Crooning over the super smooth production by Tom Misch, Sean C. Johnson fuses gospel style vocals with rap on the excellent lead single from his new project, Circa 1993.
Producer Terrence Lamar Ford remixes David’s Dunn pop song ‘Today Is Beautiful’ as part of a remix competition, transforming it into a chilled, hip-hop, electronica influenced joint.
Sometimes the day won’t ever end Sometimes you just throw up your hands It’s the little things sometimes
Sometimes the world has just gone dark Sometimes your praying for a spark It’s the little things sometimes
But if you lift your eyes See it in a different light Just a cloud up in the open sky Let the rain, fall away Cause today is beautiful
Lift your eyes See it in a different light Just a cloud up in the open sky Let the rain, fall away Cause today is beautiful
Right now it feels so hard to breath Right now you’re asking God why me It’s what you can see right now
Cause right now there’s a greater truth Right now there’s a bigger view Than what you can see right now
But if you lift your eyes See it in a different light Just a cloud up in the open sky Let the rain, fall away Cause today is beautiful
Lift your eyes See it in a different light Just a cloud up in the open sky Let the rain, fall away Cause today is beautiful
If you see more than what’s in front of you You might see more of heavens view If you see more than what’s in front of you You might see more of heavens view
So lift your eyes See it in a different light Just a cloud up in the open sky Let the rain, fall away Cause today is beautiful
Lift your eyes See it in a different light Just a cloud up in the open sky Let the rain, fall away Cause today is beautiful
Lyrics: They say be careful and look before you take your first step Love is so dangerous you don’t wanna have regrets I might be in over my head You won’t leave me for dead, no
Aye, holding on to every word that You say Courage comes and goes in waves, but with You I’m just always so brave on the wild side
It’s dangerous to be in love but I like it on the wild side, the wild side’s Dangerous for hearts to touch, but I want You to hold mine, there’s no denying that I’m Dangerous with you. I’m so Dangerous with you. You got me feelin’
Feelin like I’m runnin from the police how my heart stay rushin Light up the dark light up this art you know it’s me why you askin me questions I know its Him cause He given me life I know we win in the end no surprise Pen in my hand are you down for the ride it might get wild we like that side
Oh we got it so I flaunt it love on repeat like its chronic Word on the street is we’re toxic Infiltrating other’s mindsets I’m a diamond got me shinin’ I’m the branch and You’re the vine and Loves so fierce got the heart of a lion veils been pierced so it’s hard to stay silent
Aye, holding on to every word that You say Courage comes and goes in waves, but with You I’m just always so brave on the wild side
It’s dangerous to be in love but I like it on the wild side, the wild side’s Dangerous for hearts to touch, but I want You to hold mine, there’s no denying that I’m Dangerous with you. I’m so Dangerous with you. You got me feelin’
Michigan rapper James Gardin brings the old school vibes in his latest release ‘Clock In’.
In his own words: “Do you have a day job that you know isn’t your purpose? Well this is your anthem,here is my attempt at analyzing our overworked spirits that at times needs to refresh and refocus on purpose.”
It’s been a busy year! Our audience has increased hugely – the YouTube channel now has over 12,000 Subscribers and total video views currently stands at 1.5 million! Amongst the growth though with some help from friends and family I’ve been in touch with more artists to bring you another free summer mixtape and here it is.
It’s not as long as last years, at just 11 tracks but I’d rather deliver a shorter mixtape of top quality music than fill it with anything I could get permission for!
Like last years mixtape I hope you are introduced to new artists through this compilation. I’ve come to know some of these artists really well whilst putting this together and by speaking to them throughout the year and I can honestly say there are some great people featured on this album who truly worship Christ with everything that they have to give. So, check out the poster that’s included and get in touch with the artists’ through Facebook and Twitter etc. and tell them how much you appreciate their music, knowing these guys most of them will probably even find the time to reply to you! (Then go download the rest of their work!)
Be encouraged by their music, share it with friends not just because you secretly hope they’ll become Christians through it but because it’s simply a collection of great music! Enjoy the diverse mix of genres, the different ways that people praise God and the different stories people have to tell.
My prayer this year is for this mixtape to spread further than before, to reach Christians throughout the world who need encouraging, Christians who wish there was great music for a great God, Christians who need a new song to sing and soundtrack to dance to.
A huge thanks to all the artists involved, for supporting the blog and the work I do and wanting to be part of this small but influential mixtape.
And finally thanks to you the listener for the continued support to both the blog and the artists we feature, whether it’s simply by liking a link on Facebook, sharing the blog with friends or donating money so that we can give more copies of the mixtape away. Thank you for making this possible.
Rapper, poet and artist, Propaganda releases his second album with Portland based label Humble Beast, titled Crimson Cord. On this track he’s joined by none other than Reach Records’ Andy Mineo and Humble Beast’s latest signing – Saint City rapper, JGivens.
Produced by Soulection artist IAMNOBODI, on this track Sean C. Johnson, Shy Speaks and Adam L. give their testimonies on how pornography and porn addiction has affected them. The title takes it’s name from XXX which in roman numerals is 30, this number being important because it takes 30 days of not doing something to break a habit/addiction. With some powerful testimonies, and a real honesty from these artists on an issue that affects so many people in the church who may not have the appropriate support to talk through these struggles, this song may offend some but speak loudly to others. Excerpts from a John Piper sermon have also been used to add impact to the great lyrics of the track; a favourite line being the brilliant nod from Shy Speaks to the original instrumental – Kendrick Lamar’s ‘B****, Don’t Kill My Vibe’ – with the line “I guess I killed their vibe”.
As a note, I’m aware that some people who hear this may struggle with porn addiction and would like to use this song to point people to the brilliant ministry of http://www.xxxchurch.com/.
Lyrics:
Verse 1: Wish I could erase the images I’ve seen Year was 93’, tape on the bed right next to me Couldn’t wait till my Auntie went to sleep, so we put the TV on mute And the girl on the TV so cute, could have sworn she was looking at me Now the seed is planted so deep, turn the lights off Mouth sitting wide open, but I can’t talk Did the girl just really take her clothes off? Can’t look away, it’s about to do down holler “May Day” Real talk I thought this was a game? I left that room with chains Never looked at girls the same, because I know Being thirty years old and a virgin, don’t mean you out grow them urges Never should have pulled back that curtain Thank God for the blood he purchased me Still the images in my sleep; never thought I’d be this deep When a girl walk past I’m weak… Why not? That’s what I’m thinking I’m a pig in the morning like bacon, clothes on in my mind you naked My virtue I’m forsaking. My Lord Probably going to need your grace Don’t forget my face…be back tomorrow roll tape.
Chorus: Bare my soul, let it go, let it go Heavy load, bare my soul, let it go, let it go
Verse 2: (I was) A sweet 16, looking so clean, with 2 of my girls, linking up with our boos We agreed we weren’t pitching home-runs, but letting’em hit a few bases was cool So yeah he knew, he wasn’t gone do me; plus we were coming to just watch a movie He popped it in, it was a flick, and all I seen was the back of a chick With her hand on his “whoa”, out the corner of my eye, I’m looking at him feeling sick You would’ve sworn I wasn’t trying to get pregnant, they way I start yelling, “Aye pull it out, quick” They looked at me like “you serious?”, I looked like, “yeah that’s right” They looked at me and just SMH’d, I guess I killed their vibe but I, say we gone get caught, plus it’s too loud, he say, my dad walk in right now he would be proud Wow, but bore me; he say, “nah you a virgin, you scared of this orgies” He was right, I left that room with questions Am I the object of a man’s affections or his erection All I know, that day I said no, & as a woman, I never looked backed But if I did this is how it would go I would haul in from a hard day, hop up out my heel In heat, I would hover the internet for some hot thrills Conscious crying, body tingling, head low singing
Repeat Chorus
Verse 3: I used to sneak peeks at my momma’s catalog, that’s where the apple falls On pouty lips and padded bras, and that’s what Adam saw It had him all off balance And castles fall when passive palace walls are challenged by the reign of cats and jackled dogs She bares her chest, now I bare my chest (Hasslehoff) I swear my chest was barely even hairy when my addict called, and told me that is all Convincing me this blackened hall was one I had to walk And I had a Dad and Mom But my camouflaged was real, for every layer that she peels there’s one that I conceal And I can deal with this until I get to numb to feel what I can’t kill If you can’t drive a screw you know the drill You take the only pill and slowly kill your family Traded my first love for a fantasy All because a planted seed I can’t retrieve I think of how it damaged me Can’t stand to think my fantasy was probably there because her father was a man like me… Help me Jesus!!
Featuring an eclectic mix of some of the best Christian rappers on the scene, this remix is a monster of a track and 8 minutes of sheer brilliance. With a hook from British pop-star Ellie Goulding and JGivens’ Drake impersonation at 4:00 emphasised with the hilarious “Now Un-Drake!”, what’s not to like?!
Straight out of Sin City (that’s Las Vegas for those not in the know), filling speakers with his grace-laced blend of electronic-infused hip-hop comes the brilliant emcee JGivens with his latest album El v. Envy. A double play-on-words, the title of the album itself is a reference to Las Vegas, Nevada (the acronym of which is LV, NV) and also El being one of God’s names revealed in the Old Testament and Envy representing the enemy.
The first thing that struck me with this record is the electronica-influenced, west-coast style beats, tracks like Sin City Bre(a)d, The Bus Stop Song, The Pledge: “They Say” and _ _ _ End. It’s so common in Christian Hip-Hop to see beats that are copies of popular hits from yesteryear and that’s where so many artists fail – if what you’re doing isn’t new in the studio it definitely won’t be new by the time it reaches peoples’ speakers! However, on El v. Envy, I’m pleasantly surprised to hear beats that are new, and using a style that I don’t (yet) hear in mainstream music.
It’s not just those massively-layered tracks that shine bright though, the other side of this record shows a much more mellow laid-back style hip-hop. Beats that usher in a memory or two of some of the classic G-Funk era tunes. Though on this record, it’s even more stripped back, leaning mostly on just bass and drums with the occasional extra instrument making an appearance. A key example of this is, is the track Can’t Say – a testimonial piece where JGivens shares stories of his time with our Christian brothers & sisters in Egypt and how they face persecution on a day to day basis. Other tracks in a simliar vein are Bienvenue and Stop Requested, though there are clearly still many G-Funk influences littered throughout the album.
Compared to his previous releases it’s not just the music that’s stepped up a notch but his bars as well. Some of the rhymes on this record are so intricately woven that it takes multiple listens to fully appreciate and hear the full message. His flow has always been great across all his past releases, but after this album I’d even go so far as to say that he’s one of the most natural rappers currently in CHH. He covers some pretty deep issues on this record too – a personal favourite is his verse on Help Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re My Only Hope. where he confronts relative truth:
It may sound stupid but the truth is if I told you that truth / was an absolute and you said / “Dude, no it isn’t / ‘cos what’s true for you ain’t true for me because we’re different” / Then it’s tangible to see that that rebuttal’s a contradiction / Stating there’s no absolute truth is an absolute / so your own argument only disproves you!
The only issue, if any with this record is that when JGivens is rapping over a trippy, synth lead beat and getting so deep into his message through complex lyricism it can sometimes create a competition between vocals and instrumental, with both demanded your full focus. EIther way, it’s not a huge problem, and by no means would I want the beats or lyrics to change, plus there are parts where the vocals and instrumentation meet perfectly despite said issue. Some great examples of which are perhaps Sin City Bre(a)d and and Stay Cool, and at it’s best it sounds like the chorus to The Bus Stop Song.
This is the kind of record that’s so fresh it appeals to music fans regardless of their faith. When an album sounds this unique it’s not hard passing it on to non-believing friends (despite the gospel centred lyrics) because JGivens isn’t just a Christian version of a rapper they already listen to, he’s himself – and more importantly his style is his own as well. Hopefully, they’ll come for the music, and stay for the message.
It’s been roughly three months since this album dropped so this isn’t exactly new but it’s given me time to fully appreciate it. Though by now that ‘new album’ shine has faded, what remains is a strong, intellectual, soulful, well-produced record, and in my honest opinion one of the best CHH releases of the year.
Album Highlights: Sin City Bre(a)d, The Bus Stop Song, Can’t Say, Friends
The Good Christian Music Blog 