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

Today's Song - Acquired In Heaven by Beautiful Eulogy

Explosions in the Sky meets the Gospel. It is technically rap, but I would call this poetry. I would call it spoken Word (yes, with the capital W). This whole album, recently released, is honestly a masterpiece. As far as "free downloadable albums" (they do allow a donation if you choose to do so), I would be bold enough to say this is the best one Christian Hip Hop (CHH) has ever witnessed. I would say it's even in the top 10 period. Bold, I know. And while I can't claim to have heard every album ever released within CHH, I've definitely heard a lot. But just wait till you hear this.

On that day, we will sing of the name more excellent than angels

A purified bride, refined heart, speech and mind

Where unity and fellowship is perfected in the Church

Where Divine love rests in the hearts in the inhabitants of the new earth...

I honestly feel like if I write any more, I'll spoil it for you. It's liquid gold. Humble Beast Records, Braille, Odd Thomas, Courtland Urbano. The floor is yours.

Download this and all the other great songs I could easily just have featured off the album Instruments of Mercy here.

Best,

Felix

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