Trailblazin Ministries

J'son - Life on Life

Written by George Sly
Monday, June 16, 2008

Album Overview

Aight so I'm chilling one day and LJ gives me the chance to review a new album. I get it and start to listen. Oh baby! Ya'll better get ready for Life on Life by J'son. This is the second album by this St. Louis artist whose ministry (Hid In Christ Ministries) is rooted deep in discipleship. Let me tell you, when you think of what the Gospel is, you have to respect the approach this rapper takes in living the truth through his music. He's open, honest, and authentic in how he preaches with hip-hop. This album has everything you would expect and more from J'son. We got sick beats, crazy lyrics, and content that is not only relevant to this generation but also reaches out to older cats as well. So, prepare yourself to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit once you press play.

As I look around at the countless emcees and artists that claim to be Christian but don't make music for God, I am more impressed with this new breed of lyricists like J'son. They have taken the challenge from veteran groups like Cross Movement to do just that, take the extra step to see how dope their rhymes can be by putting God first. Once you buy the record, then you too will see what I mean. He takes the challenge personal. So personal that he even brings his life in on this project. He talks about rebuilding relationships with his mom and close friends. He addresses his surgery and the subsequent struggle with his recovery. I mean when I say open, there ain't no playing around ya'll. J'son does not allow society's mindset of keeping issues like this hidden. He opens himself up for the sake of our King. In order to reach the lost you have to share testimony they not only believe, but also can relate to. Otherwise, the non-believer tends to feel like they can not measure up to the task of being a Christian. J'son does this with such confidence he creates a measure of comfort for someone who might be struggling with the same things. This makes an opening for a discussion with those who fit into that situation. This is why I can do nothing but endorse this album without reservation. Get atcha' boy J'son and hit up his ministry. Aight!

Spiritual Significance

J'son knows how important relationships are in reaching the lost for Christ. Life on Life touches on this aspect of our job of making disciples through preaching the Gospel time after time. He shows practical examples of how you, as a believer, can do just that: have relationships with non-believers. I struggle with rebuilding relationships as well. It is a part of the Christian walk that tends to burden us. Somehow we think that because we follow Christ that everyone will naturally be compelled to just love us more or see us as different people. We forget the lesson Jesus taught us about a prophet in his own hometown or dealing with his own family.

He also does a good job of painting an in-depth picture of who Jesus is and the extent of God's sacrifice. It's done in such a way that if you don't stop and reflect on the plan for redemption in careful detail then maybe you ought to search you heart. For real man! This project forces someone who is really seeking God to view Christ's death on the cross in a dynamic light. The plan had to be perfect for it to work. Because of this loving God and HIS perfect plan, man can atone for his sins and have eternal life with our King in heaven. Not many artists can handle this subject. It takes someone who is digging in to their Word and has mature believers to provide the wisdom. It also takes a strong desire of wanting a loving relationship with our Savior to even tackle this subject. We love to focus on the benefits of our redemption through Jesus' death but forget to remember the reality of His suffering and death. J'son did a very good job of presenting the death to his audience and I pray they visualize it while they listen.

Overall, I took some good things away from Life on Life. At the root of a church foundation is the obedience to the Gospel. For a body of believers to grow, they each must have the will to submit to God. They walk it out by living a Godly life and building relationships with other believers so that the body can come together for the Great Commission. Although each track does not specifically address this, the lessons learned from each track definitely build upon working for the kingdom in the way Christ intended. One on one relationships culminating to crescendo into a body of believers or a Church, living to serve God by obeying his commands to love him above all and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Topics Covered

• Atonement - "Run"
• Becoming a new creature in Christ by dying to yourself - "What it Do" featuring Titus & Trip Lee
• Be careful what you ask for; self examination; wrestling with pride - "Music"
• Not compromising Godly music for the worldly music - "Listen Choice" featuring Tedashii
• The spiritual battle that faces the body - "Fight" featuring Thi'sl & Mike Real
• Being thankful to God; the heart being God's home - "My Heart"
• Dealing with old friends/relationships after becoming a believer - "I Do"
• God's glory - "Sitting Big"
• The truth about a marriage; it requires a real commitment - "Ladies & Fellas"
• Die to yourself - "Move Out" featuring Future & Flame

Key Tracks

"Who is He," "Fight," "Music," "I Do," "Sitting Big," "Ladies & Fellas," "Move Out," "In the Studio," and "Grace" are my picks, but please believe me, this whole album is fire!