Sound Theology From A Talented Lyricist
Posted January 02, 2017
By JoshuaGalla_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Going above and beyond the industry standard, Psalm (aka Lyricidal) compiled an impressive 22 tracks for Covenant, released mid-2016. What's even more unique is the lack of "throw away" tracks, as most are equipped with biblical truths, blazing production to rattle speakers and a flow easy on the ears as listeners nod their heard for a nearly 90-minute session. Mimicking the crossover from mainstream rap to Christian Hip-hop, similar to hip-hop brethren like Datin, MC Jin, or Jarry Manna, Psalm (born David Byrd) took his newfound relationship with Jesus in 2013 to the mic and stage, presenting Covenant as the end result three years in the making.
One advantage of a lengthy project is the variety of sounds, styles and flows present throughout. Psalm toys with influences of trap, EDM, rock and even a reggae undertone. Bridging off the multitude of styles, Psalm skillfully switches up his flow between melodic vocals, lightning-quick verses, or even scaling down to a crawl, presenting a screwed and chopped vibe popular to Texan hip-hop heads. This versatility bodes well for Psalm's future in the game after this debut.
Features from fellow indie artists (Vill, Fly Boy Swift, Tony Spitz, and Jesse James to name a few) are light, with only five of the 22 tracks passing the mic to others. Psalm stands behind the stereotype of a Christian rapper with God's name glorified track after track, with tales offered directly from Byrd's personal life alongside his own views of the society we face daily. With rawness presented out of the box and not hidden behind pretty paper and bows, Psalm's delivery doesn't hold back.
A standout track of this project is "Life of a 20." The contents follow the course of a $20 dollar bill and what it's used for between situations (mostly driven by sin). Throughout this and every song on the album, Psalm describes the horrid situations people face daily, the fall of a great nation and what he witnesses daily in the streets. "My Neighbor's Friend" offers the best overall depiction of the tracks compiled. Throughout all the brokenness of our world highlighted in the daily news and interactions with each other, Psalm calls out our broken world and personal sin struggles, pointing us all to the love of Christ.
The listener should keep an ear out for quite a few surprising popular samples which complement the tracks, including a snippet from John Mayer's "Daughters." Overall, the project is different from most, has repeat playability, and focuses in on the passion of a new believer standing behind the text of 2 Corinthians 5:17.
The Bottom Line: Conviction, raw delivery and honesty fuels Psalm's CHH debut project. The lyrics sit with the listener long after the initial listen. 2016 brought forth a ton of quality music from CHH veterans, but it's worth your time to step outside the popular trends and check out Covenant. It demands a self-examination of where you are in your faith and how true you are to your personal walk, a reminder that should never be slept on.
Song to Download Now:
"My Neighbor's Friend" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By JoshuaGalla_NRT | View JoshuaGalla_NRT's Profile
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