Today's Song - Believe by Lecrae (off of Church Clothes 2)

So chances are, you know Lecrae. And chances are that if you read this blog, you've probably already downloaded your copy of Church Clothes 2. No idea? Let's do a little history. Lecrae dropped Church Clothes (1) on Datpiff last May and the mixtape was downloaded 100,000 times in less than 48 hours, eventually totaling over 500k downloads and becoming a double platinum album. Lecrae that year won his first Grammy (for his album Gravity) and Church Clothes 2 was thus, very highly anticipated. In the first couple days of listening to it, Lecrae definitely kept his hot streak going. While yes, he may draw some criticism from Christians for featuring non-"Christian rappers" like Paul Wall, B.O.B. and David Banner, Lecrae has kept the same overall message and has even responded to people's worries of him getting off track so to speak (and did a good job of it too, IMO).

But here's "Believe" by Lecrae, his second song off CC2 and some of the lyrics:

You would it never seen it coming

A couple months ago I'm getting high with my cousin

And fast forward now around campus I'm buzzing

Not really but it felt like that, it felt like rap was just another passion

Never thought I'd be at the Grammy's talking about my fashion

You don't believe in God? Well how do you explain what happened?

I promise we ain't plan it now Christians unashamed from Zambia to Manhattan

Still lookin for the pattern? Come on!

(Chorus)

What would it take to make you believe?

More fire from the sky? Another parting the sea?

The honest truth is, that you ain't got the power to see

And let me take you on this journey, it all started with me

The even better news is you don't have to pay for it - Lecrae has the entire mixtape on Datpiff for download right here!

Enjoy,

Felix

Today's Song - ATLast by Alex Faith (ft. Christon Gray)

I'm a huge Alex Faith and WLAK (We Live As Kings) fan and not only did I preorder ATLast, my friend and I had a countdown to when it would be available. The wait was well worth it and I'll try and give the whole album a review this Saturday but I couldn't resist sharing this gem until then. "ATLast," the title track is a smooth sailing, inspiring and moving song with an awesome message and the mixture of Christon Gray's choruses in between Alex Faith's lines is such a good combo (further proved in about every WLAK song that features the two). Actually, this song is so good, it's even Alex's favorite one of the new album (which is no small claim):

@Felixvdv ATLast, title track. Personal fav.
— alex faith (@alexfaithATL) October 22, 2013

Here are just a few of the lyrics:

...but the greatest gift of all was the Gospel of God

When I was lost in sin He came and met me in a puddle of blood

Beneath the rugged cross I lay, what have I done?

Looking up, I'm at the feet of God's only begotten Son!

I'm humbled, but at the same time I feel terrified

Crown of thorns is on His head, ain't no fire in His eyes

and I make sure that He's dead - I see Him bleeding from the side

Then it hit me, I'm made in God's own image, why do I feel so blind?

I crucified Jesus - I was there on that day

I told 'em "Hang Him on that tree!"

I told 'em "Put Him on display!"

I'm crushed under weight, all of a sudden my dismay

is lifted raised up my head and He told me it's ok

And He looked me in my eyes and told me I'm forgiven

He touched the coal to my lip and sent me on a mission

Elevate success to how much is in our salary

Broadcast it on the airwaves, proclaiming fallacies

that if we get to where they at, that means we have it all

always chasin' something more, can't we see we're bound to fall?

Phenomenal. Experience it put into music:

Once again, as I always say, don't get this illegally. These guys are barely compensated for the work they do. Buy Alex Faith's album right here!

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Doctrinal Rhymeschemes Part 2 by Christcentric (ft. Omri and B-doe)

Imagine the BET Cyphers, but with a message that lasts. You're thinking of "Doctrinal Rhymeschemes Part 2."

Omri is no stranger to Redeeming Rap (see the review of his single "Selah" here) but this time he is a feature of a song by Christcentric alongside B-doe. Christcentric defines themselves as a "collection of ministers, gifted in the art of hip-hop, and called by God to passionately preach, teach, and defend the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified." "Doctrinal Rhymeschemes Part 2" is the first single off their upcoming album The Jude Injunction and features verses from group members Evangel and Israel the Puritan. Here's some of the best from each rapper's verse:

(Omri):

...unbelievers ain't seen nothing because really none is suited

a few 

people have a view

but the evil, deceased shun it

because their dumb, foolish feeble aptitudes

lead them to see something but not the One who is

Reaching radicals, keep them keeping the beast covered...

(Evangel):

Labled him king of Jews 

which was met with a smatter-

ing of boos

like nincoompoops

confusing data

of this fatted calf they choose to flatter

he took the L cause this dude was fatter

served like lifting a platter

to a ditch, out on the third like a pitch to a batter

this is the data

officially grati-

fying Adonai

the Dad of Zion

cause its satisfying

(Israel the Puritan)

there's no suffering we're one with Christ

we'll have the time of our lives with groom when He and us unite

see our evil let us stray

His bleeding set us straight

we'll meet at heaven's gate

He'll feed us heavens cake on our wedding day

no concubines what an enormous platter that the Lord has granted

surely manna tastes like coriander!

(B-doe)

Keep your College degrees

Knowledge, decrees

Popular steez

You are not in His league

He bops to his own rhythm 

With intricate word play and multiple allusions to biblical references, including the celebration of the marriage of the Church to Jesus (Ephesians 5:22-32) and divinely made manna (Exodus 16), "Doctrinal Rhymeschemes Part 2" has bars for days.

Here's the link for free stream and download!

Best, 

Felix

Today's Song - Foreign Exchange by Selah the Corner & Bizzle

Selah the Corner and Bizzle absolutely murder the "Pound Cake" instrumental (as made famous by Drake and effectively just brags about how much money Drake and Jay-Z have made). The song is an intense dialogue over the vain pursuit of material wealth and the methods willing to be employed in order to achieve that material wealth. The song holds that the ends do not justify the means and that the only currency worth pursuing is "Yaweh currency [souls]." Both these young talented artists are part of the God Over Money team. Here's some of their insight:

(Selah the Corner)

...I spit God Word - Every bar plagiarism

I look around and all I'm seein is favoritism

I know what it's like to be last on it

Good concept, fast, and even bars on it

Get a track blackout and straight mash on it

For somebody gon' tell you they gon' pass on it

Tears of a real spitter

They bottle living water, I need a real river

And my mission to tryna mirror ya

What I deliver ain't bigger than the Deliverer

So tell me bout your goal homie

You rap for the Rock you gotta roll homie...

Yaweh currency is souls homie...

(Bizzle)

...tryna compare Bizzle to a Lil Wayne

is comparin a couple dope lines to a brick o' caine.

What you rappers want, respect?

After seein the things y'all do for a check

This week is a pistol, next week is a dress

This week is Miley, next week is sex

Wonder what they gon' have y'all tellin us next

Live fast, die young - they sellin us all death

Lil' Snoop passed, I ain't even wanna read about it

Same cats pushin murder raps wanna tweet about it

But homie what you gonna do about it

You probably supplied the soundtrack for the dude who shot him

You put murder all in your songs

But if murder is wrong, then it's wrong

It shouldn't be about the money.

Fire.

Here's the link for free download and stream.

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Walking Dead by Michael Berean (ft. theBREAX)

John Piper quotes throughout the song. Michael Berean's unorthodox yet poignant flow. theBREAX going in. I give you "The Walking Dead." Here's some of the content:

John Piper: ...we're not dead - we're following...

...but it's nothin to say

I wanna pick their brain but they runnin away

I wanna be their blood brothers

Put the skeleton back in the closet

Have a feast before my body decays

No smiley face or JK

This is really my only way to survive

Christians be acting dead they lucky to be alive

Realize you got a lot of grace

There's a lot of dead men that would love to take your place

John Piper:...people aren't dead because they can't walk. People are dead because they can't see...

Here's the link to Michael Berean and theBREAX's call to be alive and where you can download and stream this song for free.

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - U by Cam Be + Josh Free ft. J. Ivy and D-Train

From the beginning of my life

Joy, pain, struggle and the strife

I'm giving it to U

Every single part of me

Blessing to a piece of history

I'm giving it to U

My ups my downs

My highs my lows

My soul

I'm giving it to U

I'm giving it to U

...U and I are one beneath the barriers of this flesh

Like energy, we connect

Yes

It's true.

You see the light in my eyes

Because God shines through

I see the light in Yours

That's why I'm giving it all to You

What happens when you mix savvy and intricate flow with a catchy hook, a happy, jazzy and suave instrumental, and spoken word? "U" happens. Cam Be + Josh Free burst out of the midwest onto the national scene with this song featuring Grammy Award winning poet J. Ivy and Dwayne 'D-Train' Wilson singing the hook. Wait, there's a stream link with a free download too? Yeah, get it here.

One more surprise. There's a music video! Check it out:

Best,

Felix

Today's Song - Fall by Sevin

We came here to bless your name

Came here expecting rain

Let it fall

It's more than a stage or a show

We need you to save our soul

Let it fall

He was born from a cave and rose from a tomb

The Holy God became a slave absorbing our doom

We took Him to court, tortured him, tore open His wounds

From the abuse of the bride, blood poured from the Groom

His actions then exposed the ways He loved us though

Melted my heart, it was frozen like a tub of snow

He died to save us, what greater love has another bro

Why I'm the one He chose to cover for, I'll never know

Unmerited grace, yes I know I'm blessed

How could I have ever earned life when I owed Him death.

Sevin's song "Fall" is off his album Commissary which you can find here. His song is a direct narration and explanation behind the crucifixion of Jesus and the results. He uses some big time scripture verses throughout the song like John 15:13, and another passage in the ending taken from 1 Peter 5.

Here's the link for free stream and download!

Best,

Felix