The word lament appears to be the root word in “Lamentations,” a book of the Bible in which the author is weeping and calling out to God. In Psalm’s latest project, ‘Hero’s Lament,’ we find the artist weeping over the state of the world and the Church, but yet and still he brings the message of hope. Gear up and get ready to listen to what is arguably Psalm’s best project to date ‘Hero’s Lament.’
The first song and title Track “Hero’s Lament” opens with what sounds like clips from a Steven Furtick sermon and then Psalm comes in with his double time flow over an epic sounding beat. There’s a section where the beat drops out and Psalm keeps spitting not missing a beat. Psalm sounds discouraged as he looks at the world around him and notes, “Even our heroes are so deceitful.” The world is clearly in need of saving but is equipped to do so? Psalm may have the answer but you gotta ride with him on this journey through ‘Hero’s Lament.’ The second song is “Pig With A Pearl” featuring Noah and we have Psalm rapping over a steady beat that sounds like it has some West Coast elements in it. We hear him say that he’s not Christian enough to fit in with the Christians nor is he worldly enough to fit in with the world. He needs God’s daily intercession because he feels like a pig with a pearl. This is a nice spin-off of the scripture that speaks of not throwing one’s pearls to the swine. Why? Because as the Scripture states, “lest they trample them. under their feet, and turn again and rend you.(Matthew 7:6)” Psalm sounds like he’s struggling with the duality of being saved and having knowledge of the Gospel(the pearl) and his fleshly carnal self(the pig). Psalm raps that it doesn’t seem to matter about the miracles he’s witnessed, yet he still questions God’s existence. The closing line, “Bring me back to life and I just toss you out the window,” really hits home. When you add in Young Noah’s verse about self sabotage, it meshes well with the song. Song number three is “Where Is Superman At” featuring Gospel/Hip Hop music heavyweight Canton Jones. Psalm’s first verse speaks to all the super hero movies but now the real world seems to have the villains in mansions and the heroes finishing in last place. Canton comes in not with a hook or bridge but a nice verse about where the real Superman can be found. This is a dope song and points the listener to the true hero of the story which is God.
As we turn the corner on the album we land on “Savage” featuring HOGMOB affiliate Illuminate. This song is dripping with auto-tune on the hook and what sounds like some EDM(electronic Dance Music) elements on this beat. Psalm and Illuminate teamed up on this haunting instrumental to flip the term known as “savage.” This term has been lauded as something worth being but Psalm debunks that in his verse. Illuminate, who is really from the streets, also talks about the emptiness that accompanies a “savage” life style. Illuminate states, ” I done been there and done that and homie I ain’t going back.” This is a very different sound from the previous songs but the message is very much needed. Next we have “Down We Go” featuring H.U.R.T. as these two narrate what appears to be the downward spiral of the Church in the United states of America. This song must be heard by anyone who claims the name of Christ in this present time. The soundscape itself sounds epic and as if it could be in a movie, specifically the part where it seems like all hope is lost. A lot of gems were dropped in this song, making it a standout track worth listening to over and over again. As we hit the halfway mark on the album we arrive at “Christian Rapper,” where Psalm talks about the landscape of Christian Hip Hop. The song starts with what sounds like an interview with Sevin talking about the corruption of the Gospel Music industry as well as Christian Rap. While this has been belabored in many a Christian rap song, this is what Psalm sees and is lamenting about. The seventh song is “Dry Bones” featuring KJ-52. The bongos are very present on this song as Psalm speaks about his resurrection from his past life of sin. Psalm then reads the Scripture asking if the dry bones can live and then the beat switches as KJ-52 picks up where Psalm left off. KJ delivers a good verse over this very unorthodox beat further driving home the point that in God, He can even make the dry bones live again.
The eighth song is “It’s Only Right” featuring Reach Record’s 1K-Phew. This song is a nice change of pace from the epic dramatic beats as well as the rock influenced beats. This just sounds like a nice slow soulful beat with some Gospel chords on it. Phew knocks it out of the park with the hook as usual, as he sings about playing his role and being lost until God made him whole. God rode for us so we ride for Him because “It’s Only Right.” Psalm speaks about how it’s only right when he get the light that he turns around and gives it to those who need it. God is the gift that keeps on giving so “It’s Only Right” that we give Him to others, and the cuts at the the end of the song is a good way to take us out. The next to last song is “Lion’s Roar.”Psalm doesn’t let the beat breathe at all before he comes in with his double time flow that we’ve grown accustomed to. Psalm really gets into his punk rock bag on this one as he sings and screams on the hook. This song may be the shortest as it clocks in at a minute and forty four seconds. This could be the most polarizing song in terms of soundscape, if you don’t like screaming on rap songs this may not be your cup of tea. I’m not a fan of this song but I’m not mad at it either. The very last song on this album is “Better” featuring Selah The Corner from God Over Money. This song made my head bop before Psalm came in singing in a low and mellow voice that he was better than he ever was. Psalm is snapping on this song, with lines like, “Better than I ever was, it comes together cuz/ everywhere we go Jehovah goes ahead of us,” and, “World can’t get the best of us with family ties to Addonai/tryna count my blessings up but I just cannot count up that high!” Psalm really did his thing on this song and with a smooth verse from Selah The Corner, you couldn’t ask for a better way to end this project.
All in all, this is a very solid project. This the third project I’ve reviewed for Psalm and he keeps getting better and trying different things as he develops as an artist. His debut project was ‘Covenant’ and had a whopping 22 songs, then there was ‘Deathproof’ which had 15 songs, and finally we get to ‘Hero’s Lament’ which has the standard 10 songs. With each project Psalm has trimmed the fat and stayed with a consistent theme and ‘Hero’s Lament’ is no different. The cool thing bout this particular project is the artists he featured. Psalm has always had features on his projects but this project may have some of the most commercially recognized artists in the CHH genre. From Young Noah to a God Over Money and a Reach Records artist and everywhere in between, Psalm covered all the bases. I honestly could have done without “Lion’s Roar” but perhaps it will bless someone who needs to hear the message that way. I was blessed to hear this album in it’s entirety but the rest of the world has to wait months and months. The only way to hear it now is to go to Psalms website and opt-in to get access or go to Psalm’s website and cop the album via his shop. If you are a fan of Psalm you need this album, and if you are new to Psalm you need this in your ears and your life! Plug in and listen to this ‘Hero’s Lament.’
