steady' E.P./mixtape. It's a quick blast (15 minutes - perfect!) of bonafide Hip Hop music with a heavy nod to its predecessors. It gets no realer. Click here to get it!

Mr. J. Medeiros was an artist I'd known of for ages, primarily for his 'of gods and girls' album on Rawkus a few years back. In 2011 he dropped the genre-defying (although it's still Hip Hop to me) 'Saudade'. I loved the name, because I loved the word previously and I loved the album - tons of musically-excellent Rap music with lyrics to really get you thinking. This one's also $5 on Bandcamp - mental.

Paradox and DJ Sean P's 'Mending' was a release I reviewed for SOHH.com - another solid Hip Hop album full of some of the best beats and the best rhymes of the year. It's got a great list of guest appearances too - your favourites are bound to be there. Get this for $7.77, well why not?

Sneaking in at the last minute are theBREAX with their album 'Never Arrive'. It comes in on the back of a slew of excellent mixtapes and a building buzz that left me with no choice but to check this release out. I'll be reviewing it very soon for SOHH.com so look out for my thoughts on that one - suffice to say it'll be positive. This can be gotten here for an amount of dollars (which I can't see because I'm in the UK).

That's only a top 9, but it's only alliteration that dictates there should be 10. If you've not heard any of these, it's only going to set you back around 40 dollars to pick up all these quality projects - not bad eh? Here's to a new year and more fresh, God-glorifying, Kingdom-furthering, Christ-praising Hip Hop music.

'T.H.E. O.N.E.S' - N.I.F.T.Y. (review)

Another review, this time of N.I.F.T.Y.'s 'T.H.E. O.N.E.S.' (glad I don't have to type that again for a while!).

Here are a few samples of what I had to say:

"T.H.E. O.N.E.S stands for “Through His Example, Our Numbers Enter Salvation” and it’s an intensely gospel-centered album. N.I.F.T.Y.’s content is encouraging, challenging and true to the word of God."

"N.I.F.T.Y. has an authoritative voice and presence on this record. His vocals hold the strange ability to evoke the sound of Hip Hop legends... he has a mainstream but credible and classic voice."

Anyway, check it out for yourself - this will be one that gets iPod rotations from me, that's if my iPod stops acting a fool.

'Mending' - Paradox & DJ Sean P (review)

My latest review on Sphere of Hip Hop and an album I really enjoyed. The beats are spectacular and Paradox's rhymes never get tired. Check out 'Mending' by Paradox and DJ Sean P.

'He'll Come Back' is a fun reminder of something that believers should be so joyful about - our future hope - Christ's return. It features some of the album's great guests - MotionPlus, Freddie Bruno and Braille.

Pre-Release Thoughts on Shai Linne's 'The Attributes of God'

Shai Linne has to be credited as being the one who brought me back to Christian Hip Hop. As you might know he's due to drop an album called 'The Attributes of God' which is based largely on the book of the same name by A.W. Pink (click the link to read a PDF version).

In preparation for the album, and also because the book has been on my list of Christian classics to read, I've begun reading A.W. Pink's book. It's short and incredibly easy to read whilst being packed full of Biblical truths about our God which are all firmly rooted in scripture.

One thing I noted in the preface to the book is this quote:

"If the reader is to truly profit from his perusal of the pages that follow, he needs to definitely and earnestly beseech God to bless them to him, to apply His Truth to the conscience and the heart, so that his life will be transformed thereby."

I hope that I, and all other listeners of Shai Linne's LP will have this approach to both the book and the music. It's actually a scary thing to be praying for - that we would be changed, change that will be and should be uncomfortable as we dethrone self and put God in His rightful place. Having said this, the preface to the book also reminds us from Job to:

"Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee."

So, the more we know God, the more we will be at peace although that time of refining may be uncomfortable as Psalm 66:10-12 reminds us:

"For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."

Shai Linne has written some interesting posts relating to the release of the album over on his own blog (www.lyricaltheology.blogspot.com), one being his post entitled 'Why Do An Album on God's Attributes'.

For a taster of the album, which is released on 1st November 2011, check out these videos:

To order a copy go to the Lampmode Records Store.

'Stranger 2 Stranger' ft. Mac The Doulos - Evangel

It's been on my listen list a while now (it being a Lampmode release and all) and I finally got round to beginning to check Evangel's 'Expository Journey'. The first track proper is a duet with Mac The Doulos called 'Stranger 2 Stranger'.

If you're the type who learns from rap lyrics, and indeed learns rap lyrics by heart, then this track could really help you in situations where you're sharing the gospel. The unbeliever in the track throws up the most common objections to Christianity and the believer tackles each one graciously and succinctly - kinda like an easy-to-remember rap catechism!

Props to whoever uploaded this to Youtube with all the lyrics.

PRo and Odd Thomas - Two New Reviews

Have a couple more reviews for y'all to peruse:

First is PRo's 'Dying To Live' on Reach Records, which to be honest, was kinda the last Reach Records-ish release that I could listen to, having only recently reviewed both of Lecrae's latest releases. Because of this, it's possible that I reviewed unfairly but really 'Dying To Live' is very similar to other Reach releases - which is good, if you like that sort of thing. I must say though that their Gospel message is consistent and challenging and this is of utmost importance - they'll be reaching the folk who they intend to reach by continuing the way they are going.

Second is Odd Thomas' 'The Divine Use of Animosity and Ridicule' which I really enjoyed - much more my thing. OK, so Odd Thomas isn't exactly prolific with releases but that doesn't matter too much to me - at least I don't have to keep splashing out to keep up with him (even though this release is free as it's a Humble Beast jobbie). Want to hear some brave and bold emceeing? Then check this one out.

'The Rock Is Steady' - Theory Hazit (album review)

Just this: Theory Hazit 'The Rock Is Steady' review over at Sphere of Hip Hop.

Loved this release, as you may be able to tell from the review, and you should too (you being no-one because no-one reads this blog!).

Have also submitted reviews of PRo's 'Dying To Live', Lecrae's 'Hallelujah' single and Odd Thomas's 'The Divine Use of Animosity and Ridicule'.

I've also been listening a lot to Macho's 'Remember' which has prompted me to go back again to New Breed's 'Stop The Music' and Tunnel Rats' 'Tunnel Vision'. Also on deck has been 'One' by The Battery (ex-Tunnel Rats Jurny Big and Peace 586). I've also been listening to Wit and Dre Murray's 'Hell's Paradise Part 2' EPs - very good stuff.