#190 - Jackie Hill Perry, Terrian, Tylynn, & More...
NRT's CHH contributor Joshua Galla collects what's new in Christian Hip-Hop and Urban Soul for the week of Friday, June 14, 2024. (Photo: Jackie Hill Perry)
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.
Jackie Hill Perry - "First Draft" This evening, Jackie Hill Perry became the tenth signed artist to the current artist roster of Reach Records. To celebrate, Perry released her first single since 2018 titled, "First Draft." Essentially, it's a raw, segmented freestyle bursting with symbolism, wit, and excellence complete with a nasty beat switch midway through. Perry's exemplary talent bleeds from the Word of God and her own intelligence built from the Jesus within outwardly expressed. Her lyrical expressions are soaked with the pure nature of what formed hip-hop decades ago and accented in the 90s. Lyricism at its finest. Listeners may have to revisit the track, one, two, or even a double-digit number of times before deciphering every reference and meaning. In most cases, lyricism faded in rap. Like Christ, emcees like Perry are here to resurrect the lost art. Stream "First Draft" on Spotify and Apple Music.
Terrian feat. Wande - "Matthew 5" Gotee Records' soulful Terrian adds Reach Records' Wande to one of her tracks from her lastest album, Give It Time. Honestly, this version of "Matthew 5" should've been the original one chosen for the album. As dope of a track the original represented, the last minute or so felt as if something was missing. The new version seamlessly added one of the elite artists and media influencers. Wande's tone and flow "felt like home" wrapping up the track. "Matthew 5" will remain in my top 10 tracks released throughout the entire year. A keen listener can tell Wande's vocal offerings are refined, crisp, and steadily improving. Stream "Matthew 5" (Remix) on Spotify and Apple Music.
Tylynn feat. Tukool Tiff - "TIGHTROPE"
Really Resilient Records artist Tylynn drops her fifth single of 2024. Teamed up with an absolute microphone destroyer, Tukool Tiff adds wordplay domination to the track. One reason I selected three featured tracks from female emcees for the current editorial was to spotlight what most are missing. There's a core handful of female rappers which stand atop the space sprinkled between those signed to major labels and independent underground word assassins.
I love everything about this track. The unique soundscape representing production. The concept of Christians walking a fine line (e.g., tightrope) in their faith walk. The excellence shared between both Tylynn and Tukool Tiff. Tylynn relays, "picking up your cross, but still walking around with a blindfold / you're walking on a thin line like a tightrope." As the track progresses, Tiff has mutiple quoteable lyrics conveyed with spiritual fire - "you ain't fishing no men, you just clickbait" and "handing out the Word like I'm handing out my mixtape." This is a favorite track of mine for the summer and in 2024 overall. Stream "TIGHTROPE" on Spotify and Apple Music.
Ayo Shamir x Datin x Jered Sanders x Mickey Factz - "Let It Go"
Bill B. x Legacy – “Not Enough”
JusRzd x Mitch Darrell - "Sunny Days II"
Rich Colon – “Kung Fu”
Isaac Mansfield - "TAKEDOWN"
C4 Crotona x Dax Hamma - "FREE"
Reece Lache' - "TONIGHT"
Dkg Kie – “She Blessed”
JWOODZ - "Man on Fire"
Razzie feat. Jonah Daniel “Deliverance”
Rare of Breed - "Well Done"
King Chai - "Humble"
Zippy feat. QEW (prod. by OnBeatMusic) – “Doing My Dance”
Dante Pride x Brenno - "SAUCE"
Jordan May - "Nothing Compares"
HYLEM - "Figure It Out"
Titus Haskins - "Down South"
Zachary Heider - "All my life"
John Michael Howell - "Hollywood Ghosts"
K-SEE - "Back Up"
K3ndrick – “Accolades”
Lord Badu - "On My Mind"
O'Tobi x Maikon West x Shirlvin Desir - "Pillar"
LAMB CULTURE x Mairos x Awinnah - "Hossana"
Petrina DeLacey – “Got It All Day”
Nu Tone feat. Beanz Valdez x IV - "No Cosign"
J-Blev - "REVIVAL"
Elijah Kyle x Beautiful Beats - "THOUSAND LIVES"
One Luke – “Mustard Seed”
Shane Kidd feat. Alex Bingham – “Soul Glow”
Allen Thomas feat. YD Kev – “Ready, Set, Go”
Eazy Bob Wizzy – “Control”
DreBeeze Da Godson - "Genesis"
okay.troy - "BURNOUT"
VonnDough - "Try Who?"
Just Stevie - "Be Like You"
Vennisay feat. Omar Whippin - ".5"
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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