Music Review: Selected Songs – Propaganda 
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Propaganda has been described as a poet, political activist, husband, father, academic, and emcee. In the song “Don’t Listen to Me”, included here, he also tells us that he is the son of a Black Panther with a Mexican spouse and Caucasian best friends. He is a college graduate with teaching credentials, and a rapper who brings a bold message through aggressive battle raps to smooth introspective rhythms. I first heard him via his contributions to some of Lecrae’s songs. The first of his albums I purchased was his excellent 2014 release Crimson Cord. Five songs from that album are included here in this compilation of eleven of the best songs from his work to date, which includes five studio albums.
Propaganda’s style of rap (poetic, spoken word, etc.) and his excellent use of percussion distinguish him from some of the other artists (Lecrae, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, KB, Tedashii) that I listen to. He brings passion to his subject matter, as varied as public education (“Bored of Education”), or what it feels like to a black man when pastors quote the Puritans (“Precious Puritans”), the latter of which particularly got my attention. You see, I love the writings of the Puritans (Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, Matthew Henry, etc.), and use The Valley of Vision (which he mentions in the song) as part of my daily devotional reading. It was good for me – as a middle-age Caucasian male, to hear how pastors quoting some of these writers can impact African Americans (he raps of them being chaplains on slave ships, etc.), something I hadn’t thought of before.
Propaganda will challenge you with his bold messages. It may stretch your mind and heart. That’s good for me. I highly recommend his music, and this compilation is an excellent introduction if you are not currently familiar with him.
- Six Flags St. Louis Christian Music Concerts. If you are located in the Midwest of the U.S., there are a few good opportunities to see some good Christian music. Six Flags St. Louis continues its tradition of hosting Christian music shows this summer. They will welcome Chris Tomlin (June 11), Matthew West (July 9) and KING & COUNTRY (August 13). Check out the details here.
- Rapper Lecrae Takes His Gospel Mainstream. See Jake Blair’s short interview with Lecrae.
- Gawvi “Get Em” Listen to Gawvi’s exclusive Uncomfortable tour single “Look at You”.
- The Wanderer. Did you see Dion perform his classic song “The Wanderer” recently on The Tonight Show?
New Paul Simon Album. On June 3, Paul Simon will release Stranger to Stranger, his 13th solo album and first since his acclaimed 2011 album So Beautiful or So What. Listen to the first single “Wristband”.- Know It’s Real ft. John Givez, Charlene Nash. Check out the latest music video from Shope’. His new EP “Know It’s Real: truth be told”, was recently released. It is dedicated to introducing the world to a realGod for real people with real
- Needtobreathe Announces Sixth Studio Album & U.S. Tour Dates. Hard Love will be released July 15. The album is available for pre-order now. You will get an instant download of the first single “Happiness” and “Money & Fame” with a pre-order.
“Facing a Task Unfinished” Global Hymn Sing. On February 21st, 2016, Getty Music in partnership with OMF International led an estimated 1.1 million believers together across 100 countries for an unparalleled “Global Hymn Sing” featuring the hymn “Facing a Task Unfinished,” originally penned by Frank Houghton in the 1930s, and now re-visited by Keith Getty. Watch the montage video.- New Keith and Kristyn Getty Album. Here’s the cover of the new album Facing a Task Unfinished, which will be released this summer.
- Lecrae Wants Listeners to Wrestle with His Music. Lecrae states in this interview “What I feel like in terms of my music is I want people to wrestle with the complexity of it and the beauty of the complexity and not just kinda write it off like ‘I get what it is. It’s just rap.’ Or ‘It’s Christian.’ Or ‘It’s indie.’ Whatever. I want you to like, no, it’s it’s own thing. Sit with it and wrestle with it and what it is in it’s own unique package.”
- Stevie Wonder Carpool Karaoke. James Corden of The Late Late Show and Stevie Wonder carpool through Los Angeles singing some of his classic songs and Stevie suggests he and James start a group called the Wondercats.
- Pure McCartney. On June 10, Paul McCartney will release Pure McCartney, a career-spanning collection in 2 and 4 CD versions, the latter containing 67 songs.
- Check out Lecrae being pranked while he’s trying to write for Church Clothes 3.
Music Quotes:
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I have friends that had gluten allergies before it was cool. Andy Mineo
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Trust is fragile like an insecure heart. If broken neither are easily healed. Tedashii
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What’s the difference between a wrap and a burrito? 4 dollars. Propaganda
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No, they did not take his life–he laid it down. And the chains of death could never hope to hold him, so in the night my hope lives on. Andrew Peterson
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I’ve tried milkshakes from just about everywhere, but nothing has come within a hundred yards of Chick Fil-A. Jimmy Needham.
“Jumped Out the Whip” by Tedashii
My favorite song to date this year is “Jumped Out the Whip” by Tedashii, from his new EP This Time Around. You can listen to the song here. The lyrics are below:
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip on ’em
You know how I get homie
I’m too strong for these thug brothers
Too smooth for these rough cutters
Tryna be me my whole life
But I get caught up with that old life
Yeah, you know how the thinkin’ go
But I’m ’bout to get it on tonight
Hold tight, hold tight, whole squad with me
You seein’ them, you seein’ me, man it’s the same difference
Unashamed, unashamed, no we ain’t changed
Ok, your boy might be a little different
Go hard, like concrete, oh Lord
When you tell me I be in these streets, yeah
Get it poppin’, quick, quick, quick
That’s the feelin’ jumpin’ out the whip
Jumped out the whip, now we ain’t got no problems
‘Bout to get lit, ain’t nothin’ that gon’ stop us
They can feel it but they all in they feelings
They can get it, tell ’em all better get it
They can feel it and it’s all alright
They can get it, get it yeah, yeah, yeah
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And I jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Man, I jumped out the whip
Jumped out the whip on ’em
I’m bein’ me, I’m the one and only
Steppin’ out so clean, ain’t a stain on me
Ooh it’s goin’ down, and now they know
Swingin’ hard like I’m Andre Ward
Make it slow, tell ’em press record
I ain’t playin’ around
Yeah, yeah, they givin’ up but I’m stayin’ down
Get it right, man I’m gettin’ to it
Why we livin’ and flippin’ in it, this is why we do it
Malo lava, malo lava, man it’s so good
And I’m jumpin’ out the whip to prove it
Shine on ’em, yeah, man we shine on ’em
Every time, wastin’ time, ain’t got time for it
Whip clean, my whip clean
I ain’t ridin’ dirty, man I’m pristine jumpin’ out the whip
Jumped out the whip, now we ain’t got no problems
‘Bout to get lit, ain’t nothin’ that gon’ stop us
They can feel it but they all in they feelings
They can get it, tell ’em all better get it
They can feel it and it’s all alright
They can get it, get it yeah, yeah, yeah
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And I jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Man, I jumped out the whip
They say that you did it, you jumped out the whip
Know you can feel it, you jumped out the whip
Swag on a milli, you jumped out the whip
How you gon’ get it, you jump out the whip
Tell ’em this is how we roll
Jumpin’ out the whip, this is how it goes
From the Bay to the A, H-town where I’m from
Tell ’em dog, it’s time to get it on
Jumped out the whip, now we ain’t got no problems
‘Bout to get lit, ain’t nothin’ that gon’ stop us
They can feel it but they all in they feelings
They can get it, tell ’em all better get it
They can feel it and it’s all alright
They can get it, get it yeah, yeah, yeah
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And I jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Jumped out the whip
Aye, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Man, I jumped out the whip
