Lecrae has been making independent hip-hop/rap for 20 years. He started out preaching the Gospel, and still does a bit of that, but also spends a lot of his music trying to educate his listeners of his experience as a Black man in America. The track on "Can't Stop Me Now (Destination)" is a sample from a Sufjan Stevens song, which is a different sound than you might expect on a hip-hop album. Lecrae brings along friends and some industry contacts for production and guest verses, including the vocals for "I'll Find You" by Tori Kelly and guest verses by Ty Dolla $ign and Nija on other songs, plus others from the record label he founded, Reach Records. Lecrae is a solid rapper and keeps improving his sound and his verses, and this album is one of his better ones that I listen to regularly.

Release Year: 2017
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Martin Smith has been leading worship at churches, clubs and stadiums for most of the last 30 years, and has also been in a few pop/rock bands as well. Released on Friday, Joy is Martin Smith's latest album, and it does certainly center on God and the joy that He provides us, even in hard times. Like many other worship releases especially in this digital era, these 10 tracks are expansive, averaging nearly 6 minutes per song. Two of the songs are songs previously recorded by Martin's band delirious? over 25 years ago, and "I've Found Jesus" is especially fun because it is a much more pop/Gospel/funk sound than the original band version. The old songs fit well with the new songs too, telling Martin's story and pointing to Jesus as the source of our joy and the maker of all things. I look forward to listening to this album more in the coming weeks, and as usual, Martin Smith writes beautiful songs that speak to me, even if they're not the ones that churches are singing.

Release Year: 2024
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This South African rock band was short-lived, but it was a very quick and energetic few albums. This second album, Contact, was not as revolutionary as their first album, but it's still a good set of songs, in my opinion. "Do What You Say" is pure rock, and "The Calling" was a good pop/rock tune for Christian radio. The Men At Work cover "Overkill" fits perfectly on this album and the band makes it their own. I love the guitars on this album and all the fuzzy audio effects. The lead singer, Adrienne Liesching (now known as Adrienne Camp) was an energetic front woman, jumping all over the stage and forcefully singing over the music. It's sad this band did not stick around for a few more albums.

Release Year: 2002
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Reese Roper is best known as the lead singer of ska/punk band Five Iron Frenzy, but he has also had a few other bands over the years. Only releasing this one album, Roper was a witty pop-punk band. Brace Yourself For the Mediocre was released on this day 20 years ago, so it's a fun occasion to look back on it. Songs like "Hello Lamewads" and "You're With Stupid" champion the underdog and outcast of society. And there's references to Back To The Future and G.I. Joe in a few other songs, as well as a cover of Shania Twain's "You're Still The One". Like some other smaller, independent releases, this one is not available on streaming services, so you may have to get a bit creative or find a used CD to listen to this one. Also, it looks like there are a few other artists/bands that go by the name "Roper", but they are not related to this band and album.

Release Year: 2004