Shai Linne : the atonement

What would Issac Watts’ music sound like if he was alive today and lived in North Philadelphia?  I think it would sound a lot like what we hear on Shai Linne’s latest album, The Atonement. Shai is a hip-hop artist who writes lyrics that are weighty, cross-centered, theologically rich and edifying.

Personally I have never been able to get into ‘Christian’ rap.  The lyrics are often trivial, soft, and lacking the weight that both the message of the gospel and the medium of hip-hop demand.  So when I heard Shai Linne’s album I was not anticipating much, however, I was both impressed and refreshed by what I heard.

As the title indicates The Atonement is about the cross.  In an interview I heard Shai say that the motivation for the album came from his reading of the classic The Cross of Christ by John Stott along with sermons he was hearing from CJ Maheney.  He then wrote the lyrics and got the album together.

If you are familiar with hip-hop the sound is a traditional tough east coast sound, it is gritty and rough-neck; which goes well with the theme.  There are brief interviews or interludes between songs where more is said about the subject at hand (the cross, sin, the resurrection, etc).  In addition, there are samples in the songs by Maheney as well as John Piper.  These samples come from sermons that these men have preached and really serve to punctuate Shai’s message in the respective songs.

Theologically Shai is a Calvinist who packs more theology into a 3 minute song than many evangelical preachers do into a 45 minute sermon.  I have included a link over to his myspace page where you can listen to several of his songs for free.  Listen to “Were you there?” first.

The Atonement is available for download at both at Amazon and iTunes.  I just noticed this week that Amazon’s mp3′s are cheaper than iTunes, so check ‘em out.

If you are interested I thought this video was pretty cool.  Shai is about to do a concert and comes out and rhymes acapella; not sure if this is freestyle (off the top of his head) or something he has already done.  At any rate, it is good stuff.  He starts off a bit slow, but he ends well.  Very encouraging.

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3. Looked Upon by the NA Band
4. The Wait is Over—New Coldplay Album
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9 Responses to “Shai Linne : the atonement”

1. wisecarver says:

   July 6, 2008 at 10:12 pm

   “Christ suffered more in 3 hrs than any sinner will in hell.” Wow. What more can you say to that? That’s humbling and so amazing to hear in a rap song. Go Shai!
2. Josh Golackson says:

   July 7, 2008 at 4:46 am

   Shai Linne is a stud and this album is ridiculously good. I bought it right when it came out and haven’t listened to it for a while…need to again. It is very theologically rich. The song “Mission Accomplished” is a sweet biblical defense of limited atonement. “Atonement Q&a” is also a great song.

   Eric you said: “Personally I have never been able to get into ‘Christian’ rap. The lyrics are often trivial, soft, and lacking the weight that both the message of the gospel and the medium of hip-hop demand. ”

   Have you listened to much Cross Movement? Those dudes bring it! Though they have “retired” as a group, their record label is still putting out great stuff and all of their old albums are solid.
3. tom harvey says:

   July 7, 2008 at 7:06 am

   i absolutly hated rap music. it was/is hard for me to listen to or understand. i first heard this artist on the legacy conference CD. along wit Json, Azriel and others.
   i put this in my cd player one day on the way to work and wthin minutes could not help but weep at the rich theology i was hearing.
   one song on this cd by “Azriel” called “Radical Corruption” is incredible.
   i have been using this song to teach the doctrine of total depravity to my kids.
   absolutly amazing stuff….
4. Barry says:

   July 7, 2008 at 10:45 am

   Very Kewl!! This guy actually has a very good vocabulary. I will check out some more of his music. I totally agree that it is so hard to find Christian music artists who have good theology. This guy seems to have it. Thanks Erik.
5. scott says:

   July 10, 2008 at 10:03 am

   Let me just echo the Cross Movement reference, particularly a guy named Flame. I met him at a SBC Founders conference in St. Peter’s missouri, where he attends the host church. In fact, one of his CDs has samples of Pastor Joe Braden’s preaching in a song about the Trinity. Like Shai, there is more theology packed into a Flame rap than in many churches on Sunday Morning. Just thougt some folks who like Shai might want to check Flame out.
6. Ronjour Locke says:

   July 10, 2008 at 5:41 pm

   Thank you for posting something about Shai Linne’s new CD. I too have been encouraged by him and others (LeCrae, Trip Lee, Flame, etc.) who are spreading a solidly God-centered message through hip hop. I also see God raising up some solidly God-centered preachers as well, like Tony Carter, Michael Leach, Thabiti Anyabwile, Ken Jones, Lance Lewis and Eric Redmond. Could a reformation be stirring in the black community?
7. Stephen C. says:

   July 10, 2008 at 11:49 pm

   no
8. Sb says:

   August 16, 2008 at 8:53 pm

   I’m a middle aged white guy – hate certain types of music, including rap. During a recent visit to our 24 year-old son, he introduced this album to my wife and me. Wow. What a hard difference from normal CCM on the radio. With thanks to the Lord God of heaven for Shai Linne – and for the work He’s done in our son for the sake of His own glory.

   We’re gonna buy this CD and wear it out.
9. Kevin A says:

   September 9, 2008 at 1:26 pm

   Shai Linne is solid. You should also check out Ambassador, Da Truth, LeCrae, Trip Lee, and Reach Records. Shai, Ambassador, who is also known as Pastor Duce, and Da Truth all work out of Philly. They each preach at Epiphany Fellowship…google it and listen to some of these guys sermons. They are amazing. I love their application of theology to a particular cultural. They do a great job of contextualizing the gospel without losing the meat of the gospel.. Also google Reach Records and listen to Lecrae and Trip Lee. It is amazing what God is doing through them…try to find the lyrics to Trip Lee’s song “Give him glory” it will be a worship experience.