Like it or not, 2015 was 10 years ago. While Apple Music and Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered, Christian Rap had a robust list of album releases. Several artists dropped foundational projects, and many projects reached the top of the iTunes and Billboard charts. While we can’t cover them all, here are 20 standout Christian Rap albums from 2015.
Alex Faith and Dre Murray – Southern Lights: Overexposed
Back in 2015, Alex Faith and Dre Murray were both signed to the now-disbanded Collision Records. The two rappers created one of the best singles “Wake Up Music” and music videos “Southern Lights Overexposed: Short Film” of 2015 in this one project. The project rose to No. 15 on the Christian Billboard Chart, No. 23 among independent projects on Billboard, and went up to No. 8 on the iTunes Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Notable tracks: “Wake Up Music,” “Overexposed,” and “Decatur Street Blues”
Aha Gazelle – Free Barabas
Free Barabbas introduced Aha to a lot of people in 2015. Probably because the album used to be free to download on Rapzilla and Aha’s website. This album was a breath of fresh air back in 2015 with Aha’s signature flow, eerie atmosphere, and quite a few anime references.
Notable Tracks: “Vegeta,” “18 Wheeler,” and “Super Saiyan”
Andy Mineo – Uncomfortable
For his sophomore album, Andy made an album that took him across the world and earned him interviews on Hot 97 and Sway in the Morning. He even got a feature and production by Jon Bellion. Uncomfortable reached No. 2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap Chart, No. 3 on the overall iTunes Album Chart, Billboard No. 1 among Top Christian Albums, and Billboard No. 3 among Rap Albums.
Notable Tracks: “Uncomfortable,” “Desperados,” “Rat Race,” and “Know That’s Right”
Benjah – Motives
For his fourth studio album, the overall concept of the album is Benjah challenging his motives, rebuilding them to be aligned with God’s desires, and having an eternal perspective. The album has a ton of big-name CHH features, including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s Krayzie Bone.
Notable Tracks: “Never Quit,” “On My Momma,” and “Climbing”
Bizzle – Surrender
Bizzle’s fourth Christian Rap album features production from Beanz N Kornbread, the Cratez, and Boi1da. The album reached No. 8 among Top Christian Albums, No. 9 among independent albums on Billboard, and No. 7 on iTunes’s Hip-Hop/Rap Chart.
Notable Tracks: “No Hate,” “Surrender,” and “Not for Sale”
Bumps INF – Man vs. Machine
Bumps’ second God Over Money album focuses on what keeps mankind away from God and in sin and is honest about his own struggles. The storytelling on this project took Bumps to No. 13 on the iTunes Hip-Hop Chart.
Notable Tracks: “Run Boy” and “All I Got”
Derek Minor – Empire
Derek dropped this project right after leaving Reach Records. This is also the first project Derek released under his label Reflection Music Group. This album peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard Albums Chart. On iTunes, Empire reached the No. 1 spot on their Hip-Hop/Rap Albums Chart. The album also won Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year from the Stellar Awards.
Fun fact: Derek fired nobigdyl. from RMG so he could start his music career, then featured him on Empire.
Notable Tracks: “Who You Know,” “Until the End of Time,” and “Party People.”
Eshon Burgundy – The Fear of God
Arguably with the best album cover of the year, the Philadelphia artist released The Fear of God with Humble Beast before he left the label. Despite Humble Beast selling their music for free, The Fear of God reached the No. 15 spot on iTunes’ Hip-Hop/Rap Chart.
Notable Tracks: “The Fear of God,” “The Healthy,” and “Higher Learning”
Gemstones – Blind Elephant
Another contender for album of the year, Gemstones dropped this album and then didn’t release music for over five years. This was the first project he released after dropping his secular name Gemini and walking away from Lupe Fiasco’s label 1st and 15th. This album reached No. 20 on iTunes’ Christian Albums Chart.
Notable Tracks: “Lyrical Miracle,” “Press Harder,” and “Circles”
Guvna B – Secret World
Secret World is Guvna B’s fifth album. This album is about addressing the issues and challenges such as identity, suicide, and loneliness that people hide from others.
Notable Tracks: “Nothing But The Blood,” “Somone’s Watching,” and “Feel That Vibe”
John Givez – Soul Rebel
An album many people revere for progressing the genre, Soul Rebel explores the story of a young, lost man turning to God for purpose. The album topped Billboard’s Rap Albums chart at No. 10, No. 7 for Christian Albums, and No. 19 for Independent Albums.
Notable Tracks: “Elementary Trill,” “Will Not Be Televised,” and “2004”
Json – No Filter
Json dropped this album with Lamp Mode. The St. Louis native tackles identity issues, past dope dealer aspirations, and the complexities of man. No Filter reached No. 17 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums Chart.
Notable Tracks: “Preacha Man,” “Light up,” and “My G”
KB – Tomorrow We Live
KB dropped this album, while he was still with Reach Records. Tomorrow We Live covers a range of topics from dedicating songs to his family to praising God for eternal salvation and life with him. KB’s second album with Reach rose to No. 2 among Hip-Hop/Rap Albums and No. 3 overall on the iTunes Album Chart.
Notable Tracks: “I Believe,” “Crowns and Thorns (Oceans),” and “Sideways”
NF – Mansion
The project that kickstarted NF’s booming career. In 2015, NF signed to Capital Records but was still operating in the Christian Rap space. According to Billboard, Mansion was the most-selling Christian Rap album in 2015. That was the first time a non-Reach Records artist had a best-selling album since 2006. Mansion sat at the Billboard No. 1 spot for Christian albums and reached the No. 8 spot for all rap albums.
Notable Tracks: “Mansion,” “Paralyzed,” “Can You Hold Me”
Ruslan – Do For One
Back in 2015, Ruslan was an active Christian rapper trying to pursue a solo career after his group with Beleaf and John Givez, The DreamJunkies, broke up. Do For One is his second solo album. The album is about Ruslan rapping about choosing a creative career and serving Christ locally versus growing his platform for international recognition.
Notable Tracks: “Packing Light,” “Do for One,” “The Game Don’t Wait”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
Sareem Poems and Ess Be – Beautiful Noise
Beautiful Noise is the first project released by the rapper/producer duo. If you don’t know, Sareem Poems is an original member of L.A. Symphony. Two major themes of Beautiful Noise are 1. how current hip-hop is self-serving, while hip-hop originally focused on strengthening local communities, and 2. the beauty of the abstractness of sound.
Notable Tracks: “Overflow,” “Show N Tell,” and “Push It Along”
Social Club Misfits – US
Us is a time capsule of 2015 Social Club when Marty and Fern took the Christian rap scene by storm with their witty and challenging music and marketing. Then known as simply Social Club, Us reached No. 6 on the iTunes Hip-Hop Albums Chart and No. 14 on the overall Albums chart.
Notable Tracks: “Sky Lanterns,” “Carpe Diem,” “Heavy Hand”
Skrip – Renegades Never Die
Now going by Adriel Cruz, Skrip continued to shift his music sonically from boom-bap mixtape beats to more popular sounds. The album had one goal: to share the gospel over modern beats with a global audience. The strategy worked because the album charted at No. 24 on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart.
Notable Tracks: “When The Beat Drop,” “LWYMMD,” “Este Fuego”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
S.O. – So It Ends
For his third album, S.O. explored his relationships with his wife, Jesus, the church, and others. It’s also the end of a trilogy of albums (the naming convention was a bit of an accident), following So It Continues and So It Begins. This album charted at No. 24 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums Chart.
Notable Tracks: “London Dreams,” “Satisfy,” and “Walk in the Son 3”
Tony Tillman – Camden
Camden is dedicated to his hometown Camden, Arkansas, and shares stories Tony witnessed during his time growing up in Arkansas. The album, released under RMG, is unfortunately Tony’s last album release, but he’s dropped some singles over the years.
Notable Tracks: “No Lie,” “Cmdn,” and “Lord Have Mercy”
