Album Review: Lecrae – ‘Church Clothes 2’ (Mixtape)
With the release of Church Clothes in May 2012 and the controversies following it, fans and non-fans couldn’t wait once Lecrae announced the release date of part 2 on 106 and Parksometimes in October. But I think as controversial as it gets on 2 is Lecrae rapping on Believe “I won’t call it gospel music but I’m a Christian. I own a label and guess what I’m gonna sign more”. The album does a better job lyrically and in musical style than 1.
The beat on Devil in Disguise is dope. Reminds us of all we loved of the common base line used in 90’s music be it rap, rock, R&B or rock. It’s got a very euphoric guitar feel with hard choir type claps. And the person featured on it be singing the refrains like Lauryn Hill of the Fuggees.The Fever featuring Andy Mineo and Papa San opens up with a very Rastafarian chorus. It kind of sets the tone for the whole track. Next comes the almost forgettable ‘I’m turnt’ which happens to be the second single from the mixtape. Sell Out is a sarcastic jab at the music industry. It discusses artists selling lies all in the name of good beats. The opening of Lost My Waywould take your breath away. We want it playing on our radios for a long time.
B.o.B ( Airplanes, Magic) brings his very unique flavor on Round of Applause. Its club and radio ready. Was it Worth it reminds us of all we loved of all the soulful duos Mary J Blige had with artists like Puff Daddy and the likes.
Amidst my swagg dancing on Hand Up (which features the eclectic Propaganda), I hear for the umpteenth time a phrase about gospel music and Christians who just make music on the album which make me roll my eyes. If I Die Tonight beautifully incorporates some electro pop sound in it. Lecrae raps up it all with Hang On which wraps up with a scriptural advice from Lecrae’s Granny.
For starters I enjoyed listening to Church Clothes 2 than I did listening to Church Clothes. I also liked how Lecrae featured other “upcoming” artists on this platform. But. . .
Though rapper Lecrae might not mean it that way, Church Clothes 2 comes across as a response to an argument we listeners know little or nothing about. And this in some way undermines the ingenuity of the art offered on the record. For me once Church Clothes 2 stopped playing I turned up ‘Background‘ by Lecrae (from the Rehab project) to reconnect with my heart. Sometimes you want the old artist you fell in love with but as with everything, growth is mandatory and growth is also relative.
The controversies aside, truth be told we need more artists like Lecrae to break into murky dirty waters of mainstream rap. Is Church Clothes worth getting? Though there’s a paid version on iTunes without voice overs by a DJ Cannon here is a FREE one for you to decide on that question yourself.
