“Love Lost” - Wize
—-
Really nice music video. Wize has the ability to talk about some real issues and I have really enjoyed listening to his music. Wize’s album Course Language was released at the end of 2011 and really flew under the radar… I even missed it in the beginning. But I didn’t take me very long for my ears to perk up once I started listening. Wize has an ability to tell a story, his production was on point, and he was creative and original with his debut album. My recommendation: give Course Language a listen. You won’t be disappointed.
“Fallin’” - Trip Lee (feat. J. Paul)
—-
This is one of the most powerful songs that I have heard. It was fitting that Reach Records went for a very visually powerful music video to compliment the audio. This video has a very different look and feel than other Reach videos, but I applaud their ability to continue branching out. Still, it’s the powerful words that make this song a true classic.
—-
“Every time I fall, He gon’ pick me up
The Lord is my shepherd man, He gon’ pick me up
I fell into the trap again, but He gon’ pick me up
Remind me of His promises, in Him I put my trust”
God so owns the glory that everything is His. That’s why no one should walk with a swagger in the kingdom, and no one should walk with a limp.
– Matt Chandler“Church Clothes” - Lecrae
—-
Simple and sweet video. I pray this mixtape pushes people to go investigate what the Gospel is and how it can affect each and every one’s life. Keep up the good work, Lecrae! Soli Deo Gloria
—-
Church Clothes mixtape releases May 10
“Church Clothes” - Lecrae
—-
On May 10, Lecrae will be releasing Church Clothes, what he is calling a mixtape aimed at the mainstream audience containing “raw and uncut hip-hop”. Lecrae has been unafraid to say that this is a very different venture for him and his fans should except something very different from the Lecrae they know, I think this first single gives the fans a good taste of what to expect.
—-
I don’t know how someone cannot applaud Lecrae for doing what he is doing, he is spreading the Gospel to areas it had never even dreamed of reaching before! Lord willing, people will listen to this and say “If God gon’ take me as I am, I guess I already got on my church clothes”. Look for another stellar piece of artwork from Lecrae when the mixtape drops in the next couple weeks.
Review - Swoope “Wake Up”
After what I see as a lackluster album release in 2009 titled The Zoo, Allen Swoope continued to produce solid mixtape after solid mixtape. Of which included, Spring Fling and Applause. And after a very long wait, Swoope has finally released his second album and first with his new label, Collision Records. Wake Up is an album that I had extremely high expectations for. I was somewhat concerned that my expectations might ruin how I view the album, but Swoope met all of my expectations with this album and then some. As I listened to the album for the first few times I knew that this was an instant classic. Swoope does a great job of incorporating his influences, of course the Kanye influence tends to show itself the most. However, this is NOT a Christian Kanye album. In defense of Swoope, he did a great job in doing something that I believe to be uniquely different from Kanye, just heavily influenced. Swoope definitely woke me up, now no one else should be sleeping on this guy!
—-
Track by Track Review:
1. “Ideality Prelude” - As far as intros go, this is a winner. A great piano sequence is the main substance, while the sound of someone snoring slowly fades in. If you haven’t woken up yet, you will soon.
2. “Ideality” - One of my favorite beats on the whole project. A very unique and catchy beat is this foundation for Swoope’s verses speaking about our ideality and how we need to wake up from it. Not too much substance with the verses here, but an amazing beat sets the mood for whats to come.
3. “Fantasy” - Like every track on this album, production is strong here. A good song where Swoope talks about his dreams and ambitions from the past and the present. Not one of the strongest songs lyrically, but a solid beat carries this song for me.
4. “Schizo / Hollow Dreams Interlude” (feat. Tedashii) - One of the few tracks that is not produced by Swoope himself, but it is one of the best tracks on the album. The beat here is one of the best too. Very dark production coupled with some creepy voices make for an extremely dark song. Tedashii killed his verse, while Swoope does work too. They are both talking about mainstream rappers who don’t care if they are going to hell even if they know they are sinning.
5. “Blind Eyes (The Good American)” [feat. Christon Gray] - The most convicting song on the album. Swoope shows the importance of social justice here over a great, relatively simple beat that showcases the verses well. One of my favorite tracks.
6. “Mirage” (feat. T. Bleecker) - Swoope shows the illusions and mirages we are bombarded with all the time. His verses well done on this track. Again, another great beat that puts the emphasis on the verses.
7. “Dreamslave / Murder Me Prelude” (feat. Christon Gray) - Another favorite song of mine. A great hook that has really great lyrics. Not too much to say other than this song has a great hook, great production, great verses, and a great message.
8. “Murder Me / Eulogy Interlude” - One of my favorite interludes leads into another favorite track of mine. This song is a favorite because of the message. Christians need to daily die to their flesh and Swoope illustrates this struggle beautifully. Icing on the cake is the great outro at the end.
9. “Faith Walk” (feat. Nicole Serrano) - I don’t know who this singer is, but she did a great job on the chorus. This great mid-tempo song brings the struggles of the Christian life into the light. But, Swoope gives us an encouragement to preserver through the struggles.
10. “Time / Lullaby Prelude” - This is the winner for coolest concept for a song. More great production is the base for verses that all highlight the importance of the time in our lives. I can’t illustrate the concept more here because it is way better just to listen and enjoy.
11. “Lullaby” - In keeping with the wake up theme, Swoope gives us a song to fall asleep to. Another really cool song with great verses and some great scratches to give the song a unique feel.
12. “No Imposters” (feat. G Skinn & Malachi) - A high energy beat sets the perfect scene for some boasting about God. Every verse is killed by these guys, and most importantly God was glorified from this song.
13. “Aesthetic / Beautiful Rise Prelude” (feat. Christon Gray) - Another favorite track of mine because of the beat and the verses. Swoope paints a picture like Picasso here and tells of all the times God has been good to him. My favorite prelude is this one, what a way to set up the next song.
14. “Beautiful Rise” (feat. Sho Baraka) - Great feature, great beat, great hook… need I say more? Message really brings home the gold because it showcases how Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are what give us strength in tough times.
15. “WLAK” (feat. Alex Faith, Christon Gray & Sho Baraka) - This might be my favorite beat on the album. This track reminds me a lot of “Bravo” from Tedashii’s album, Blacklight. This is a super epic end to a super epic album. Wow. Can you say exclamation point?
—-
Swoope killed this album, flat out killed it. What a great, God-exalting album. Not only did I enjoy the theme of waking up, but the album really brought some edifying topics to the table. I truly felt closer to God after listening to this album. But the other great thing about this album is its entertainment factor. Although entertainment is less important than the God-exalting content, this album will entertain for years and years to come. Production was on point on every track. This is one of very few albums that I can truly say that there is no skippable tracks. I honestly can’t think of any glaring weakness with this album other than one verse I didn’t agree with (a very minor complaint). It is because of all of these factors that I can give this album the first 5 star album rating on my blog. I will say that I am biased since I have always loved Swoope’s work, but he really put out a high quality project that should get noticed. Great job Swoope!
5/5 Stars
What love is this, to send His own? He died for sin, and take us home. Got me feelin’ good, forget my feelings. When you heard a story about the hero dying for the villain?
– Andy MineoFor we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
– Hebrews 4:15-16“I’m Good” - Trip Lee (feat. Lecrae)
—-
This. Is. Amazing! I am thoroughly impressed with the maturity level displayed by Trip Lee in not only this song and video, but also in his newest album, titled The Good Life, (I will have an album review up soon). I am very excited for the future of CHH because it is finally starting to move in a more mature direction. This video might be considered “graphic” to some, but quite frankly I was very pleased with the video. This was a breath of fresh air for me and this is what needs to be seen by everyone who is listening to Trip’s music. Christians do not draw their joy from their circumstances, rather Christians have their joy rooted in Christ, who is eternal. That is why Christians can say in the midst of the trials “I’m Good.”
—-
You can find Trip Lee’s newest album, The Good Life, in Targets, Wal-Marts, Family Christian Stores, and online at Amazon MP3 and iTunes.
I needed you to save myself, it was urgent, cuz see I couldn’t save myself, like a virgin. But now my past is past like Ervin, magic, Merlin. Your grace is classic, Gershwin.
– Swoope“Hold On” - Thi’sl
—-
Still one of the most underrated CHH artists in the scene today. Great video directed by Thi’sl himself. From the album Beautiful Monster.
A special thank you to all of my followers! I hope my blog has been God glorifying to you all! Soli Deo Gloria
