Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird
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Andy Mineo returns with his first new album (mixtape) since 2015’s excellent Uncomfortable. The album debuted at #2 on iTunes Albums chart and #1 on their Hip-Hop/Rap chart. On this release, he teams up with good friend Wordsplayed (as Magic and Bird), the son of Nigerian immigrants who came to the United States in the early 1980’s and met Mineo in 2008. This playful and basketball themed release is a perfect summer listen, and builds on their 2015 single “Lay Up”, which is included here as a bonus track. Along with BEAM, the release includes production from GAWVI and !llmind, who also produced Uncomfortable.

Below are a few brief comments on each song: 
Hi-Five –  A short introductory track, mostly speaking.
KIDZ –  The song was produced by Tyshane and Daniel Jordan. It was written by Tyshane, Jordan, Wordsplayed and Mineo.  This was the first release from the new album. The bridge contains a brief piece reminiscent of the Doxology.
Key lyric:
I’m in the pocket like Brady,
Magic and Bird like the 80’s
Kobe, I might put up eighty
Look only Jesus can save me

Dunk Contest –  This song was produced by Young Sidechain and Beam, and was written by Wordsplayed and Mineo. It was the second single to be released from the album. The two trade lines about basketball, cities, single moms, etc.
Key lyric:
Yeah, so shout out all the single mothers
2 jobs, 3 kids, I call that a triple double

Say Less –  This song was produced by GAWVI and written by Wordsplayed and Mineo. It was the last track recorded for the project.
Key lyric:  When you start talking and prayin’ less?
Disqus (Skit) –  This short vocal interlude by Mineo was inspired by Wordsplayed’s high school track career in which he threw the discus.
R.U.T.S. – This song was produced by Alex Medina and written by Medina, Wordsplayed and Mineo. “R.U.T.S.” is an abbreviation for “Run Up The Score”. The song uses the first verse from Mineo’s 2016 songs “The Upside Down”.
Key lyric: I got one jog, make the flow silly, Serve one God, it’s my sole mission
Judo – This song was produced by GAWVI. It features Judo, and was written by GAWVI, Judo, Wordsplayed and Mineo. This was the third single to be released from the album. Opens with vocals by Judo before going into a rap by Mineo. GAWVI created the sample from scratch.
Key lyric:
Oh, you holier than thou?
Alright, tell Jesus on me

Break Bread –  This song was produced by Alex Medina and features Beam. The song was written by Medina, Beam, Wordsplayed and Mineo. This song is about the hard work it’s taken to get them where they are today.
Key lyric: Brick after brick I was building this building (yeah), I never waited around for permission (no), I used that God given strength to go get it
Metro (Skit) – This short vocal interlude is about a woman who has lost her Metro Card.
Dance (You See It) – This song is produced by 42 North and written by Wordsplayed and Mineo. They start the song by saying that a lot of rappers are overrated. Wordsplayed and Mineo have some goals to reach.
Key lyric: ‘Crae told me new level, new devil in this, It’s a battle outside and you better be equipped.
Team – This song is produced by Daniel Steele and features Beam. The song is written by Beam, Wordsplayed and Mineo. They drop a lot of NBA references throughout the song.
Key lyric: Nobody can do it themselves, it don’t work
Legend –  This song is produced by !llmind and written by Wordsplayed by Mineo.  It contains a lot of autobiographical references from both Wordsplayed and Mineo.
Key lyric: No time to rest when you tryna be a legend
Lay Up (Bonus Track –  This basketball themed song was written by Alex Medina, Tyshane, Wordsplayed and Mineo, and produced by Tyshane and Medina. It was released as a single released in May, 2015.
Key lyric:
Coach told me no lollygagin’
Still dunk with my pants saggin’
One sixteen, yeah, it’s tatted   

• All Things Work Together. Lecrae’s long-awaited new album All Things Work Together, will be released on September 22. You can pre-order it now.
• Matt Maher’s new album will be titled Echoes, and will be released on September 29. It is available for pre-order now. Watch Matt shares the story behind his song, “Your Love Defends Me”, which will be included on the new album.
• More Matt. Watch Matt Maher and Audrey Assad in this recent performance of Maher’s excellent song “Because He Lives”.
• A Different Matt. Watch this acoustic performance of Matt Redman’s new single “Gracefully Broken”, filmed live on top of the Capitol Records Tower, hear the story behind the song, and learn how to play the song.
• Dove Award Nominees. Zach Williams and Lauren Daigle lead artist nominations with five, followed by Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Kirk Franklin and NEEDTOBREATHE with four nods each. Top nominated writer/producer Wayne Haun scored six nods, and Bernie Herms andDavid Garcia have five nods each. View the full list of nominees at DoveAwards.com.
• Upcoming Christian Music Compilation Titled “WOW This Music Was Corny. Ouch. The Babylon Bee reports “A rumored and highly anticipated new compilation of favorite CCM hits from the 1990s was officially announced by Capitol Christian Music Group Wednesday morning, with the final title being confirmed as WOW This Music Was Corny: 30 Christian Hits From The 90s That Are Very Hard To Listen To.”
• Propaganda’s Crooked Aims to Balance Raw Humility with Prophetic Fire. Matthew Linder reviews Propaganda’s excellent new album Crooked.
• The Damsel and the Villain. Watch this powerful seven-minute spoken word piece tell the story of the Gospel from Jimmy Needham.
• Woke. Watch the video for the new song by Reconcile, featuring Lecrae, which uses powerful imagery to depict the struggles Black people have had to endure in America.
• Beyond Belief. Here is the lyric video of the classic Petra song “Beyond Belief”, performed by The Union of Saints & Sinners, which includes Petra lead singer John Schlitt.
• Transformation. Watch Van Morrison perform “Transformation” from his upcoming album Roll with the Punches, to be released September 22. Jeff Beck and Chris Farlowe guest on the track.
• James Taylor’s Tribute to Glen Campbell.  Glen Campbell died on August 8. Watch James Taylor perform Campbell’s hit “Wichita Lineman”.

~ Single mom, 3 kids…I call that a triple double. Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed

~ Don’t chase accomplishments, people or positions to find your worth. You’re already loved as you are by the Father. Chris Tomlin

~ Christian worship must contain both the cross and the crown. Sing of majesty, and sing of mercy. Matt Redman

 

   Walking on Water by NEEDTOBREATHE  

This week’s Song of the Week is “Walking on Water” from NEEDTOBREATHE’s new EP Hard Cuts: Songs From The H A R D L O V E Sessions. This excellent song will appeal to the band’s Christian fan base as it will remind them of Peter walking on the water to Jesus in Matthew 14. It starts slowly and then builds powerfully and joyfully on the chorus with a strong drum beat and backing vocals. There’s no turning back. Listen to the song here.

The wind is strong, the water is deep
My heart is heavy and my mind won’t sleep
Oh can you heal, my fear it breathes
I need to know if You’re the shadow I can see

I wanna run to You when the waves break through
I wanna run to You and not turn back

There’s no turning back
Nothing in the past
My eyes on You again
Can’t see nothing at all
But Your outstretched arms
Help me believe it
Though I falter
You got me walking on water

The ocean’s singing, the song of grace
But if I’m honest with myself, I am still afraid

I wanna run to You when the waves break through
I’m gonna run to You and not turn back

There’s no turning back
Nothing in the past
My eyes on You again
Can’t see nothing at all
But Your outstretched arms
Help me believe it
Though I falter
You got me walking on water

I was sinking like a stone again
I was halfway in the grave and then
I looked up and saw Your face again
You pulled me out of the water, water, water

There’s no turning back
Nothing in the past
My eyes on You again
Can’t see nothing at all
But Your outstretched arms
Help me believe it
Though I falter
You got me walking on water
Though I falter
You got me walking on water, water, water
You got me walking on water, water, water, water