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