Rap (and its sibling Hip-Hop) were third in the three way tie for third place in the first quarter of 2020. Two genres beat it. And when you have ten entries in a quarter and still aren't the winner, you know it's going to be a great year.
Rap/Hip-Hop
- Beacon Light - Influential EP
- Aaron Bucks - California, Volume 3
- 5ive - White Van EP
- Xay Hill - Million EP
- Manafest - This Is Not the End
- Derek Minor - Nothing But A Word ft Propaganda
- Social Club Misfits - MOOD/DOOM
- Thi'sl - STTAG
- Joey Vantes - The Season EP
- Whosoever South - Backroads and Small Towns
To me Whosoever South and Manafest are at the top of the list, but this is a pretty good mix. The Penultimate Genre is Pop Music. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rapping up the Wrap. Not exactly, we have a long way to go. I just liked the rhyme time. Let's get this party started.
Rap/Hip Hop
- Quinten Colblentz - We EP
- Aaron Cole - Not By Chance
- G.L.O. (God's Love Only) - Reborn
- NF - The Search
- S.O. - Augustine's Legacy
That does it for the ties. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rap/Hip-Hop and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal finish off our three megaposts. From here on in it is all one genre per post.
Rap/Hip-Hop
- Heesun Lee - Flying Cars EP
- Steven Malcolm - The Second City
- Tedashii - Never Fold
Hard Rock/Metal
- August Burns Red - Phantom Sessions EP
- Demon Hunter - War
- The Persuaded - Dawn of Destruction
- Within Temptation - Resist
Those who are solely familiar with the CCM Market may be unfamiliar with Within Temptation. They are a mainstream symphonic metal band from The Netherlands. They belong to the fringe. Their lyrics are full of Spiritual meaning, like LEAH, U2, Evanescence and others. And if you are wondering what happened to Demon Hunter's other album Peace, wait for the Rock section. Our first single genre post is Folk Music. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The third of the four way tie is Rap and Hip Hop. Let's get to it.
Rap/Hip Hop
- Canon - Home
- Aaron Cole - The Other Side EP
- Psalm - Deathproof
- Gerry Skrillz - Hundred Proof EP
- DA T.R.U.T.H. - Vet
This quarter we have mostly established veterans, though Aaron Cole could be considered somewhat of a newcomer. Our final in this first tie is Remix. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rap and its sister sibling Hip Hop accounted for 10 entries this quarter. That's a final genre plus an additional three. As many as this is, there are two other genres left which completely blow this one away.
Hip Hop/Rap
- Benjah - PainTings EP
- Brvndon P - Better Late Than Never
- King Chav - The Golden Lining EP
- Czar Josh - For Your Heart EP
- I Am The Storm - Fight Musik, Volume 1
- Andy Mineo - II: The Sword
- Jered Sanders - Hurry Up And Wait
- Skrip - The Trap
- Joey Vantes - The Fall EP
We are onto the final stretch. Next up is Gospel with 15 entries, and that isn't the winner. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are finally at the end of our 3rd Quarter Wrap, and we do it with Rap. No, we don't do it with a rap. I'm not going to scare you like that. Let's get to the list.
Rap/Hip-Hop
- Marqus Anthony - Walking By Faith: Through The Storm
- Cory Ard - The Blackout
- Bizzle - Light Work EP
- Timothy Brindle - The Unfolding
- Aaron Cole - Virginia Boy
- Lecrae - Let The Trap Say Amen
- Steven Malcolm - The Second City, Part 2
- Andy Mineo - I: The Arrow
- Sareem Poems - Mind over Matter
- Prafitz - Nazarene Movements, Volume 2
- Shope - XXY
- Joey Vantes - The Vantes Project III
Some Veterans, Some I Never Heard of. I said that Modern Worship did not win the quarter, and I was right, sort of. I also said Rap won, and I was right and wrong, sort of. Rap did not have thirteen entries, it had twelve. So did Modern Worship. So we have another tie for first place. Both genres can gloat. The third quarter is now in the bag. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The second genre in the Penultimate Tie is Rap and Hip Hop. Even though the genre had nine entries that does not get the top prize. That is reserved once again for Modern Worship, which had eighteen entries.
Rap/Hip-Hop
- Beacon Light - Loud Drive Home
- Flame - God Knows
- GodzG - Grayscale
- KJ-52 - Jonah, Part 2
- Steven Malcolm - The Second City, Part 1 EP
- Germaine Martel - Human 3: The Holy Trilogy
- Social Club Misfits - Into The Night
- Swoope - Sonshine
- T-Bone - Broken English
A nice mix of established and newbies. Modern Worship wraps things up. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The Penultimate post is upon us. Rap Music (along with its sister genre Hip Hop), had a dozen entries this quarter, but still fell just short of winning it all. Let's get it all.
Rap/Hip Hop
- B-L'atitude - Elevated Love
- Benjah - Guidance
- The Knu Black(fka Out of The Blue) - Ohana
- Beautiful Eulogy - Worthy
- GAWVI - 954 EP
- KB - Today We Rebel
- Kevi - Barnabas
- Byron Juane - Life in the Evening EP
- NF - Perceptions
- Nerva - One Way
- Parxx - Unchained
- Young Saint - Transition (Live)
You know which genre comes next. Modern Worship is again the big winner. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The third of the three way tie for 11 entries is Rap and Hip Hop. After we get through this, there are only two more posts left. We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Hip Hop/Rap
We are down to two. Rock Music is next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The 3rd Quarter Wrap Continues. Our three way tie goes to the middle genre with Rap. We won't spend any time on small talk and get right to it.
Rap/Hip Hop
A few words. It is good to see music from GRITS. They were one of the first Hip Hop artists not named DC Talk that I first heard back in the late 90'. Renaissance Movement Music is a collaborative act that is using all proceeds to establish Safe Houses against Human Trafficking.A much better thing than Safe Zones for Snowflakes. Rock Music is next. Until then, click the links, buy from Amazon and support The Night Beat. I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We continue our announcements of the 2nd Quarter 2017 Pool Eligible Nominees for #PlatVnyl8. The multi-genre posts are behind us and we now move in ascending order with the single genre post, where the minimum bar is five entrants. Just coming in with 5 is Hip Hop and Rap. Let's get to it.
Hip Hop/Rap
Not a lot of established artists this quarter. Hollyn hasn't been around enough yet to be considered "established", but her vocal versatility seems to predict longevity. Next up is Dance. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
(There appears to be a problem at Amazon. At the current time I am unable to get to the detail page of any products in order to post affiliate links. They will be updated later.)
We begin our second grouping with rap. This grouping consisted of a full finals, that would be 7 entries, but even that wasn't good enough for number one. We continue.
Rap/Hip-Hop
That does it for rap. Really not much to say here as they are all solid releases from dependable artists. Rock is next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The final multi-genre post is here. From now on it is only single genre postings. We covered four genres yesterday, and will cover three today. And there will be nine to go after that. Let's get to it.
Remix Album
Compilation Album
Hip-Hop/Rap
That does it for the multi-genre post. The Passion Listed on Amazon seems to be earlier than the 4th Quarter and 1014 seems to have been dropped since Reflection released on October 14. The first genre up next is Alternative, part of a three way tie with 5 pool entries. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The second of our three way tie is here. Rap and Hip Hop had 9 eligible entries this quarter. That would be enough, if there were no judging, to fill a final category with two left over. There will be judging, however.
Rap/Hip Hop
A solid group of entrants which should make for a very tough category once judging begins. Rock, the final of our trio of nine, is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are quickly approaching the end of our 2nd Quarter 2016 Pool Entry Announcements. We are actually down to the final two. Rap is the penultimate post. They had a very good quarter with 17 entries. That would be enough for 2 plus years of finals if they all made it. A lot of "snubs" will be made. Here we go.
Rap/Hip-Hop
If you haven't figured it out already, our last genre and big winner is Modern Worship, which had a whopping 26 entrants this past quarter, enough for almost four years. I am Awaiting Your Reply.
If you've been counting you know which genre has won this quarters prize for the most entries. The Penultimate genre is Rap, as well as its bouncier sibling Hip-Hop. Hip Hop is getting swallowed up by Dance and Synthpop these days, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. There were an even dozen entries into the pool this quarter.
Rap/Hip-Hop
A nice mix of artists here. Most of them are veterans here, with the exception of Hollyn, who is debuting. Modern Worship Is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome back to our picks for the 4th We Love Christian Music Awards, as well as commentary on how it stacks up against the Platinum Vinyl Awards, more specifically, the current awards year, which is #PlatVnyl6. This is the third post, so check out the introduction and the first three groups of nominees by clicking on the appropriate links.
The next two groups of nominees are competing for one award in the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Let me explain. The Encounter Award (Worship Album of The Year) and The Chorus Award (Church Based Worship Album of The Year) are both competing for the Modern Worship Album of The Year at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. And I think it will stay that way for a while. It's the sound, not the location, that makes the difference for me.
The Encounter Award nominees are:
- Aaron Gillespie - Grace Through The Wandering 4.50 Emeralds
- Amanda Cook - Brave New World 4.50 Emeralds
- Christy Nockels - Let It Be Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
- Matt Maher - Saints and Sinners 4.75 Emeralds
- Matt Redman - Unbroken Praise 4.75 Emeralds
The Chorus Award nominees are:
- Bethel Music - We Will Not Be Shaken 4.75 Emeralds
- Gateway Worship - Walls 4.50 Emeralds
- Jesus Culture - Unstoppable Love #PVA5 (2014 Release)
- Passion - Even So Come 4.75 Emeralds
- Vertical Church Band - Church Songs 4.75 Emeralds
I Don't know why NRT dropped the ball on this one by putting a 2014 album for best of 2015. Other than that we don't have too many problems. I wasn't that impressed with Gillespie and Cook in the first grouping and Gateway worship in the second, but other than that the choices were very good. As I said, however, I have combined all the Modern Worship Music into one award. The Automatic Qualifiers for #PlatVnyl6. I have six, which is 1 short of a full bracket without busting it open. They are:
- Bethel Music - Without Words: Synesthesia 5 EMERALDS
- The Katina's - Sunday Set 5 EMERALDS
- Planetshakers - #LETSGO 5 EMERALDS
- Planetshakers - This Is Our Time 5 EMERALDS
- Soulfire Revolution - Afterglow 5 EMERALDS
- Young Oceans - I Must Find You 5 EMERALDS
A much better grouping. There probably will be an expansion of the categories beyond seven to accommodate a few more worthy nominees, but there will be no ties.
The Hype Award corresponds to our Rap/Hip Hop Album of The Year, and personally I would say, don't believe the hype. Let's get right to the nominees.
- Alex Faith & Dre Murray - Southern Lights: Overexposed MTM
- Andy Mineo - Uncomfortable 4.75 Emeralds
- JGivens - Fly Exam MTM
- KB - Tomorrow We Live 4.50 Emeralds
- Roy Tosh - Death Before Love 4.50 Emeralds
It's an OK bracket, but you notice those two MTM's. That means I consider them to have Missed The Mark and awarded them a score under 4 Emeralds. That means they don't get into the nominee pool, and KB and Tosh would be a stretch in the pool at 4.50. Here our the Automatic Qualifiers for #PlatVnyl6
- Eshon Burgundy - The Fear of God 5 EMERALDS
- Flame - Forward 5 EMERALDS
- KJ-52 - Mental 5 EMERALDS
- LA Symphony - You Still On Earth? 5 EMERALDS
- Derek Minor - Empire 5 EMERALDS
- Skrip - Renegades Never Die 5 EMERALDS
- TobyMac - This Is Not A Test 5 EMERALDS
- Whosoever South - Come On In 5 EMERALDS
This one was a category buster. 8 Perfect 5's in one year. And others may get snubbed if I don't go higher.
Finishing with my picks. I'll go with Christy Nockels for the Encounter Award and Bethel Music for The Chorus Award. For Rap and The Hype Award, I'll pick Andy Mineo. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We move on up to Rap and Hip Hop, which had eight nominees this quarter, still at the bottom of the list. A nice blend of established and new artists. I won't spend any extra time as I am already behind schedule in these announcements.
Rap/Hip Hop
Flame put out a Perfect Album this quarter and TobyMac as well, though he is in multiple genres as his music spans several styles. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rap and Hip Hop are next with 9 nominations this quarter. The genre is tied with Rock, which also had 9 nominees. We are now in the major genres, where each quarter produces a full final lineup. Needless to say there will be a lot of editing. Let's get to it.
Hip Hop/Rap
- Beacon Light - Open Eyes
- CJ Emulous - Light It Up
- Fedel - Flaw
- J Han - Tower Ivory
- Illuminate - Charismata
- KB - Tomorrow We Live
- SPEC - Vacancy
- Roy Tosh - Death Before Love
- Various - Holy Hip Hop, Volume 19
There is only one other comment. The artist J Han belongs to a rising crop of Korean Rappers (stop laughing, at least it's not Swedish Polka Artists). Anyway I listened to the album and I thought it was more R&B than Hip Hop, but that is how the label wants it. Either way it's a good album. Rock Is Next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome back to our announcement of the 2nd Quarter 2015 Pool entries. We move on to the final three. First up is Rap and Hip-Hop, with ten entries this quarter. Mind you, we try to narrow things down to 7 entries for the finals. Let's get to it.
Rap/Hip-Hop
- 21:03 - Outsiders
- Eshon Burgundy - The Fear of God
- Chris Cobbins - August Season, Take 1
- Dee-1 - 3Up EP
- JSon - No Filter
- Derek Minor - Empire
- NF - Mansion
- Sareem Poems and Ess Be - Beautiful Noise
- Skrip - Renegades Never Die
- Social Club - Us
This quarter we had Three perfect albums in Rap, and they were Eshon Burgundy, Derek Minor and Skrip. That's half the finals in already. Next up is Gospel.
