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With a super fast flow and rich lyrics penned from a love for the gospel, Humble Beast artist Jackie Hill Perry is about to drop new album The Art of Joy. The record is a very joyous affair, although it’s one of those albums that you need to listen through a number of times to understand the bigger picture of what’s happening, and discover that Jackie’s true joy is found in the gospel.

Jackie is a gun storyteller and a master poet, and has an ability to transport you into the tales she spins, with good humour and strong conviction. There are a number of moments on The Art of Joythat hit me hard, challenging me to love Jesus better, love those around me better, and most of all find my joy in my identity in Christ.

The album opens with brief track The Argument before launching into Educated Fool, which challenges the norm of what true knowledge is. Jackie raps about scholars and Eve in the garden over a scratchy beat, and then challenges us to not be like the Pharisees, who knew the scriptures but didn’t recognise the Saviour, for their knowledge was within themselves. True knowledge is God-given. Colossians 1 is on show here, and it’s clear that Jackie knows her Bible and wants us to as well.

Better (ft. JGivens & Natalie Lauren) has some slick production, and some deep poetry. The song calls us to live for the truth: ‘You gotta see something better than the stuff around you… than the pretty treasures trying to drown you.’ Miss Fearful gives a nod to Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Give It Away but twists it with a hopeful note, ‘You can sing a song of freedom!’ I love the synth sounds on the chorus and the rich juxtapositions painted of fear and freedom.

The Solution (ft. Eshon Burgundy) flies thick and fast and speaks of a life change that can only brought about by the gospel: ‘True love is not cheap.’

Dead Preacher (with killer production from Beautiful Eulogy) tells the story of a church minister who teaches the Bible by ‘flipping the book like a gymnast’, picking and choosing, taking things out of context, and sharing his own understanding of the scriptures. But then he reads it properly and find joy in the truth: ‘My soul is richer than it has ever been.’

One of the standout tracks for me is I Just Wanna Get There. The song is built on a base of glitchy sounds and intricate timings, and the repeated phrase that sticks in your mind is ‘God, you’re making me better.’ The song rejoices in Christ and his healing of our sin, references Romans 7:14-20, and challenges us to realise that God’s sovereignty is above everything. He is in control of everything that happens, so perhaps there’s no such thing as a ‘mistake’. This honestly hit me really hard, as did Ode to Lauryn. Lauryn Hill of Fugees fame is clearly a big influence on Jackie’s style, but she opens up here about just how much of a hero Lauryn has been in her upbringing. On this love letter, Jackie reaches out to Lauryn (who has had a few troubled years recently) and expresses her desire for Lauryn to know the gospel of Jesus for herself. It’s quite moving, and I hope Lauryn gets to hear the track: ‘You’re a legend, hope to see you in heaven, Lauryn.’ Read More Here

"I Just Wanna Get There" has a poppier beat behind it, complete with some Stellar Kart-like guitars (albeit as a slower pace) at some points, as well as a good look at the transformation of Perry's mind. At one point, she speaks about her pregnancy, and in bold terms reveals that it wasn't a planned pregnancy (as it happened within weeks of her marriage), but she also clarifies the fact that she knows that it's a gift from God. I'm particularly fond of the following excerpt from this song: "We're just pottery, the joy is that the clay is shaped by grace, and the Potter promised me that everything will work for good." The album finale and title track brings back some more of The Roots-inspired beats. Lyrically, the song is a fitting conclusion, as it brings everything back to the idea of joy, and that the only source of our happiness and satisfaction is the Lord ("Satisfaction only happens to those who are glad in You, glad in You"). I love the piano in the hook, with its almost offbeat rhythm, as well as the very subtle horns that accompany it (whether they're synthetic or not, they still make a great addition).

The Art of Joy is a great way to introduce this talented woman of God to an already excited fanbase. The music is strong, the messages glorify our risen King, and to top it off, the flows establish Perry as a certified emcee. She even includes a spoken word piece called "Suffering Servant," though I was never really into her poetry. However, personal opinions aside, you should definitely give it a listen and it just might touch you as well. Perry's transformation is a controversial one by today's "standards," but a powerful one regardless, and her testimony is sure to inspire many who are having struggles similar to her own. Make sure to pick up a copy of The Art of Joy, and pick up a copy for anyone you know who likes hip hop and could use an encouraging word.

. Record Label: Humble Beast 
. Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 31 seconds 
. Street Date: November 4, 2014 
. Buy It: iTunes 
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. The Argument (1:47)
  2. Educated Fool (3:23)
  3. Better (feat. Jgivens and Natalie Lauren) (4:00)
  4. Miss Fearful (4:42)
  5. The Solution (feat. Eshon Burgundy) (6:50)
  6. Dead Preacher (3:40)
  7. Where's Love? (feat. John Givez) (3:19)
  8. I Just Wanna Get There (4:15)
  9. Ode To Lauryn (4:35)
  10. Suffering Servant (1:33)
  11. The Art Of Joy (3:27)  Read More Here

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Prince Malachi is the founder of The Oracle Network and the Streetwear brand Y.A.H. Apparel

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