Today's Song - Intro by Eshon Burgundy ft. Jay Harris (off his album "For God's Sake")

For God's sake - and for His sake only

I'm wondering if you can partake and pray for me

Pray I do it for His glory not my own

Before I turn my back on Him, I take a 40 to the dome...

Evil Evil,

We know the difference between wrong and right

And our condition got us wishing for the longest life...

Cuz I don't need no praise

From the street or the stage

Arrogance is a drug and that buzz last for days...

If that was me instead of Christ on that mountain above the hill

and Satan woulda made me that offer, I woulda kneeled.

We all woulda - but thank God for the carpenter

who carried himself marvelous

all for us...

"He crossed the culture, became a man, walked this earth sinless and then got charged with all our sins and got nailed to a cross and killed. Three days later he rose up like 'Homie I'm back...' and because of that, because He died for our sins, that's why we do what we do...it's for God's sake..."

Eshon Burgundy of Humble Beast spits truth and honesty with what sounds like home cooked classic style beats. The combination of biblical based lyricism with his beats produces an uplifting and impactful jam.

"Intro" is available for download/stream along with the rest of Eshon's album For God's Sake here.

Eshon has a bandcamp with more of his music as well. It's well worth the listen.

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Money by Jai Rian (with interview)

Jai Rian's newest single "Money" is a great look on how chasing material gains in life can be dangerous  and after all, "you can't take [it] with you."
I was able to do a small interview with the up-and-coming artist and this is what he had to say.
Q: Who are you/Where are you from/Why do you do Christian Rap?
My name is Joshua Ryan, I went by J.Ryan before I made the decision to make Christian music only. As a result of my change I also changed my name to Jai Rian which means decedent of a king, little king, Conquerer, Victorious and Defeater. I was born and raised in Las Vegas Nevada so being apart of the fast life is nothing new to me. I've been involved with the streets since I was young, selling drugs, committing robberies, ditching school, gang violence and more. I've been shot, lost friends to violence and lost family members to drug abuse. Even though I ran the streets I always had a urge to know God and find peace. God saved me from death, saved me from addictions, hurts and doubts. God has done so much for me and I've done so little for him, realizing this I decided to give back and die to myself. Start using my talents and heart to spread the gospel, and tell the truth about our heavenly fathers love and salvation. What better way to spread his word than thru music? I'm much happier making music with a Godly influence rather than making music of the world. Giving a piece of Gods love, favor, mercy and a touch of my testimony in every song comes together to present a positive sound. I want to impact peoples lives, encourage, and guide others using the word of God.
Q: What's the concept behind "Money?"
My motivation behind the single "Money" is pretty simple, People now and days have become so codependent on having money and owning material things that they're forgetting about God. It seems most depend on money to gain happiness when truly Gods love and salvation is the key to happiness and peace. The first verse is about a girl that grew up in a God fearing family with dreams and ambitions but as she grew older she desired nice things. Wanting what the eyes desire she soon lost her way and began manipulating men, selling herself and image to obtain money. This was easy to relate to being that I live in Las Vegas, I see it everyday. A lot of women are strippers and or prostitutes, not all but a lot. Even though some know what they do is wrong they won't admit to it because they're able to buy nice things, nice things that can bring a internal fire...Don't chase material things or depend on money to bring you happiness. Because when it's all said and done you can't take material things with you. Don't idolize or depend on something that can wither away, be destroyed or become rotten. True happiness is found in our Father. Look to Him for peace, lean on His word and not on your own understanding because when we do things on our own it soon falls apart. Feed your soul don't sell it.

Here's the stream/download link for "Money." 

Be on the lookout for his upcoming mixtape "Fallen Kings" which will also be featured on Rapzilla! I know I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.

Best,
Felix

Today's Song - (A)Bridge(D) Thoughts by Jgivens

I consider myself to be a Christian Hip Hop aficionado and while I can't call myself an expert, I would say I've heard a lot of different artists with different styles and rhyme schemes. I have to be honest, I slept on Jgivens' last album El V. Envy until recently. In this awakening, I honestly think from a purely aesthetic appreciation for music, Jgivens may have the best flow in Christian rap today - bold claim I know. But I challenge you to check out the lyricism from someone who has been receiving a lot of comparisons to Kendrick Lamar:

This is for them gambling addicted 

Methamphetamine afflicted 

Christians

Living the system: sin on the billboard

Sex on the interstate, evil we imitate

Drugs on the dinner plate

Cash rules everything around our town

Porno magazines pave our ground...

I couldn't live lukewarm cuz He'll puke on hell with my soul

(Man that's so Laodiciean)

That means its better to be either one of these

400 degrees or frozen... 

The reference to the church of Laodiciea is genius (Revelations 3:14-22) and I think the concept of lukewarm Christianity is especially prevalent today. "(A)Bridge(D) Thoughts" will make you scratch your head and think about your personal walk.

Here's the stream to this song  Jgivens' album is quite frankly some of the best 10 bucks I've ever spent.

Best,
Felix

Today's Song - Loud by Sean Simmonds

People who hate it - it is what it is

It ain't entertainment - it's just how we live

See in my eyes - I can't turn it down

The God that we trust - is all over us

Cuz we live it loud.

We live it loud, We live it loud, We live it loud...

Sean Simmonds is all about proclaiming the change that has occurred in his life and how it has resulted in a daily, unashamed lifestyle (see Romans 1:16). The song has a trippy East-Coast club sounding beat (Drake could easily have used this) and Sean Simmonds is clever in his lyricism and throws out references to those in pop culture today like Trinidad James and ASAP Rocky. 

Here's the link to stream/download the song! 

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Beautiful Extraction by SoVocab

Forever lost treasure...Forever lost treasure...

I'm a diamond in the dirt. I'm a diamond in the dirt...

No matter what my sin is You promise to call me by name

Not the dirt I live in cuz I'm not the dirt I live in

But let me finish let me explain

I'm a diamond in the rough, shining through the dust

Created to mimic the King, made in His image so I am a king

Here's some of the magic from SoVocab's song "Beautiful Extraction" off his album "The Lost Tapes" which is available for download on his soundcloud.

SoVocab's mission statement is to "relate to those who need someone to relate to."

Here's the song with stream/download capability.

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Games by Skrip ft. Kidd

Skrip has been featured on Redeeming Rap before as a feature, but he's the main artist in "Games." Kidd, who recently just dropped an album, is featured in this and lays some nice bars down in the opening. "Games" confronts the difficulty in trying to be a responsible man in a society pushing limits on modesty, relationships, and adolescence as a whole. It's not saying men are not partly responsible, it's saying that there are two sides of the story.

Here's some of the wisdom:

Aww - playing games - I ain't playing with you

You ain't got a ring - I ain't laying with you...

I ain't changing directions, I ain't tryna divert

You said we just friends, why you bein a flirt?

All y'all wanna play games x 16

She on instagram tryna get an instant man

About a hundred likes so she think she a hundred grand...

She mad that dudes playin but she in that game too...

Called out though.

Here's the stream/free download!

Best,
Felix