Saturday, March 28, 2009

Review: Andale's Voice of Reason

Andale’s newly released mixtape, Voice of Reason, provides a late pass to those who may not be familiar with the Tennessee-area MC. The mixtape is essentially a highly entertaining electronic press release, a melange of 9 earlier works of Andale’s and snippets of interview time with Trig from Holy Culture’s Corelink Radio mix show. Through songs that range from Dirty South bangers brimming with Twista-fast rhyme cadences, to more introspective fare, the songs show the versatility of Andale. The interview clips take us into the mind of this Christ-minded rapper.

Andale comes to holy hip-hop after choosing not to embark on a secular rapping career at literally the last minute--in the recording booth. The secular world’s loss is our gain, as Andale proves himself to be engaging, either by using the aforementioned rapid-fire flow or through compelling storytelling. A good example of the latter is “Fly Away.” The song jacks the beat from Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick, Push” and, like that song’s theme of escapism, Andale raps about people in several vignettes wanting to escape hardships by wrapping themselves in the word of God through good Christian music.

“Ride Out” has Andale discussing challenges God’s male representatives face with women who are not saved. Juxtaposed against the interview footage where Andale says women have been responsible for the downfall of powerful men throughout history, it’s comforting, as a woman, to hear Andale encouraging men to take more responsibility for their behavior in avoiding sin in the song.

Like “Ride Out,” there are many tough messages for many different groups. But the biggest message has to be for fans of holy hip-hop: watch out for the White Flag, anticipated to drop in May.

Other Standout Tracks: "Change Gone Come," "Trouble Don't Last Always"

Download Voice of Reason here.

From CEO to Pizza Delivery



I saw this story last week, and it made me think of how fleeting material things really are.

The man interviewed in the clip, at his highest salary, made $750,000 a year. Four years after embarking on an unsuccessful entreprenurial stint as a hedge fund manager, and after two years of looking for suitable work, he realized the need to take any job and ended up delivering pizza, for $7.29 an hour, plus tips. The man and his family has run through their savings and retirement funds during this period and, at the same time, they have to contend with $100,000 in credit card debt.

Before his financial fall, the Florida family embarked on luxurious Christmas trips and found other ways to spend substantial amounts of money. They since have been forced to change their lifestyle dramatically. After failure to pay for their mortgage for two years, the family is about to be foreclosed upon. And, but for some generous, anonymous soul who is paying private school tuition for their two children, they would have had to move on from there.

The man was mocked for not being able to avoid his financial hardship on the Web site where I initially saw the story, but the truth is that although his story is extreme, it is not unusual during this challenging time of recession. People of all income brackets are careening into dire straits for a variety of reasons. It seems that God is focusing some of His people away from things and on to Him. For those of us who believe in the Lord, consider that we are being called upon to suspend judgement and extend grace.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Andale Mixtape Is Here




The Andale mixtape, Voice of Reason, recently hit the Internet, and I'm giving it a spin now. Me likey! I'll have a review for you this weekend.

In the meantime, if you haven't already, you can visit the ChristLike Entertainment Web site and get the mixtape here.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Works of the Flesh Vs. Fruit of the Spirit

The Bus Shop has an interesting series in its devotional section, on ways to identify the works of the flesh vs. the fruits of the spirit. (See the entries for March 6 and March 13, 2009.) Gaining an understanding of these issues helps Christians to ensure they are aligned with God.

The author takes the text on the works of the flesh from Galatians 5:19-21. These works are adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murder, drunkenness and reveling. These are said to be negative behaviors that are works of the flesh because they are solely created by man.

The author lists the fruit of the spirit as gifts that come from the Holy Spirit. These are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.

One sentence sums up nicely the internal struggle we face as Christians: "The problem of the Christian life is based on the fact that so long as the Christian lives in this world he is, so to speak, two trees: the old tree of the flesh and the new tree of the divine nature implanted by the new birth. The challenge is keeping barren the old tree and making fruitful the new tree." A challenge is left for the reader to contemplate which traits, positive or negative, he or she possesses.

I thought this was a great exercise. I would encourage you to read the series and consider the challenge. (Additionally, check out the great music for sale at the main site!) I should be carrying both lists with me to read on the regular... :o)

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Hot Music From Young Joshua

Saw this on Holyculture.net... It's a freestyle called "eTher Sunday."


"eTher Sunday" - Freestyle Video from 317 MEDIA on Vimeo.

GI Album Coming out in April

The album God's Image will be available in stores and online on April 7.

In the meantime, check out the video for their song, "Get Up," below. Also, they will be on BET's 106 & Gospel on March 29.

New Tedashii Song

It's called "26's" and comes from the upcoming album, Identity Crisis. Listen up!

Tedashii Identity Crisis Cover


26s ft. Lecrae - Tedashii

The song calls out obsession with big, chromed-out rims and candy paint as idolatry--excessive focus on anything that takes your attention away from God. "Peep these people feenin' to be seen as kings and leanin' in their chromed-out cars...they're blind to the prison and the image that they're livin' in, all this sin from Adam's vice," Tedashii observes. Lecrae, who's along for the ride, also encourages this set to refocus their attention toward Christ. An urgent beat bursting with synth and drum machines is sure to pull people in to hear the message.

Identity Crisis drops on May 19, and I'm sure it will come with additional jewels. Gearing up for the release, Reach Records will have the official album release party in Nashville at BB King's during GMA week, on April 22, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Click here for a map.
Special guests will be Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, Lecrae, Flame and J.R.