Rapper KB dropped a killer debut last month with Weight & Glory, an album that puts to rest all debates on whether hip-hop is good or bad. If we’re judging by music, lyrics, theology and phat beats, the verdict is in: behold, it was very good.
Weight & Glory is a musical sermon that urges listeners to recognize the weight of God’s glory, and to respond in worship. The 14-song set includes guest vocals from leading rapper-evangelists like Lecrae, Trip Lee and Flame, to name a few. Polished and expertly produced, this offering from Reach Records has been an absolute blessing to me. Total theological ear candy.
I’m no authority on rap music, but that’s OK, because this album is for everyone. Besides its rock-solid theology, the reason I’ve kept W&G on repeat is KB’s seamless integration of pop and gospel. Evidence: opening track “Weight Music.” It’s a throwback to Lauryn Hill’s “That Thing (Doo Wop),” blending a catchy piano loop with a sick beat. But then! A full-blown gospel choir comes out of nowhere, officially blowing your mind and setting the tone for the rest of the album: a marriage of contemporary hip-hop and good old-fashioned gospel music.
But this album is more than great music; it’s packed with preaching. KB and friends tackle topics K-LOVE doesn’t dare touch. I was moved by “Open Letter (Battlefield),” a slow jam that addresses the temptations of homosexuality, pornography and premarital sex. Chris Tomlin this is not. With help from Trip, Swoope and Jai (whose haunting “War!” refrain is the cherry on top) KB prays for broken people whose “life is a battlefield.” That is, he prays for all of us.
The album’s got sunnier songs, too. KB takes us to the South in “Church Clap”—a blast of Baptist organ, soulful vocals and (you guessed it) handclaps. Musically, it’s a feel-good track; theologically, it’s a warning to make sure your worship is genuine. Teaming up with Lecrae, this foot-stomper will make you wanna get your praise on.
It’s impossible to walk away feeling condemned when you give “Hello” a spin. On the verse, KB walks us through how to preach the gospel to ourselves when we’ve failed spiritually. On the chorus, Suzy Rock’s guest vocals provide a modern take on Lamentations 3:22-23. I’ve probably listened to this song 20+ times, unraveling its sweet harmonies (not to mention its biblical truths).
There’s more. Lots more. But bottom line: W&G is a phenomenal album. Theologically, KB doesn’t bring anything new to the table—and that’s a good thing! Yet, as an artist, he sets the bar high for up-and-comers in Christian hip-hop. More importantly, one listen is enough to convince you that KB takes the Great Commission seriously. Through hip-hop, he’s preaching the gospel to people who’ve never heard it. And to people, like me, who need to hear it again.
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