Soundtrack for the Renegades
Posted February 15, 2015
By MarkRyan_NRT, Staff Reviewer
A renegade is a person that leave one group and joins another that opposes it, or a person that causes trouble and cannot be controlled. As Christians, we have become renegades to our sinful nature, opposing sin and our former sinful nature at every turn. We are called to cause trouble for the enemy. Skrip's latest album, Renegades Never Die, is a soundtrack for that kind of renegade. The album glorifies God and provides the renegade within each of us with turn up anthems.
The album opens with "iDols." This theme has been very common in Christian Hip Hop lately, the idea of living for God and not for ourselves. It's a song that speaks to the part of us that would rather build our own kingdom than that of God. With the album starting safely, I was sure that it would begin to challenge the listener as it carried on.
The production quality of the album is top notch throughout, and Skrip's artistic vision on this album was carried out with precision. It continues to impress me that Christian artists are no longer happy with maintaining a status quo. The bass is low, the beat hits hard and there is just enough gimmick on the album to keep things interesting. "How We Do It" features a nice touch of Spanish and beat boxing, and "LYMMD" features Brazilian rapper Pregador Luo. It is touches like this that show how Skrip is pushing limits with his music.
Forgoing the excessive sampling that was used on his last album, Skrip focuses on his own lyrics on Renegades. "When the Beat Drop" and "Right Now" are tracks where Skrip flexes his lyrical muscles.
Another nice touch on the album is the non-homogenous sound. Each track brings a different flavor. "Heir in the Air" and "Tonight" bring an EDM vibe that will garner attention from a new audience. "Memorandum feat. Social Club" has a laid back vibe and a challenging message, and "I Wanna Go There" is a worshipful track that talks about the reality of the Christian walk and the ultimate goal of Heaven.
Closing Thoughts:
Renegades Never Die provides fans of Skrip with the sound of an artist who has matured since his last album two years ago. The album also welcomes newcomers to Skrip by sounding wide and varying without seeming messy. Skrip is an honest artist. His faith is clearly represented, and his attention to detail is established throughout the album. There are very few artists who have made such a leap in their music between two albums. Skrip has proven that being a renegade, although scary, can truly pay off in the end.
Song to Download Now:
"Memorandum feat. Social Club" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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