Jackie Hill Perry – ‘Crescendo’ album review

Christian hip-hop reached its zenith in recent years, but don’t tell that to Jackie Hill Perry, who is intent on elevating expectations to another level entirely with her stunning sophomore album, Crescendo (buy). With lyrics both confessional and confrontational, Perry’s commitment to share the truth is unflinching and her flawless delivery rises to match the occasion—at times vulnerable atop a vulnerable track like “Lamentations” or “Mustard Seed,” other times direct like the title track.

Crescendo’s instrumentation is (almost) always foundational, a simple, sparse yet varied set that shifts from straightforward bass lines to complete silence. The point, as always, is to allow Perry to shine much like a Meshell Ndegeocello track, with instrumental restraint that allows the artist to shine the brightest. She takes full advantage of such an opportunity and gives listeners an album that’s likely to stand as the best hip-hop release of the year.

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> SAMPLE ALBUM at AmazonMP3.com