Chris says 'Hello' with life and hope
Posted December 02, 2013
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Sean C. Johnson, Jai, JR and Christon Gray are the go-to singers that many of the biggest rappers in Christian hip-hop call on to sing a hook. They add an element to these songs that can draw even the staunchest of rap "haters" in to enjoy.
Chris Cobbins has to be mentioned in this group. He has lent his vocals to Lecrae, Creature Clan, Ambassador, Trip Lee and so many more. He dropped Better: The Fan Appreciation Album last year as a precursor to his new album, Hello World. Although urban soul is the foundation to the album, he incorporates pop, dance and even electronic elements. Cheesebeats a.k.a. the Kraken is the primary producer and executive producer of the album.
Cobbins, a tenor/baritone, is one that is not ashamed nor shies away from pointing out his mission of being an ambassador for Christ. Check "Represent" (featuring Reconcile), a slow to mid-tempo track that has him proclaiming, "I'll be reppin' reppin' the Kingdom to they all know who You are."
With Jesus being his focus, the driving force on the album is Cobbins' voice and his camaraderie with the Kraken. Cobbins croons through "The One" over the dubstep and urban elements that the Kraken provides. The music never overshadows the vocals.
If you could get someone to tell a story of going to heaven and seeing Jesus and rejoicing in a futuristic, youthful manner, how would it sound? Great question, but listening to "Future," I could see it as one of the last songs in a new millennium, high-impact musical. (Not so much of a dystopian society a la Hunger Games, but we can talk about the plot of the movie later.) Cobbins sings of the longing for Jesus and then the job of finally seeing him face to face.
The best part of the album is when he ventures in the pop realm. He invites Lecrae to spit a few bars over the title track, "Hello World." This mid-tempo song features guitar riffs and it is uplifting in lyrics and delivery. "Masterpiece" encourages people to realize who they are and who they belong to—a nice pop dance number.
Closing Thoughts:
So fans of Royal Tailor, Sean Johnson, tobyMac, Jordan Armstrong, etc., check out Hello World by Chris Cobbins. You will not regret it. The music will make you dance and think, while helping you to represent Christ to the fullest.
Song to Download Now:
"Hello World (featuring Lecrae)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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