Each week, dozens of singles and a handful of projects are released in the Christian Hip-Hop (CHH) and Urban Soul spaces. Below, we listen to a few highlights and list the rest for your own discovery. As always, follow our New Christian Rap & Hip Hop playlist on Spotify and Apple Music to listen to all the latest.
Diaspora by CASS CASS is an independent self-taught musician, producer, engineer, and talented individual all wrapped into one creative soul. Born as Cassandra Kandra, a native of Zimbabwe, she’s spent most of her life as a resident of New Zealand. CASS studied at the New Zealand School of Music and ARISE Ministry School before establishing a foundation as a well-rounded artist in 2017 at the age of 22. Diaspora is her third album released since 2017. It's the album where she's finetuned and discovered her authentic comfort of sound. Her true voice. It's a masterpiece from start to finish.
To honestly define all the soundscapes captured on the album, one would need a written medium similar to a short story. CASS captures the essence of two worlds collided between the cultures of Zimbabwe and New Zealand sprinkled with the influence of American artistry. Song selections are smothered with woodwinds, electric guitars, strokes of piano keys, and extensive use of all members of the percussion family. Only a handful of featured artists join CASS on the album including V. Rose, Aklesso, Uzuhan, Cortes and Eris Ford. All dope creatives with their own fingerprints on the CHH space. Other highlighted tracks include the vulnerable and raw pair of songs, “Two Letters” and “Alabaster” featuring Eris Ford.
CASS has defined her own lane in a smothered space of monotoned repetition. Her art adds a refreshed perspective of beauty defined in artistry through the medium of musical expression. CASS sets the bar high for aspiring artists to follow, a blueprint to call her own. Stream Diaspora on Spotify here.
KB feat. nobigdyl. - "King Jesus" Sony/Provident's KB and indie tribe.'s nobigdyl. tag team on a track gaining notoriety as one of the best singles not only of 2022, but of the last several years. It's a collection of perfection in all facets. The fact that KB and Dyllie are together trading off bars throughout. The sample used. The energy and wit behind the content. This is CHH at its finest boys and girls.
Dyllie opens with one of the lines, "Stashin' my treasure in heaven where it'll get better / and don't gotta weather the rot (yeah, yeah, yeah)." Then, KB returns with a line like, People don't care you keep Christ in your Christmas if they cannot see that there's Christ in the Christian." These two are undefeated on the mic time and time again. Stream "King Jesus" on Spotify here.
Steven Malcolm feat. Canon - "Accelerate"
4 Against 5's Steven Malcolm and Reflection Music Group's Canon link up for a fast tempo banger as we approach springtime. Malcolm and Canon each possess the capacity to spit some rapid-fire heat given the appropriate production behind a track. "Accelerate" has the vibe which could easily land placement on the next installment of the Fast and the Furious movie series. The track is complete with race car effects, boomin' bass, and a themed message pertaining to remaining faithful to Christ and remain in His Word always accelerating individual faith. Stream "Accelerate" on Spotify here.
Jimmy Rock x Marty (of SCM) x Light Ends Darkness – “Vibes (Remix)”
Jude Barclay x Jon Keith - "Stranger"
CZAR JOSH – “Black History Ain’t History”
Double ATL x George.Rose x Derek Minor – “Obvious”
Christopher Syncere – “SYNCERE IS COMING (Maxi Single)
Dee Black – “I Used To”
Jenna Wright - "SKYWARD"
Maddie Rey – “On My Way”
Nu Tone feat. muted mike – “Let It Out”
Medisin – “Astray”
Scootie Wop x okaywarren – “Daytona”
Scribe Music feat. Kody Free - "Show and Tell"
GamFam feat. Scribe Music & Palace - "One Man"
BigGucciDame – “I’m not alone”
J-Phish x Josiah Lowe x JP KILLED IT - "Crystal Clear"
muted mike – “Dopamine Detox”
J J L feat. Battz & Not Klyde - "She Don't Like Anime"
Sojourn x Newselph – “Mirror Monologues (Remix)”
Mic Wise x Trutha – “The Exit”
Solachi Voz feat. Rob Williams – “Ten Toes”
N!x – “When I’m Lonely”
J-Nibb feat. 1K Phew – “All God”
Rare of Breed feat. Loren Day – “It’s Okay”
Tj Carroll – “Act Like You Know Me”
Lamar Riddick - "Night Light"
Kelo x Jack Tyler - "Apology"
Jordan May – “PRAY FOR YE”
CLEARLANES – “Hell on Earth (Remix)”
ZDIORX – “Salvation” (Multi Single)
YJO - "Notepad"
Don Ready x HYLEM - "Dash"
simplyollie. – “Dangerous Love”
hunterdrinkswater – “Changed Up”
Matt Mogg x Titus x Elijah Kyle – “Subtle”
Tsan feat. Arik Nelson – “Pick It Up”
Jxyd3n x Xay Hill – “Impossible”
Joshua Galla is an audiophile hyped about all forms of art in music, but his passion rests behind CHH and soulful vibes. He's a devout husband, father, and child of God. Concerts are his happy place.
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