End of the Year Top 10 Albums

This is what you do when you have a blog Convey you thoughts and let others read them and if they like nice but if they dont it really doesn't matter. (hey prolly 10 ppl read this anyway)

2009 have been a good year for Christian Hiphop and sad year for the genre too, We've had great albums and tragic losses but in both my God be exalted. With this Top 10 List it's a versatile range of albums some y'all may know some you don't know but need to know (expand your catalogs people)

Here we go

10. Katalyst- Death By Design


DJ Wade-O named him New CHH Artist of the Year, he did so Rightfully Katalyst has craft an album thats display is own midwest sound without the crunkness but very soulfully driven. The album tells may stories of struggle and hope is found the truth of Christ, it displays the Gospel theme in understanding the Christ laying him life was the plan from Eternity past. Then project show how one must die to truly live in Christ.

Key Tracks: Traveling, Die if I Have to, and Got Proof Ft. Lecrae


9. Hazakim- Theophanies


This able display the classic underground sound as it blend of theology and hip-hop, It shows from the Old Testament several Theophanies (God appearing to man) and how they point future manifestation of Jesus. This album that should believers to able to see how Christ is very involved in the Old Testament and that many thing Jews did foreshadowed Who Christ was and his work.

Key track: Salvation Plan Ft. Stephen the Levite, Heavy Laden, Kadosh

8. J. Johnson- The Struggle


This an album show the man formerly know a J.Silas is still a gritty and grimy as he was before and He's coming to encourage people as they face the struggles of life to be overcomers through Christ.

Key Tracks: Overcomaz, Go, and Survival

7. Da Truth- The Big Picture


Da Truth musically takes in a different direction then in other albums mixes R&B and Christian Contemporary styles with Hiphop on this project. This Album shows the story of the Creation, Fall, and Redemption and how man has role in God's big picture and the daily thing of our lives are part of God's big picture from Leaders, Living, relations, and Pain.

Key Tracks: Legend, Lost, Pain

6. Dre Murray- Hell's Paradise


Wow this album free is the first thing that blows me away, the album is soley production by Wit of the Frontlynaz (Shout out to the Homie). The album convey the Idea of how live in this world disillusioned that this a paradise when in reality we'll living on the way to Hell. Dre tells many stories on how people are deceived and he himself was one of them but also lets us know how it this false paradise can be escaped.

Key Tracks: Enter the Matrix, Right to Know Ft. J. Johnson and Bro. Wise, and Take it away

5. Tedashii- Identity Crisis


Imago Dei, Man was made in God's image but with fall man image has be in confusion, over banging and soulful south track conveys the identity crisis man goes through. He's goes from the fall and how the world shape what we believe how identity should and explain how the crisis can end with Christ begins.

Key Tracks: Work, Hollywood, and I'm a Believer Ft. Trip Lee and Soye

4. Mr. J. Medeiros- Friends Enemies Apples Apples


Mr. J with help of Stro's production gives an album that is eclectic. Mr. J allow you to see how friends and enemies can draw you near to the God whether being compelled by relations or desire not to be the same. There's a Balance in friend and enemies shaping our lives and beliefs.

Key Track: Target Market, W.A.N.T.S., and The Balance

3. R-swift- Anthem


This album with it's raw gritty style is definitely praise music to the Lord, Swift carry on where left off with his previous albums. He gives commentary to the streets, adress politics, and crosses may boundaries in the genre.

Key Tracks: Anthem, Awesome, and No, No, No, ft. Jahaziel, Sho Baraka and Monty G

2. Thi'sl- Chronicles of an X-Hustler


Thi'sl comes back with his 2nd brings forth tales of a redeemed man with truth of God without bring the standard I use to be a thug and now live for the Lord etc. This album show how drug and violence should bring for the need to forgive, be missional, and the need of a savior.

Key Tracks: I Hate You (Crack), Grind ft. Brothatone, and I Aint Turning Back ft. Flame

1. Braille- Cloudnineteen


With the Production of Symbolic One, Braille shows there's a place higher the pleasures of the world. With the album Braille weaves tales that show reality of needed know of God and that there's some him than temperay peace this world offers.

Key Tracks: It's Nineteen, Skepticold, and From the Pulpit

Honorable mention: Teddy P- Word and Deed


That's all chime People and Look forward for Christian Hiphop to progress even more in 2010

Peace
Phil. 4:9

Hip Hop is Dead

I Chose that for the title because I believe it's Alive (yes it's sounds crazy) but for me in Hip Hop being dead I'm free to see alive, Meaning Hip-Hop is able to take a new life and not be boxed and monotonous.

For seeing this to a process cause I have my opinion on Hiphop Christian and Secular on what I feel is good and bad. I wanted those in the Christian Culture to give there views on what's good and wack but nobody but One dude replied back. I know some of yall are busy but some of yall were shady on the joint (I'm being Honest, If I was wrong apologies, and hit me up I just like dialoguing with people)

So my veiws on CHH I believe it's a great to be used for the Glory of God and have Christ be known, I also believe that it's a great Artform where Christian can do Christo-centric artistry.

The Divide:
I believe people like box CHH in having to be in the form Reach, Cross Movement, and Lampmode. Which I feel there's nothing wrong you loving that style but let that be the standard of what Christian Hiphop artist have to be.I Say that because I have to get that mentality out the people I disciple that Reach, CM, and Lampmode are the end all be all of CHH. Music is an Artform not just a ministry tool, it's able to be used a ministry tool but really I feel people have made music into this Sacred thing. I also say this cause I seen artist such Braille, Propaganda, Dre Murray, Mark J, Applejaxx and Odd Thomas be solid dudes of the Faith but since there's no "theological weight" to thier music like the previous groups people are hesitant at them.

Biting:
Honestly 8 out of 10 time I couldnt tell you if some bit rapper XYZ or were they influenced, Cause sometimes you cant tell and as much as you can judge you many never know unless they tell us. But if you are biting dont it not just so you can "Keep it Real" in hiphop (Whatever that means) if anything you are doing yourself a detrimental service, cause you're not being for whatever reason.

Clones:
I feel people follow trends there's nothing wrong with following them as in being influence but someone yall know yall Change you music based on what's hot to rap about in CHH. THAT'S NOT GOOD, I have Lecrae's album (and Love it) I dont need another one person to make what he's already made. BE YOU convey the truth of God in your context, dont a disservice to the body and yourself by restrict you music and doing Christian Rap by Numbers.

Surface Dwellers:
The term Surface Dweller is something I mad up to explain my frustration with hiphop, because the underground is seen as real hiphop but what's real and not I could care less, I like good artist PERIOD. (Yes I have an East Coast slant but still if your a good artist IDK where you are from or you style music) But it's a metaphorical term, Surface Dweller refers to most Rap music I hear on the radio (secular) for Lil wayne, Piles, Gucci Mane, and whoever else that just sound retarded. Also it's a term of the Christian Artist that desire that Swag area style instead of being in the word and seeing how they can express in their context. Nothing is wrong with being in midst the surface world but get caught up in it. ( For I just stay underground where I can be hidden, low profile and Creative)

Closing:
These have been the things I wrestle with cause I these issues not just on message boards but with people who listen to music that walk with. They believe CHH should theological, they think so and so sound like this dude. I feel at times I fight for creativity in CHH but that's a big battle, I was once a kid who thought CHH theological, I had to sound like so and so, and I had be with what's cool in the world. Artist please dont it (Uh Uh) Dont eat from that tree LOL.

But I see hope as people school on new guys that are learning to be creativity and free, I hope I'm able to the same. Cause I'm tired of being a cynic my Older brothers in the Faith Let me know dont consumed by this music. Hence the title of this Hip Hop is Dead and now it can live as I live in Christ. No more being a cynic it's not that at times but understand this Just cause Lyricism doesnt sell as much any dont mean there's no value to it (Hence I ignore that statement in the words of Braille) and If you aint lyrical then know you still be a good artist if you know how to make a song.

I leave yall with this scripture because believe in this scripture is the key to doing Godly music however you may see fit. And you can see this in you then take some timeout and dive in the word be in Love God and your Neighbors.

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Impulsiveness

Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, God always ignores it because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple-Oswald Chambers.

Learning to wait is something is a part of the Christian's daily life really all of mankind has to deal with having to wait but the Christian has to have a different of waiting.

The world will wait but try to rush or be impatience in the process of wait, the world we live is about getting much as they can as fast as they can. We wait make it to our destinations as fast possible, we want to be done with work or school asap, and we want people and technology to move as fast as us.

Christians, we have to spend our time countering this mentality since the need to hurry is around especially if you are in America. Waiting on the Lord can be hard when according to our desire of swiftness God seems slow.

In the midst of my life I've learn a lot by embracing the time, in the process of making my album I've to invest in people not just platforms. Also people that work with you are important and relations with them are major because many times we can regard things and use people. So this project has taken time to make but I'm glad about the time I've invested into it.

Our lives shouldn't be rushed the life we live is journey it's not destination, the words I just said sound but they are harder to live. If we trust God with the Life we live then we should be able to put things improper time. For was we wait we can still be productive and not lazy for God is honored in our Rest in Him.

We need to enjoy the journey of Life more and not be in such a rush, I gotta even remind myself at times about this especially with everyone wanting to be on the go.

Psalm 131

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.