Trailblazin Ministries

MIA3 - Renewal 101

Written by G-Rich
Thursday, July 05, 2007

Album Overview

"I hope this one hits 'em." M.I.A.3 surely got his wish with Renewal 101. This hip-hop class CD project piles hit after hit into a diverse, well-made album. I had not heard much of M.I.A.3, until I saw his album in a "Talk Music" discussion on this site's forum (Trailblazin Ministries represent!) The track samples were enough to make me want more.

As I listened, I found the album was even better than I expected it to be from listening to the samples. His sound reminded me of Andre 3000, but on Christian tracks. His smooth flow pours over very different beats, ranging from laid back to crunk to jazzy piano. The album features appearances from Judah, Apollo, and King Majesty (major props to all three!). As I listened to this album, I found millions of Biblical references, spanning numerous Pauline Epistles, especially Romans. The album, little did I know, acted as a musical Bible study!

Starting with "Renewal 101," the CD's intro, the album is kicked off with a hot welcome to the class, (Renewal 101), and warns of the need to repent before the end comes. Throughout the rest of the album, M.I.A.3 presents numerous topics backed by tons of Biblical text, and finally closes the album with "Class Dismissed," which is sort of connected to the intro, and finally "Wisdom," a track expressing his wish to reach us, hoping we'll hear the album and act on it to preach the Gospel. Overall, Renewal 101 is on point and will be bumpin' in my headphones for a long time!

Spiritual Significance

As I mentioned earlier, this album is loaded with Biblical text. I found tons of references to the Pauline Epistles and the Gospels. However, I saw that the main spot focused on was Paul's letter to the Romans, as the cover boasts Romans 12:2. As this was the chapter on the cover, I flipped my Bible to Romans 12 as I started listening. After the first few tracks, the chapter was exhausted! M.I.A.3 packed this album with so much Spirit food that it's bursting at its seams!

Throughout the album, all of the topics lead back to one main thing: renewal. Like the title, this album is full of lines on how to repent and renew you life in Christ. M.I.A.3 wants us to know that a change of mind is the first step to a change of heart and life. Once you get your head right, everything else will start to flow a little smoother.

While going through this album, I was constantly brought back to Romans 12. Track after track broke down and taught the various lessons presented in the chapter. The track "Renewal 101" tells of the need to give back to God in any way that you can (Romans 12:6-8) and we must not be conformed to the world and it's ways (12:2). Throughout the remaining tracks, topics from the rest of the chapter are laid out: renewing the mind (v.2), staying humble (v.3), using one's talents for God (v. 6-8), true love (v.9-10), persevering (v.11-12), helping others (v.13-16), and fighting against evil (17-21). Romans 12 is a chapter full of wisdom, and Renewal 101 does a great job breaking it down for the listener.

Outside of Romans 12, M.I.A.3 also covers other spots in Romans and the Pauline epistles. Numerous songs celebrate God's love and power, which are talked about in Romans 5:1-11, and Romans 6:4-11. To finish of Romans, "No Shame" deals with Romans 1:16, showing M.I.A.3 is unashamed of the Gospel. For the rest of the Pauline epistles, Renewal 101 hits topics including repenting quickly, for we don't know when the end will come. Other things touched upon are persevering in faith (Philippians 3:12-14), pure thinking (Philippians 4:8-9), and working for the Lord (2 Timothy 3:14, 4:2, and Galatians 5:1, 13). If I were to give you every reference and topic I could name, this review would soon be a book! M.I.A.3 spits so many topics that this, like a mini version of 13 Letters, could be used as an overview of big things talked about in the Pauline epistles, and how to be ready for the Lord's coming (Luke 12:35-40). Overall, this album has a very positive flow, (we do "Have the Champ on our side.") but also challenges us to stay renewed in faith and be ready for the Lord to come back at any time.

Topics Covered

From what I've written in Spiritual Significance, it is easy to see that M.I.A.3 was very generous with the Biblical text. He hit so many different topics and the whole album was on point. Here's the topics track-by-track:

• Renewal 101 - Warning to repent before the Lord returns. Gives an overview of the album (Romans 12).
• To the Point - Knowing a tree by its fruits (Luke 6:43-45).
• Breakdown - How to renew your faith (Romans 12:2). Persevering in faith (Romans 12:11-12).
• The Way, Truth, & Life (remix) - Celebrates how good God is (reminded me of a modern-day Psalm). Happy are the Lord's believers (Psalm 34:10,112:1-2, 119:1-2). Victory in God (Ephesians 2:4-8).
• Grind - Working for the Lord at all times (Philippians 3:12-14).
• Champion - The Lord as our strength (Philippians 4:13) (Liked the basketball metaphor).
• Lady Love - True, healthy love (Romans 12:1, 9-10).
• Listen - Repent now. Christ deserves the praise not us (Romans 12:3).
• The Prayer - Always rely on the Lord in prayer (Romans 12:12). The need of prayer
• No Shame - Being unashamed of God (Romans 1:16). The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20. Luke 8:16-17).
• Where Would You Go - Live like it's your last day. Constantly seek the Lord (Luke 11:9-13.)
• Terms of Endearment - Have a proper, Godly relationship. Respect for women (Colossians 3:19).
• Truth or Fiction - Protect yourselves against the lies of today (2 Timothy 3 rappers) Materials will not last (Luke 12: 22-31).
• Class Dismissed - Review of album (Romans 12). Always be ready for the Lord (Luke 12:35-40).
• Don't waste your life that Jesus died for. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Sends us off hoping the album will inspire us to do God's will.

Key Tracks

(This one has a lot)

To the Point, The Way, Truth, & Life (remix), The Prayer, No Shame, Where Would You Go, Truth or Fiction, Wisdom