“indie tribe. two years ago was a moment, but now it feels like a movement.”

We’re live from SMOKE! Festival! Alexander, Daniel, and Darius met up at the SMOKE! Block Party to record a special bonus episode. We’re talking about the festival itself, indie tribe.’s new album L O W B L O W, and the future of CHH. Listen on the FiveTwenty Collective Substack now! Plus you can paste api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1246501/s/62118.rss into your favorite podcast app to get new episodes automatically in your podcast feed.

Connect with AlexanderDaniel, and Darius on Instagram, and follow the DINO NUGGETS playlist on Apple Music or Spotify.

AMAR "Pop Out"

AMAR features DJ Mykael V and A3 on new single

POP OUT  is AMAR’s fourth single of the year. POP OUT is about not hiding away who God made us to be and stepping out to shine bright in that identity.

Big news for Christian Hip Hop fans and artists! Streaming platform Audiomack has launched its first official Christ Hip Hop playlist.

The platform, which has been free to use since its launch in 2012, has garnered attention from hip-hop artists and listeners broadly, with artists like Chance the Rapper and J. Cole releasing music exclusively on Audiomack as early as 2013. In particular, Audiomack has become a hub of Christian Hip Hop music internationally, with a huge presence in Africa.

Audiomack has a reputation for building an artist-first model, making perks easily available to creators and introducing programs l

ike Supporters (which we talked about on season 4 episode 1 of the FiveTwenty Collective Show). FiveTwenty was also able to talk with one of Audiomack’s cofounders, Brian “Z” Zisook, about the vision behind the platform on season 3 episode 9 of the FiveTwenty Collective Show.

DJ Mykael V is curating the first official CHH playlist for Audiomack

The new Christian Hip Hop playlist is curated by DJ Mykael V, who told Rapzilla:

“I’m curating their premiere CHH playlist, their FIRST CHH editorial playlist and my goals are to help push this space further into more credibility and recognition by showcasing new and fire artists and honoring and elevating established ones.”

Mykael V said that he got involved after initially talking with Reach Records about his desire to do more playlist curation. “I got involved and had to show the great people at Audiomack that there is a fire market with CHH.”

You can listen to Audiomack’s Christian Hip Hop playlist below:

It seems this isn’t the last CHH playlist we’ll see from Audiomack though. The platform also recently announced a new playlist series called “Keep the Faith Going,” which features artists from Christian worship, rap, inspirational, afrobeat, and gospel music from all across the globe. The first few playlists in the series are already live, including entries for Lecrae and Limoblaze.

How do you think these moves will affect Christian Hip Hop? Let us know! Connect with us on Audiomack and listen to the #FIVETWENTYCO playlist.

 

In this special end of 2022 episode, Alexander, Darius, and Daniel each bring two of their favorite CHH albums from 2022 alongside one non-CHH favorite. We’ve got Not Klyde! Nomis! Stranger Things! Bodega! Experimental EDM! We’ve got it all on the DINO NUGGETS music listening show! Check it out and let us know what you think.

Connect with Alexander, Daniel, and Darius on Instagram, and follow the DINO NUGGETS playlist on Apple Music or Spotify.

The November episode of DINO NUGGETS, FiveTwenty’s music discovery show, is out now! Half podcast, half radio show, on DINO NUGGETS each host brings

  • One new CHH release
  • One old CHH release
  • One non CHH release

to listen to and discuss. This month: Church Clothes 4, DJ Mykael V, and even some Christmas music, all while Darius and Alexander are battling the flu! Check it out on the FiveTwenty Mixcloud now!

Connect with Alexander and Darius on Instagram, and follow the DINO NUGGETS playlist on Apple Music or Spotify.

Marqus Anthony, owner and operator of Blessed On Purpose, drops Forever Walking By My Faith.

Featuring a dope, eclectic set of artists, the project release on September 2, 2022.

Included on the album are Porsha Love, Kennis Clark, Luke G., Lance Hitch, Avila, Kelo, Choirboy Bell, DreBreeze Da Godson, Jazmine Nikao, Czar Josh, DJ Mykael V, and more. The Midwest hip hop sounds of Detroit meet Atlanta flavor. It is a sonic blend of storytelling, head bopping, and lyricism that creates an encouraging experience for listeners around the globe.

Forever Walking By My Faith is part three in the “Walking By My Faith” series from Marqus Anthony.

Following 2016’s ‘Walking By My Faith’ and 2018’s ‘Walking By My Faith: Thru the Storm’, Anthony shares his experiences that prove the Biblical admonition:

“suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character” – Romans 5:3-4

Listeners hear the exhortations of Anthony’s close inner circle. They encourage him to follow God’s call back to his hometown of Detroit. Along with that transition, there are also the raw emotions one experiences when submitting to God in prayer. You will be brought into the journey of Marqus’ story of being down; experiencing the beauty of of amazing grace; and the life changing revelation that we are God’s Portrait.

Marqus Anthony leaves you trademarked with the truth that we look like our Savior.

FWBMF is now available on all streaming platforms. Rest in the goodness of God that is boldly declared on the latest Blessed On Purpose project. Stay up to date with Marqus Anthony across social media.

Take a listen to the project below. Let us know your favorite records in the comments!

Listen to the latest single here. Follow Marqus Anthony on Twitter.

The Gospel Music Association has announced its award nominations for 2021.

The 52nd annual awards show is scheduled to be held on October 19th. Until then, there is exciting news for the independent CHH community.

While hip hop and the larger Christian music space have, let’s say, a somewhat rocky relationship, it is safe to say that the bigger name in the hip hop circle usually gets recognized. It’s understandable. The broader Christian audience may have some level of familiarity with the likes of artists like Lecrae, Andy Mineo, and Aaron Cole. However, a group of artists we are quite familiar with have a reason to hold their heads a bit higher.

JIMMY ROCK’s single Worth It (featuring DJ Mykael V, J. Crum, and Rockstar JT) caught the attention of the GMA’s in 2021.

 

While Worth It faces some stiff competition (you may notice a guy named Kanye is also on the ballot), the nomination itself feels like a big step for the sub-genre.

Give these guys their flowers!

Landing a nomination is huge! Now it’s up to the voters for this year’s awards to see how it plays out. Can the underdogs come up big? We’ll find out on October 19, 2021, as the Dove Awards are held in Nashville, TN.

Past winners of the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year include:

  • Gawvi “Fight for Me” (2019)
  • Social Club Misfits “War Cry (ft. Tauren Wells)” (2018)
  • NF “Oh Lord” (2017)
  • Andy Mineo “Uncomfortable” (2016)

If you were given a vote by the GMAs, what would be your pick for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year? Let us know in the comments!

 

I guess the wild weekend wasn’t enough for YP aka Young Paul.

On Wednesday (June 23, 2021), the New York emcee made this announcement on Twitter:

That’s NOT Christian Podcast responded with the question, “Wait, another one??”

For those of you who may have missed it, YP dropped a record titled Duck, Duck Friday on his YouTube. In the song, he took shots at several of CHH’s more popular artists. The response was pretty much what you would expect. If you missed it, check out our coverage here.

It is apparently actually “Diss Season” in CHH.

Well, YP put out yet another record Holy Smoke. He did say that round two would take things up a notch.

“If they don’t respond to this one, they can never put tough, competitive, boastful bars in their songs again.” – YP

YP said that Duck, Duck was a challenge. Think of it as a writing exercise. But clearly, the gloves are off with Holy Smoke. The YouTube description simply states “Indie Tribe DISS record (round 2)”.

Holy Smoke! happens to be the title of a record on Indie Tribe’s newest project ‘UPPERHAND’ as well as their upcoming festival next month. Nothing appears off-limits, which may not be a good thing.

Plenty of people have accused CHH of looking more and more like its mainstream counterpart. Is this simply the next evolution of that process? Is the space in a tailspin? The reactions to this latest drop could say a lot. To this point, Indie Tribe has not responded outside of social media postings (primarily from Mykael V). Will there be the response on wax that YP appears to be looking for?

We are here to report, plain and simple.

Will this type of approach hurt CHH more than it helps? How do you view it? What do you think of the record?

Hit the comments and sound off!

 

Oh, it’s that time of year again?

In 2020 CHH saw several of its notable up-and-comers take shots at each other. From Mitch Darrell to Thomas Iannucci, what turned out to be a bit of fun struck a nerve with some of the genre’s leaders.

After what we can call a “cooling off period”, it looks like we’re back at it. But is it all fun and games this time around?

It turns out the artist in question was YP aka Young Paul.

On his new track, released on YouTube, “Duck Duck” featuring Selah the Corner, YP takes shots at Indie Tribe and others. Let’s start with this question, “is YP taking shots or simply clapping back?”

Indie Tribe scored big with their reloaded roster and the release of the new project Upperhand. On the track “Tribal Council”, DJ Mykael V delivers a strongly worded outro (although it is not clear if it was directed at any artists in particular or general hype). You can determine for yourself how you interpret the lyrics (courtesy of Genius):

It’s safe to say that YP aka Young Paul took at least a level of exception to what was said.

“Tell these CHH rappers boasting in they records or making competitive statements in their songs and [they think] no one will feel like challenging them…lol” -YP

“Duck Duck”

YP and Selah the Corner teamed up on “Duck Duck” and set the CHH Twitterverse ablaze. 

People have called it corny; some have called it needed; others have remained unphased. While group chats and timelines have been filled with debates of the song’s relevance and quality, very few appear interested in finding out what was really behind the release.

YP gave this statement to FiveTwenty, “I threw a jab expecting a punch back. Then we elevate the bars in Round 2.”

Young Paul has spent his #NewMusicFriday working his Twitter fingers as everyone seems to have something to say. Selah seemed to be ducking (no pun intended) the majority of the backlash, at least until The Crew brought the entire God Over Money roster into the conversation:

Yep, things get wild in these CHH streets I guess. Need examples? The best I can do is point you to YP’s Twitter feed.

Regardless of how you feel, it appears that this is where we’re at.

CHH continues to thrive off its drama. The question is, what’s next?

Check out “Duck Duck” and sound off with your view of the situation in the comments below!

Portrait by Marqus Anthony is a confident, defining moment for this up-and-coming artist. Avila smashes the production with clean drums, mysterious melodies, and fire accents. Marqus then slides using his smooth natural vocal tones and intelligent rhymes to nicely ride the pocket. DJ Mykael V even comes thru to deliver his stamp of approval. Overall the message is clear – we are all made in the image of God and have divine value.