Shai Linne – “Storiez”
Shai Linne’s entire discography is top notch. He’s arguably one of the most lyrical rappers in the genre and has a rich vocabulary which he uses to express himself vividly. Each of his albums is unique in its own way so it’s difficult to select one which surpasses the rest. However, his 2008 album Storiez shines in a way that differs from his other work. The project is filled with songs that tell stories, as the title suggests. The 16 track album touches on real-life stories as well as fictitious narratives all of which point towards Jesus Christ. The album features Shai Linne’s best production choices as well as variety that is not as pronounced as his other efforts. Standout tracks are the child-friendly Penelope Judd, Alone, Greatest Story Ever Told, Martyrs as well as the most emotional track of the album As The Hour Draws Near.
Lecrae - “Rebel”
Lecrae is another artist whose albums are difficult to rank. However, his 2008 album Rebel sky-rocketed the gifted emcee to the top of the Christian rap music scene, and it was for good reason. Everything just fits perfectly; the production, the lyrics, the song arrangement, the features, etc. The album is a prime example of a Christian artist creating a body of work which is at par with the mainstream - an issue which many people complained about in the early days of CHH. The album features a good balance of softer, more introspective tracks such as Desperate as well as straight bangers such as Don’t Waste Your Life. To date it remains Lecrae’s most defining album and helped create a blueprint for other artists that came after him.
K-Drama – “We Fit: The Workout Plan”
This album is remarkable for one particular thing; the strict adherence to the theme. The general message of the project is that a Christian must practice biblical teaching faithfully and consistently. All the songs are titled after something related to the theme, e.g. Get Your Weight Up, Slim Down, Sweat It Out, Abnormal. The lyrics are also remarkable in that a lot of them speak on Christian doctrine but can also be easily interpreted to fit perfectly within a gym and workout environment. For instance when I go jogging I normally add Sweat It Out and Gotta Run to my playlist because they contain lyrics that motivate me to carry on with my physical exercise. You’ll be hard-pressed to come across an album which features such a rich balance of theology and sport all wrapped up in one package that can be used for multiple purposes. All in all it’s an album that’s encouraging. After listening to it you will most likely feel motivated and energized to work out your salvation.
Cross Movement: Holy Culture
Cross Movement is one of the pioneering groups in the CHH scene. Their contribution to the genre cannot be understated as they helped to put a lot bring a lot of eyes and ears to the music. If you ask older heads that follow the genre about their first experience of CHH many will name Cross Movement, and that includes me. The group brought the raw hip hop feel with sound, Christ-centric lyricism that was unheard of at the time. Their fourth studio album Holy Culture is the culmination of their experience in the music industry as well as the maturity of the members as individuals, as a group and as musicians. Their follow up album Higher Definition received a Grammy Award nomination but in my opinion Holy Culture is the group’s best effort. They are the image of a Christian rap group done right and they filled a void which was needed in the music industry as a whole. The stand out tracks are When I Flow and Cry No More.
