Today's Song - Arena by W.L.A.K.

First off, if you don't have the W.L.A.K. album, get it. It's worth it. Dre Murray, Christon Gray, Swoope, and Alex Faith are all phenomenal in this and the mixture is beautiful.

This song features Dre Murray and Christon Gray and it's a beautiful, poignant focus on God being the center of their arena.

Here are some of the lyrics.

Chorus

Oh Lord

Stone they all rejected

Still You did the unexpected

Stepped down from the throne

Oh Lord

Lower than the Angels

No one else can save us

Cuz you are God alone

Verse 1

They came to see me, I wan't 'em seeking you

The world's a microscope they watching everything I do

Everything I say, every set I play

I got my head down, praying I don't go astray

That I never fall, that I never turn

See lightning strike, crash and burn

I'm in this airplane, dodging the clouds

On this narrow path dodging the crowds

Running from trends, seeing my friends turn to enemies

They slither like centipedes

100 problems, but he left 99

Just to find me, yea I was a blind sheep

98 on the freeway, eyes on the promise

But my past right behind me

I'm tryna get the one though

Future bright cuz my eyes on the Son bro

You get a Jay-Z reference turned into a parable, a play on words, and humility in understanding that as we are under the microscope, it's essential to pray for strength.

I love it. I hope you do too.

Here's a link to hear it - DON'T get this song illegally - Christian rappers do not get compensated for all the work they put in properly.

Best,
Felix

Today's Song - All Day by Cross Movement

First off, follow us on twitter if you got one and want updates! 

In the spirit of Throwback Thursday, #tbt, we travel back to 2000. Cross Movement is one of the original and classic hip hop groups and while yes, the beat is very basic, the lyrics are phenomenal. 

Check out these bars:

Daily, my mind is bombarded with the fact of things

That God is not a part of our everyday happenings

The raps we sing, the films we watch, the lives we live

Men's prerogative

And we like it like that

When God's word comes across the net

You can bet we spike it right back

But when you're the object of pain

It's not odd it's insane

How God is left out, yet God gets the blame

When it's negative, yet all the while peep all the smiles 

As peeps call and shout, "yo just let us live"

Even though it's very contrary to what He say

That's how they roll all day every day

That's one verse. From one of the four members (Phanatik). Cross Movement is the truth. Enjoy the song via youtube stream here and download on iTunes if you love it - there's way more where it came from if it's your style.

Best,
Felix

Today's Song - Broken Keys by Swade

Trumpets, piano, synth, bass, and a lot of character define the beat behind Swade's masterpiece. In fact, it's got kind of a Jay-Z funk, but it comes with a lot more substance and meaning. 

Check the chorus:

I've been praying on my knees thanking God for the fact He plays these broken keys,

Yeah that blood stained banner's what I hope He sees, I had a debt full of regret but He paid my fees

I've been praying on my knees thanking God for the fact He plays these broken keys

See my life is like a movie in that opening scene - it was dim, looking grim, but He's molding me. 

It's a really cool picture of how despite our fears and failures, God still uses us.

Check the free download and stream (courtesy of Rapzilla) right here.

For more of Swade's music, check out his soundcloud. 

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Steinbrenner by Social Club

Let me start this post off saying I've been anticipating releasing this song as the song of the day for some time now. Social Club is an up and coming and in many ways here already group consisting of Marty and Fern who both offer distinctive yet still resonant voices to the mix. If you listen to Christian Hip Hop pretty regularly, you may recognize them after listening.

Steinbrenner comes off the album "The Summer of George" and is one of my current favorites. From a purely musical standpoint, the flow from both Marty and Fern is very strong and the beat absolutely bangs. Content speaking, this song goes off. 

It starts with a poignant sound clip from a sermon of some kind which defiantly declares to an ominous introduction of the beat these words:

"You got to understand something about God. Sin does not intimidate God like it intimidates man. God is not intimidated with sin. There is no sin or sinner that is irreparable, irredeemable with Jesus. There is no sin that is too great that the blood of Jesus cannot cover. Sin is NOT a problem, for God."

Then, like Marty does, the standard of a solid chorus is raised again:

I lay my life down for the King of kings

who died and laid everything down - it don't make sense

I feel like why would You even want me

and even though I don't do what's right You still want me!

A misfit means we claim You in our hearts

Tattoos don't make you a sinner - it makes you who you are

But they try to clean you up before they get you to God

I'm fresh outta the battle, I'm branded with all these scars! 

From there, Fern takes it with a powerful beat drop discussing how his "voice is an instrument" for God and "without of the grace of God, we're straight terrible..."Marty gets his own verse after his next chorus, pouring out how "[God's] grace is falling like an avalanche!" and more truth.

As far as unashamed music goes, this is near the pinnacle. It gets me amped every time.

Enjoy:

For more music from Social Club including downloads and "name your price" albums, click here.

Best,
Felix

Today's Song - Fallin' by Trip Lee ft. J. Paul

For most of you that are familiar with the Christian Hip Hop (CHH) scene, Trip Lee is a household name and his song "Fallin'" is no novelty. If for some reason you haven't heard it and consider yourself a CHH fan, this one will rock your world.

"Fallin'" might be one of my favorite 5 songs period. Especially for a young man growing up in a world that tends to objectify women, the struggle to maintain purity is persistent and continuous. There are a couple responses to this struggle. One of them is to give up, label our failure as "relative" and justify it each way we can. On the flip side, another answer is to beat ourselves up, weighed down by our depraved reality. Trip Lee's song really provides honesty and insight into these responses amidst struggle and offers an unbelievably refreshing, and comforting reminder that we are not alone and that an unconditional love has been offered to us, the Giver being One who continually picks us up.

Here are some of Trip's lyrics:

I don't really want it but it's calling my name

"William you come and get me I can take away the pain 

Come a little closer you got everything to gain" 

But I got to much to lose I'm bout to go insane 

I been here too many times got my head low 

If I gave a dime for every time I'd be dead broke 

I feel that battle in my soul the pressure closing in 

My passions asking for a pass and I can't hold it in 

There I go again no self control again I'm too good at giving in 

Feeling like throwing in the towel the guilt is closing in 

Sometimes I climb the heights but I'm at my lowest sin 

Cloaked in deception and overdosing on potent sin 

I'm so gone baby wanna be home again 

Wanna feel whole again come fill this hole again 

Now I'm doubled over with my face in my knees 

At your side is where I wanna be 

But there I go again I'm falling 

(Chorus - J. Paul)
Face to the pavement
Once again faced with the same sin
(There I go again I'm falling)
I don't think I'm a make it
Don't know how much longer I can take it
(There I go again I'm falling)
So I'm caught up in this sin
I wonder if I see Your face again
(There I go again I'm falling)
Falling Falling Falling
There I go

It seems as if all is lost, but Trip's bridge carries the true message behind his song:

Everytime I fall He go'n pick me up

The Lord is my shepherd homie He go'n pick me up

I fell into the trap again but He go'n pick me up

Remind me of His promises in Him I put my trust

I don't never have to give in to the lies

I'm feasting on His word all my sin I do despise

So now I'm down before His throne praying on my knees

Asking Lord give me grace please

I don't wanna be falling 

Trip Lee is part of Reach Records and more of his work can be found here.

Best,
Felix

Today's Song - Please You by Jay Carlisle

Today's song's comes to us from Jay Carlisle, a member of REKCITY. It really speaks to me in that it stresses how one really desires to please God, but how that desire alone is often met with struggles. Throughout the song, the artist discusses how important it is to stay in the word and to fight the natural urges to obey the flesh. Musically, the song has a positive, upbeat sound and a catchy hook that sticks with you long after the song ends.

Here's an excerpt from the song:

And when the pain cuts deep in my heart you stop the bleeding

I might get sucker punched some times, but I'm still breathing

I'm still here, I'm still standing

Yeah they can cut my legs off, I'll start hand-standing...

I'm sick of mistakes

I'm sick of being fake

Tryna stop my old ways

But it's like they cut the brakes

I wanna leave

but it's like I just keep getting raked

Back into my flesh

that I've learned to hate.

You can find the song for streaming and download on Rapzilla here!

Check it out, it'll have you whistling throughout the day.

Best,

Felix