Before 2020, 2019 was called the “Year of Protest”; National and international political turmoilWe only knew a small part of what was to come. There were plenty of firsts, including the first all-female spacewalk by NASA astronauts. Plus, there was plenty of great music to listen to!
2019 was a big year for women in pop, with artists like Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift taking the top spot with their albums, while DaBaby and Tyler, the Creator released some of the biggest albums of the year in mainstream hip hop. Jesus Is King Kanye has garnered a lot of attention by connecting with listeners of all types, so with that in mind, let’s take a look back at Christian rap’s biggest albums of 2019 in no particular order.
Eshon Burgundy – Love of Money
Burgundy is a perfect commentary on what the lust for money can do to a person. On the album, he warns about the desire for instant gratification that satisfies now but steals later, and how money seems to offer a world that you would like to believe is not. need God. Moreover, he makes us think about value and how the world has defined it wrongly. The background of the whole album is a praise to the Lord who gave him life, faith and the stage.
Featured Tracks: “Testimony” and “Cotton”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
nobigdyl. – Lowercase tape.
When Dilly fell LOWERCASE TAPE was the sound of unbridled creativity.Politely cutting ties with label, this indie album proved nobigdyl. was ready to branch out and step up, and it was an exciting window into the space nobigdyl. was carving out for his own sound and his peers.
Featured Tracks: “Stix” and “Faith and Patience”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
Andy Mineo – Work in progress
Andy pulled Drake and dropped him An album of demos and unfinished tracksThe rawness of the songs resonated with fans as they got a glimpse into a vulnerable side of the artist that's usually hidden onstage, and podcast clips were interspersed between songs, lending a relaxed, conversational feel to the album.
Featured Tracks: “I DON'T NEED YOU (Demo).wav” And “Keepin it movin am & guv demo.mp3”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
WHATUPRG – Raul
RAUL was a short but memorable and fulfilling album.RG was kind enough to share his own story, through which we were able to hear him more clearly: he shared with listeners the trauma and pain of his father’s deportation, he condemned racism in some American churches, and he challenged places where politics are washed in the same waters as faith.
Featured Tracks: “Freeze” and “4AM”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
NF – Search
After a highly successful 2017 and 2018 season, NF searchIn typical NF style, the album acts as a therapy session for Nate, inviting others into the pain and shared feelings of being trapped in low self-esteem and wanting to break free but unable to. Like most of NF's work, the album had a strong visual presence. The album even led to the creation of a cinematic music video featuring fans.
Featured Tracks: “Leave me alone” and “Change me”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
Reconciliation – The Streets Don't Love You 2
The album is a sequel to the 2017 album, The Streets Don't Love YouReconcile is known for his community support, social justice advocacy, prison reform and many other causes, and on this album his passion shines through as he documents the adversity he has seen and experienced and the power of his faith in the Lord.
Featured Tracks: “All means” and “Eliminate violence”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
1K Fuu – What is understood, what is understood 2
Phew, I dropped it A two-part album Released just eight months apart in 2019, both projects feature his own signature style laced with numerous collaborations – Phew always brings his whole team along, which is one of the reasons we love him.
Featured Tracks: “Kung Fu” and “End of the Road”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
John Keith – Olympus
Olympus It's one of my favorite albums of the year, and I wrote about it here Digging Deeper into Lyrics in 2019The album deals with the loneliness of being left behind because of who you are and warns about how success can separate you from what matters most. As John's music always does, the album shines with its honest expression of the doubts and heartbreak that come with being a Christian.
Featured Tracks: “Nobody Else” and “Paradise II”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
AI Anomalies – Broken Threads and BLNKNVS
AI is off to a strong start, releasing two albums in the first year of her debut. We quickly learned how she keeps up her pace: by giving 100 percent in every direction God has given her (and there are many). I had the opportunity to interview her. New students for 2020Both albums bring together a variety of topics, reminding us to rely on the values and worth God has given us, even when the world tempts us to lose confidence.
Featured Tracks: “Miss Me” and “Crying Woman”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
Bizzle – Lightwork 2: Bars and Melodies
Bizzle loses second of three Light work 2019 album. Bizzle continues to produce honest, commendable work with his signature sound on this album as always. Bizzle has produced at least one album per year for the past five years, a true dedication to his craft.
Featured Track: ““On the Law” and “Your Way”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
Bonus: J. Monti – Testimony: Season 1
J released this album. In 2019, he started doing freestyle sessions on Instagram. The series struck a chord, showcased Monty's quotable honesty, and was a welcome return to full-length albums.
Featured Tracks: “Yahweh” and “21 Savage”
But that's not all! While we can't highlight every album, we would like to highlight some of the most important albums of 2019.
Collaboration Album:
Derek Minor, Byron Huang, Cannon – Going Up
Derek Minor, Byron Huang, Cannon, Tony Tillman, Greg James – the whole team won.
Propaganda and Derek Miner (Featured) – Nothing But A Word
KJ-52 and PoetiCS – Here’s what happened…
Other notable albums of 2019:
Selah the Corner – Hoodie Season 3
Remo Blaze – Afrobeat Rap and Jesus
D1 – God and the Girls
Kid Tris – Desert
Dru Bex – Strange Days, Long Nights
Tisle – STTAG
K-Drama – Lament Sessions
Petidy – Alien
Jarry Mana – The Legend of Lotus Waver, The Legend of Lotus Waver 2
Zai Hill – Red Ranger, Part 3
Kay Sade – Meta
Did reading this make you nostalgic for 2019? What's your favorite Christian rap album?
