Today's Song - The Devil Ain't A Lie by Eshon Burgundy

Eshon Burgundy - increasingly a household name for Christian Hip Hop fans - is a product of Humble Beast Records and lives up to their name. I honestly don't know how to say this any other way - Eshon absolutely murders this track.

Peep some of the lyrics:

...John 16 Ima overcomer

Verse 33 if you didn't know the number

They tell me you gonna know a tree by the fruit

If it's evil then it's evil pull that thing out by the root

You know they lie to you try to keep you from the truth

What did I do to 'cept to take you to the proof...

Here it is with free download when you verify by submitting your email address.

Want more Eshon? Check out our first review of one of his songs, "Intro."

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Right Here by Mission ft. Black Knight

Right off the brand new album Dress Rehearsal, "Right Here" is a banger featuring Black Knight on the importance of the boldness of faith and some of the common misconceptions people have about Christianity, namely its focus of rituals and "religion" than a relationship with Jesus Christ. Here's some of Mission's lyrics:

Started from the bottom - more like started from that dust
On your block, ain't no punks, man we harder than we look
You just watch, Don't be shook
that we out just tryna push
If that Word was like a hammer
I'm like Thor with that Book
Man I'm like slow down (slow down)
Don't wanna be caught out here doing wrong when it go down (go down)
Don't wanna be caught out here on your own when it go down 
but you know now
I ain't here to condemn you man...
cuz I ain't your judge like Joe Brown

Mission has been a feature of Redeeming Rap before - to check out "Round 'em Up" click here.

To stream and download "Right Here," click here. For access to download the whole album Dress Rehearsal, click here.

Best,

Felix

Interview with Alex Faith

Followers,

  I recently had the chance to have an interview with Alex Faith. In the interview, we talk about his background and mission as a rapper, his new album ATLast, the Christian Hip Hop world, the viability of being a Christian rapper as a career, his involvement in We Live As Kings as well as Collision Records, his upcoming plans (including a tour with Dre Murray performing ATLast and Gold Rush) and his honest approach in his music.

Here's my favorite snippet:

"...I wanted the listener to feel like 'This dude is never going to lie to you.' Cause Hip Hop in general is just, you know, even though it's somewhat cliche, a bunch of lies. They tell you this is what success is, this is what beauty is, this is the way we should view politics, the world, money, anything and everything. It's a cultural system. It'll indoctrinate you to make you believe the way it wants you to believe...for me it's like 'This is the most popular form of lying in the world. What am I going to do to be different?'"

Here's the rest of the interview:

Best,
Felix

Update - College Finals

Hey Redeeming Rap followers - I hope all is well with you.
As I am amid college final exams, I am taking a majority leave of absence - I may upload an interview or two - from blogging until December 15th - I  just am having a hard time trying to balance studying with looking for new songs and artists to promote but will be back on it the 15th onwards.

In the mean time, check out Rapzilla's twitter, Dre' Jackson's twitter, SOHH PR's twitter and Jam The Hype's twitter for new songs you can catch onto.

Grace and Peace,
Felix

Today's Song - Dear You by Milliyon

...Church hurt - had him runnin to the hills 

and Church rapper had him needin for the bills

So he switched up, turned state

Got bread, said he stacked cake

But that empty void never filled

A hundred bottles...silence was never killed

His kids he never saw, his wife he never loved

The drugs they took him over and left him up in a slump

The lies they ran rampant, the friends they never stay

Before he took his life, he heard the devil say:

"Got your hand on your gun, what you running from?

(see I don't want that to be you)

Grab the trigger and pull, what you waiting for?"

(I know there's a better way, grace and mercy all the way

...I'm only sayin this cuz I love you)

Coming off the album #G-Code, Milliyon brings a powerful song explaining the potential dangers of looking for short term, financially driven success that isn't based off absolute truth as well as the consequences that could ultimately follow. The featured part of the song is his last verse which I really enjoy, particularly how his warning comes because he loves that person - not telling someone the truth and allowing them to be hurt would in fact be showing a lack of love. I think that's really a powerful statement that Christians today definitely need to hear - it's not always comfortable saying things, but some times it's worth it, especially if you actually do care for that person.

You can stream and download this song for free here and even download Milliyon's entire album for free here.

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - BC by SPZRKT ft. Marz

I keep falling

You keep picking me up

I keep stalling

Shift me into your love

I can feel it

In Your heart I will trust

Where I have been my whole life?

What was I doing before You?

Where was I looking before You?

What was I doing before You?

I went everywhere just looking for You

And I'll never go looking again

This is much more on the rnb side of Hip-Hop, but I think it's a really nicely done and polished song. The feature of Marz is a nice touch and the background (upbeat Coldplay sounding-ish instrumental) definitely complements SPZRKT's voice. We've heard "Spazzy" (as he is called from time to time) before (check out "Change Gone Come") as he's definitely becoming a recognizable voice within the CHH world. BC (standing for Before Christ) is really just that - SPZRKT's life before he met Christ.

Here's where you can get this song for free! (courtesy of Jam The Hype)

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - The Edge of the World by Je'kob ft. Deraj

Life - we live it

And I ain't gotta tell ya that I'm with it

But we got liars on that mic who sold they souls for money

And liars in the pulpit who sold for milk and honey

Some times that fakeness will infect me

I pray God will protect me

and if you see me slippin then I pray one of y'all check me...

...fathers leavin their families

Kids comin up with no dads

That there - is so sad

So they turn the music on, turning up the system

So these rappers can deliver twisted wisdom, listen...

Je'kob delivers a really solid message (with a very strong last verse by Deraj) in "The Edge of the World," highlighting some of the problems with people using modern day music (or other alternatives outside of Divine love) to attempt to drown out their problems. He brings a fair point too - people turn to anything that will comfort them, and especially the messages you hear about violence, sex and drugs, while albeit never truly edifying, certainly don't help develop a young boy's mind.

Here's where you can stream and download it for free!

Best,

Felix