A post about music wouldn’t be complete without some actual music (but that post was getting too long) so here goes…

Number 18 on My 18 Before 19 was promoting and listening to positive hip hop which includes Christian music. It’s only through the start of a friendship with someone who has admittedly “better” taste than I do (this is the one and only time I’ll admit that) that I’ve realized it’s time to check myself before I wreck myself, figuratively speaking. I’ve really enjoyed some of the “conscious” artists and albums that he’s sent my way, so of course the polite thing to do would be to share a couple.

SHAD – WHEN THIS IS OVER. What I like about Shad: his flow appeals to the poetry-loving side of me, which makes “I’ll Never Understand” an easy choice for my favorite track on this album. It’s a spoken-word/rap mash-up collab with his mom on the topic of the Rwandan Genocide. Just as deep as it sounds. The musical aspect of this album stays pretty simple, giving the listener time to focus on the rhymes. Also, this makes for great napping music and I mean that in the best way possible.

ANDY MINEO – NEVERLAND, HEROES FOR SALE. I stopped listening to Christian hip hop for a long time because I was so disappointed with the quality of work being produced. Sure, the message is something I obviously believe in but holy hip hop (for me) was sorely missing fine-tuned production and the sound of high-quality producers and emcees heard in secular music. I was guilty of thinking they were all “kumbaya-singing corny Christians” as Andy raps in “Saints“.  I haven’t delved very deeply into Mineo’s discography but I’ve already been given the impression that he is an artist who doesn’t take himself too seriously (listen to the end of “Paisano’s Wylin”). Though he hails from NYC, I think his sound will still win over fans such as myself of heavy-hitting Southern-style beats. See “Uno Uno Seis” for a collab with Christian hip hop’s poster boy, Lecrae.

Side note: I am very much in like with Angel Haze. (Warning, NSFW and trigger warning for graphic details of sexual abuse.)