Bizzle is back! Check out his fresh sing-songy believers anthem called Believers. His new album Surrender drops October 23rd.
Get churched!!
Category Archives: Entertainment
JGivens featuring Odd Thomas “10, 2 Get In” – 360 Music Video! — Hot!!!
Humble Beast keeps bringing real hip hop and JGivens is determined to make us salivate for this new album. The latest offering with Odd Thomas features a 360 degrees video. Watch the video at the link below and touch the screen to see what I mean, by the way the track is fire too!!
If The Lord Wills…
Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:13-17 KJV
http://bible.com/1/jas.4.13-17.KJV
James seemed to really take issue with those that would make future plans. He chatsises them and urges them to say, “if the Lord wills”. This is something that seemed very minor in the scheme of things. People say those things on a regular basis. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard someone casually say, “see you tommorow!” and I couldn’t tell you they were evil for that. However, James expressly points out that God in fact does have a problem with that…why?
First, let me say that I don’t think that anybody who does not say anything along the lines of “Lord willing” is evil. I will say perhaps they know not the weight and or the blessing in what they are saying. “See you tommorow…I’ll be there next week”. Perhaps it’s too morbid to face the reality that this isn’t always the case, though we take it for granted. James hightlights the fragility of life. Furthermore he highlights WHO controls the days of every one of us…that is God. Okay so I got morbid I suppose.
What is the point in all this? The point is that God has to factor into everything that we plan. Honestly God’s in control of everything. And to even suggest tomorrow as though it is a forgone conclusion slights the very One who holds the future. Grant it, not everybody is coldly planning thier future and saying, “I’m going to do this no matter what God says.” Perhaps the matter is of a training of the mind. To be reminded to say, “if the Lord wills” is to be reminded to be reverent and submissive to God. Those little words can keep us humble and thankful as we greet another day. Conversely, the more we fail to acknowledge God’s control and providence in our lives the more we become overly self seeking, self praising and downright conceited. Boastful… You may feel weird saying, “Lord willing” in response to, “will you be coming in to work tomorrow?”. You may even feel like it’s understood so why say it? But God has given us things to remind us and to keep us right with Him. In His infinite wisdom He lovingly tells us, “Not so fast”.
We tend to give ouselves more credit than we deserve sometimes. To vocally give it to God’s will when sharing our plans and when interacting with the world and our brethren is to give God the glory. It is to encourage us and remind us to be thankful. To arrive safely is by way of God giving you that grace. A healthy vocal regimen trains a mental awareness of God in our lives and also serves as an evangelical tool.
Who knew saying something as basic as “See you next week” would hold so much weight. Yet it does. Not to scare you, but to encourage you. Count yourself blessed. A wonderful God has blessed you with this moment. In that moment, while today is still today, give Him the glory. Obey His Son who is able to save you on the day that tomorrow does not come. He promises that all who call on His name by confessing Him as Lord and Savior, washing away thier sins in the watery grave of baptism, dying to the flesh and rising up a brand new child in Christ will live life in eternal joy.
God simply wants us to understand that we need Him. He loves us. He can save us. He protects us everyday. He sustains us. And He blesses us according to His will.
I hope to provide you another blog soon…Lord willing
Listen to Date Night by Stephen the Levite
Album Review: Forward by Flame
Hip hop artist Flame has flown somewhat under my radar for some time and hadn’t really gotten my attention until he dropped the instant heater Royal Flush. Once that near classic album dropped he got me listening. Call me late to the party or super picky, but when he prepared to drop Forward I was ready for it and it didn’t disappoint. In fact it exceeded expectations.
The album is centered around the concept of how Christians can in fact move forward in spite of the world’s current problems and the current cultural Christianity in the United States. The album effectively weaves in the quotes of an evangelist throughout the album that is relatively spot on in much of his teachings. The album conveys hope, evengelism, clarification and confrontation.
Now onto the music. Flame opens up with the emotionally charged 1st Freedom where he opens by saying “we bout to forfeit our 1st freedom. Run and get your constitution kids.” over a somber guitar. Musically these soulful melodies are punctuated by a banging drum kick. The chorus flips America The Beautiful and he speaks on the affects of the secularization of America and the impending persecution of Christians, all while speaking that we are the light of the world.
The album continues to pick up steam with the bass heavy trap tracks Know the Times where he says the world is crazy and how they think Christians are out of thier minds. Here he goes for the jugular addressing boldly current issues such as police brutality and the fact that this is NOT a Christian nation. He urges Christians to be more than positive but to give Bible reasons for our faith. The melodic chorus has Flame singing “the world is crazy. It’s all a sign of the times”. This leads into Believe That and Made Me Do. Both hardcore trap tracks talk about the need to go beyond just teaching good morals and actually speaking about sin and obedience to Christ being necessary. Made Me Do highlights the frustration of speaking the truth and being considered the bad guy for doing so as the chorus has Mike REAL yelling “look at what you made me do!”
Flame has a mellow sing songy style that he incorprates throughout the album. On one the standouts The Greatest he sings about how throughout all the challenges God is still the greatest and they shouldn’t place thier faith in people and things. I believe vocals are backed by V. Rose throughout the album. Another standout track is Positively Eternal where over a mid tempo simple string, kick and piano track he adresses the difference between conscious rap and Christian rap. He also speaks on great causes versus the cause of Christ. This is a very timely album. He highlights J. Cole’s Forest Hills and Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly. On another standout called Move Forward featuring Jai, Flame goes in on cultural Christianity, liberalism and compromise happening due to fear of the world. Jai sings “we might suffer now but we’ll get our crown”. This is more soulful moving music. I feel the album climaxes with Absolute Truth where he opens with the potent statement “if what we’re saying is true, then it changes everything”. This song is a must listen where he urges context when reading the Bible. Wow!!!
My favorite part at this point is where the repeatedly quoted speaker says we need to have friendships and relationships with people who disagree with you. Wow! Think about that one.
The album winds down with more trap music as You Ready reminds us to stop and think of the impending judgement at the end. Had Me Flexin, while not one of my faves does bump and exposes the devil as a liar who had him flexin hard like it’s his birthday.
As with most albums at the end, this one mellows out but still inspires. We Gon Reign features a hip hop ballad that earnestly feels for the Coptic Christians recently murdered overseas and encourages us that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church and if we suffer with Him we will reign. Very moving and inspiring.
Melinda Watts lends her vocal talents to the reworked Let it Shine where hip hop drums back a piano melody. We obviously know the message here as Flame effortlessly rocks this beat. The last words of Flame on this album says PREACH THE CROSS AND REACH THE LOST.
This album effortlessly blends dope beats, meaningful commentary, lyrical content and great lyrical delivery for an album that is both enjoyable and important.
Listen to the album on YouTube but pick up your copy of one of best and most important albums of 2015.
Forward Flame (Full Album): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ1cSi5J1MxYoBk4HA1mA6a5TzJmW69KC
The Big Deal About Church
God designated the first day of the week for believers to gather and give Him the glory by encouraging each other, fellowshipping with each other, speaking to one another in psalms hymns and spiritual songs and studying His word. They also gather funds to put towards the work of the church. They also remember Jesus and His sacrifice by taking unleavened bread and fruit of the vine which to the believer is the blood of the covenant and Jesus’s body. The goal of this overall experience is to be strengthened having been with others who share that same faith and goal and to give God the glory and praise realizing that He is worthy. We are prepared and reenergized!
Not all people do this. Sundays will be days set for sleeping in or taking care of odds and ends like laundry other errands. The value of going to assemble with believers is either non-existent or barely there when it is a question of belief. If one isn’t a believer then there is no deisre to gather with other believers much less give praise to that which you don’t believe in.
But if you sorta believe or do believe, and the daily challenges of life are not what’s holding you back, what’s going on? Some people have gone with the view that “organized religion” is not the way. They find fault in that and decide to just do away with it. But let’s take the stance that Jesus established the church. Yes, it is NOT the building. It is the people. However if you are NOT assembling with the people, the other believers, how do you feel we can grow and be effective? How can you yourself be effective and how is that showing godly love? Furthermore collective worship is value you your faith and also shows that you care to give God the praise and worship He deserves. Bare in mind that once the Ethiopian eunich was baptized by Phillip his immediate desire would logically be to gather with those who share the same faith to work and worship. Strength in numbers. Consider any successful secular program or team sport. Basketball teams, Mary Kay meetings, Weight Watchers or any group with similar views values or goals GET TOGETHER. Because it’s necessary. Because no man is an island. Because God knew what He was doing.
If your concern is where to go, treat it same way a restaurateur does. You do the research, you check Yelp and the restaurant guides. Because a bad meal experience is a horrible thing! Well how much more important is deciding where to focus on worshipping God and learning how to get to heaven? Your YELP is God’s word. God’s word is not as cryptic as one may say. See if the local church assembly you consider is FOLLOWING GOD’S WORD. Consider the church of the new testament. Consider the early church in Acts. Consider the doctrine and compare and contrast. Read your bible. That will cause inconsistencies and red flags that can keep you in a lost relationship to stand out. Do your due diligence because this matters to you.
To the nonbeliever, I say you need not be convinced by me that there is an amazing and loving God. Look around. Heck, look in the mirror. Your intricate inner and outer workings— you are wonderfully made. Establish that spritual curiosity the same way you established your many wordly curiosities and go with it. Pick up a Bible and read it. It can’t hurt. It can only help. Because God has a name. I come to prcoclaim to you the unknown God. His name is His name. His Son came to save us…to save you. It’s so cliche but first you must understand that you need Him. You DO need Him. But you need to know why. He is the only one that can beat sin and death which is in the world right now. Sin is the God’s definition of wrong, all the bad things. God defines them clearer in His word. Death is the end of life here. But it’s not the end. Jesus died and came back. Death and sin are 2 major reasons you need Jesus because He is THE ONLY answer to both.
That’s a start… Yes chuch is the people who believe. The people who understood a need for Jesus. The people who obeyed the commands to accept Jesus as their Lord and removed chains of sin and death through spiritual burial in water baptisim and rose up out the water in fresh newness of life. Sin and death are all the devil really has and Jesus beat them both. Finally those believers get together to celebrate freedom, praise the One who broke the chains, teach each other to stay free and how to help others break thier chains.
So church on Sunday morning and any other time addionally that believers gather should be a moment of joy. To be with God and with fellow God-fearing brethren.
Truly a breath of fresh air.
Get yours…
Can’t forget the music. Here is one of my fave bangers by Blanca featuring Lecrae called Get Up
Gisella Shares Song of Inspiration — “Not Gonna Break” by Gisella
Soul singer Gisella has just released her brand new inspirational single called Not Gonna Break. There is also an accompanying mini movie video that was released. The song features raw vocals over a very moving piano-laced track. The content speaks of standing up to life’s challenges and Gisella gives glory to Father God for getting her through.
Listen below and get the new single from itunes.
West Coast Churchin’ — “Ima Be Me” by Black Knight (#blackknight))
After blessing the ill track One Way by Bizzle, I was hooked on Black Knight as a producer. During my music search I stumbled upon his latest solo joint featuring those trademark bass and snaps as he boldly says Ima Be Me while staying with God as his guide.
Friday music for sure! Listen below. Get churched!!!
Watch “JGivens – “Ignorantro” (@pray4jgivens @humblebeast)” on YouTube
It’s been a long time…I shouldn’t have left you. :DHumble Beast recording artist J. Givens is back. This introduction features punchline driven flow over a nice beat backdrop. Click the link below to hear Ignorantro. Christians kill mics too!
KB – I Believe ft. Mattie of For Today
KB goes in on this one. Hype church music!!! He has some bangers on his latest offering Tomorrow We Live. It kinda loses steam towards the end but it’s solid.
Bizzle Once Again Goes Hard For The Kingdom – #Not4Sale (@MyNameIsBizzle) – OFFICIAL VIDEO
Been a minute…sorry! I’m back!😄
Rapper Bizzle never shied away from taking issues head on. In this one he addresses the issue of selling your soul for success among others over a sick loop from Lauryn Hill’s “I Get Out”. I think L Boogie would be proud.
Get Churched!
Christian Music Pusher 