8 ALT-RAP ALBUMS MADE by CHRISTIANS
U Getting Jumped Tonight
that's the name of an actual Christian rap song.
I only bring it up because I kind of don't know how to talk about Christians doing alternative rap music. What is Christian rap? What is alternative rap?
I can give you an example of Christian rap.
Lecrae. NF. Caleb Gordon.
I can give you an example of Alternative rap.
Injury Reserve. Danny Brown. Tyler, the Creator.
Take those two things and put them together.
what do you get? something like this…
wow.
that was fun.
that was a song from a guy named Marty.
here is a small write-up I did on his 2024 album:
1. Flop Era Volume 2 — Marty
On the surface, a casual listen of Marty may not immediately elicit the alt-rap connoisseur's taste buds but a slightly more inclined ear notices that he is taking the principles of a modern sound and revamping them and utilizing them to suit his unique voice in like fashion to Life of Pablo or Donda. Marty reminds me of Ye, the artist formally known as Kanye West. This is seen in the way he delivers the awkward and quirky bars but also switches it up to verbose confidence, like a cross between John Reuben and MF DOOM. Maybe he has a punchline that’s a reference to Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maybe he wants to flex about how Gid has blessed him. I’m just relishing in these larger-than-life songs that he’s bringing while being very Madlib with more stripped-back samples.
2. Never Land II — Andy Mineo
*This is a recycled write-up from 2023.
This record is a sequel to Mineo’s 2013 release Never Land. There is an enjoyable Memento-esque narrative. Similar to Donda, the album is narrated by his mother who unfortunately passed from a form of cancer.
Mineo’s mother details anecdotes from her experiences parenting Mineo, starting with his behavioral issues as a child, early memories she had of him managing a recording studio at age 15, to the point where he meets the woman meant to be his wife, who he married in real life. Conversely, Andy is rapping from the perspective of his now adult anxiety-ridden self, trying to return to a place of bliss, or more loosely, find his inner child.
3. Isaiah Velez — The Standing
*the Tony Stark of Alternative Christian Rap.
Isaiah has been the intersecting person between multiple collectives of alternative Christian rap, including the Good Kids, IT DEPT, and the Garden Club.
Here, we get to see his creative inclinations bloom, whereas normally he is in service to his partners. At times, it sounds like Finding Forever by Common, then other times, it sounds like Graduation by Ye or Because the Internet by Childish Gambino. This work beautifully chronicles the emotional journey of a late 20-something navigating the complexities of adulthood, balancing newfound maturity with the persistent, childlike fear of not being enough, all within a sonically engaging experience.
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It works because there is a lot of depth in Isaiah’s voice that I don’t think it would have worked with a more high-strung, trickier-sounding pace. I don’t think he intends to sound like a menace by any stretch, but more like a warrior on a difficult journey, being intentional in learning from every obstacle.
4. New Era Leader — RALI
You know how you hear an album and you’re like:
I have got to see this album live!
Rali takes us through a one-man show that feels like an elongated monologue with the occasional Deus Ex Machina-like interruptions from his personified interpretation of God.
It feels like a musical. Rali, selling himself as a Christian rapper gives us stretches to communicate his vision by crooning, and doing so effectively. There is also an interesting blend of classical and jazz rap, with an experimental touch.
Dear Biola University, please give RALI a grant, so we can him do the live show.
That would be an experience.
5. Does Anyone Know You’re Going This Way? — 350
{Trap-fusion crooner rapper comes out of the closet… as a soul and jazz sampling backpacker. I’m glad he’s out, more rappers should come out of the closet.}
350‘s mix of Soul samples with synthetic distorted boom bap instrumentals make for an ethereal listen. This album marks his transition from doing trendier trap-flavored and crooner hip-hop into more straightforward raw honest lyricism. Love You Divine, was a surprising mix of trauma hip hop with much more low-tone alternative sounds but I think his contribution of verses not to mention his opportune features over the past few years on the HEAVENONEARTH collective album and his guest features on NEW HOLYWOOD by Whatuprg with aptitude for flow and Lyricism. That of course is on full display here. Though we're not necessarily getting the snappiest trick-happy flows it still brings raw depth that brings The Listener in and makes for a very engaging listen. This makes me excited for the upcoming 350 and DJ Mykael V album.
6. (self-titled) — IT DEPT
a collaborative effort between Isaiah Velez and Timmy Arisa.
This is more of an industrial and spacey rap kind of vibe. It kind of reminds me of Injury Reserve or CRS. Isaiah delivers these earnest and philosophical raps. Timmy well provides vocals but also has a youthful suburban ethnic punk edge to his raps. I liked his verse on “I’m Good.” It’s funny, charming and relatable. It’s only four songs deep and I’ve been told by Timmy firsthand that they are working on more stuff. I can only imagine what their sound will be in the next few years. This recent iteration is a whole vibe if we’re talking like a Radiohead-inspired joint with distorted vocals.
7. Child of God — frxxmxn
Transitioning from his legendary alt-rap/pop group, Movement of Truth!…
frxxmxn’s solo career has endured sparse releases, but with moments he has made a significant handful of releases. Initially, he was a lyrical miracle type rapping over spaced-out beats. Now, with a more subdued approach, he has transitioned to crafting more reflective melodic gems. Behind These more strip-back Lo-Fi sounds and leaning into something a bit more pungent sounding. Though he’s not holy out of the range of making echoey Lo-Fi sounds in like manner to his previous work. Well, I did enjoy a lot of his earlier work which was a combination of experimentation and straightforward heavy bangers. Being that now he’s much more unhooked from the Christian rap scene, he doesn’t have to focus too heavily on making something that makes a group of youngsters jump around, not that I’m too sure that was his initial preference or even what his innate Vibe is he’s creating with an explicit or voice.
8. L O W B L O W — indie tribe.
I felt their first album, U P P E R H A N D, was a valiant effort, I wasn’t convinced that it was the most optimal conjunction of all their collective powers. It was played safe. There were enough “bops” to satiate the needs of festival-goers, which is exactly what happened, By contrast, their follow-up joint, L O W B L O W, exceeded. This time around, there is such a level of chemistry amongst them. Not to mention, sonically, they are doing a bit of everything; they’re doing trendy emo-alt-rock rap, then they’re hopping over into some California Bay Area bounce, then we’re getting one of my favorite songs, “Rich,” which sounds like a cross between something The Cool Kids and Odd Future would make. Then “Tribal Council II…”
