Trip Lee - 20/20
Posted May 14, 2010
By DGray,
To say we like or even love someone we must know who and why we like them. In 20/20, Trip Lee conveys this vital truth; to know God and who He is clearly and perfectly by examining the scriptures instead of basing our assumptions about Him from others or from our own personal idea of God. 20/20 is the Texas' native second solo album. His first project, If They Only Know, was recorded while he was in high school along with being on other compilation albums under Reach Records that featured artist Lecrae, Tedashii, Json, and Thi'sl. But Trip Lee's finest moment that became the launching pad for his name and career came when he featured on Lecrae's sophomore album After the Music Stops in the revolutionary Christian hip hop song, Jesus Muzik.
20/20 starts off with an intro that summarizes the problem of not understanding God clearly and how we need to desperately dive into the scriptures. "Superstar (Eyes Off Me)", by far being the most succesful song of 20/20 according to digital sales, Trip Lee displays every effort to get the glory, honor, or fame off of him in this opening hit. The song feels as of it's an alarming emergency as an effective police signal horn blows at the start of the song. He is very extremely humble yet very sincere in getting point across in lines like "I don't want the spotlight, It's not right, I'm not tight, I rep Him when I rock mics" and "No time to flow bout shiny clothes, or shoes, or golden chains. My mind is sold to the God who rose, His truth is on my brain." "Superstar" concentrates on not looking at Christians as the ultimate standard because even in our toughest efforts, we still fall and need grace. But instead to look at Christ becuse he never failed.
"Real Vision" is the base track of the album that has a southern hip hop style beat as the brass play a big role in the hook. Trip Lee along with the help Reach Record recording artist, Tedashii, warn people to not base what you think about God on what others around tell you about Him, not even Christians. But to the look to the Bible first and see if it lines up to what others are saying. He relays this powerful message in catchy lyrical form saying "I don't know what you heard, hope it matches with the Word. I don't know what you think, but it's time to get it straight" repeating in the hook.
"Inexhaustible" is a choreographic dance track that teaches that you can never stop learning about God. Not even the smartest theologians in the world can grasp the gospel completely and that they are barely a scratching the slightest edge of the surface. In fact, the more we learn about God through scripture, the more is to know. What a person may grasp, just multiplies. It's a never-ending beautiful quest to know the Creator. "Who Is Like Him" is an anthem track paraphrasing Isaiah 40 simply saying there has never been or will never be anyone like God while "We Told Em" challenges believers to act out what we say on Sundays and not just "talk a good game" and then fail habitually when an opportunity to share His goodness and love comes around. "Cling to You" features features relaxed-toned rapper, Shai Linne, in a neo-soul, jazz smooth track explaining the natural pain and storms of life and clinging to Jesus, no matter if the situations gets better or even may get worse, but nontheless trusting Him all the way through as your before and after. "Relief" continues the R&B train with serene singer J.R. as Trip Lee takes the listener of on a relaxing trip on speaking on the peace Christians have in the midst of a world filled with sin. "Behold the Spirit" is a dedication to the Holy Spirit, a vital part of the Trinity. It explains how he is the one who convicts people in the first place to even fall in love with Jesus. Yet He is the same as God.
Hedonism is a greek word that means to search and find superior and perfect contentment in pleasure. It has been often long been referred as trying to pursuit perfect pleasure and satisfaction in sex, money, and other materialistic objects. Instead, Trip Lee, points out that this unction to find superior pleasure is natural and that God put it in us. But he did not put in us to find the answer in world but to find it in Him because He is the only one who can fully satisfy the desire. "Satisfaction (Hedonist)" jumps back into the dancing mode as the last lines of the song explains
Say I'm a hedonist I seek my pleasure
Not in sex nope He's much better
Not in wealth nah He's my treasure
Pursuing anything else will just upset you
Say I'm a hedonist I seek my pleasure
Not in sex nope He's much better
Not in wealth nah He's my treasure
"Come Close" and "Who He Is" features Flame (Grammy Nominated for album Our World Redeemed), Sho Baraka, most successful Christian hip hop rapper Lecrae, and singer Cam. Trip Lee asks the listener to examine the the Bible thoroughly and see the beauty, power, and glory and honor of the whole book. "Who He Is" is a heartfelt song that releases the message that everytime we think of the Lord's goodness, beleivers wanna give him more and more using the body for his purpose alone. "Intimacy" challenges the status quo that a rap song cannot be slow and very affectionate worship song. Using singer Diamone to deepen the feeling of the song, Trip Lee explores the vast beauty of meeting the Lord in the secret place as the melody of song is soothing and Heavenly.
Trip Lee's last two songs "Relief" and "Eyes Open" are infested with classical violins and flutes in contemplative story telling about different real scenarios we as people face such as self-esteem, living in abandoned loss in the world looking for answers, suicide, and even in the pressures of living in a "Holy" setting. In "Eyes Open", J.R. revisits 20/20 to tag along with Trip Lee in praising God that believers can finally see everything in life, clearly and perfectly through Him. In a bonus song, "Hip Hop", Trip Lee challenges the mantra that says rappers live for hip hop but actually hip hop was made for believers by God to be used to by Christians to preach the Gospel and worship Him in a specific fashion.
20/20 is a groundbreaking album that belongs to anyone who wants to hear uncanny lyricism and truth all wrapped in one. You can buy 20/20 by cling on the following links. View All Music And Book Reviews By DGray | View DGray's Profile
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