Between mixtapes and studio albums, Lecrae has been busy putting new music into fans' hands on a yearly basis since 2010 (and every two years before that). The most recognizable name in Christian hip hop is making his mark in the mainstream hip hop world as well, and he makes that mark bigger in 2014 with the highly-anticipated Anomaly. Lecrae has grown as an artist over the years, and Anomaly is a solid album that showcases his increasing talent on the mic as well as beats that shy away from "that Reach Records sound" a little more. There are some clear standout tracks here, such as "Welcome To America," where Lecrae goes on the offense using satire to point out the flaws and hypocrisy of American culture, and "Timepiece," which talks about the uncertain amount of time we all have on Earth and the importance of getting your life right as soon as you realize what's wrong with it. Most of the weak spots come in the form of sections of songs, such as the hooks for "Nuthin," "All I Need Is You," and "Good, Bad, Ugly," and in the latter two, it's just the female vocals that are weak. It's also odd that the album ends on a rather poppy note. I know it's a trend in Christian rap (of this style) to include Christian pop and contemporary artists for some strange reason, but I feel it's an overused and usually uninspired trend. Fortunately, the track with Kari Jobe, "Broken," works pretty well. But the album's finale, "Messengers," which features pop group for King & Country, feels completely out of place on this album, and its omittance would've made the overall product a little stronger. Anomaly is a strong product, but it's not without its flaws. It's not Lecrae's strongest effort, or even the strongest hip hop album of the year, but it's well worth the purchase. But be warned: this isn't Lecrae as usual. Though he's always been a missionary, he's started gearing his lyrics more toward confronting the world, so don't be surprised if you end up feeling a little challenged or convicted. - 9/8/14, Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com


    Anomaly finds the rapper at the pinnacle of Christian hip hop at his own creative zenith. Lecrae's known for well-executed themes on previous releases, sometimes to the point of excess that gets a little tired. The theme here, what it means to be an outsider in the world, is ideally suited to a full-length exposition, and it's brilliant. Opening strings and, later, horns, world beats, and loops evidence strong production, but as it should be, it's the lyrics that stand out. When Lecrae is angry, he taps into a core strength of hip hop and uses it to positive effect. There is an LL Cool J feel to songs of both self-conviction and church-conviction. But there's also levity (just try not to laugh at "Runners"), praise, and proclamation.

When Christian rap is done this well, it's a gem. There's no self-aggrandizing, no "Sucka MC" distraction. Instead, the form gives freedom and space to dig and explore. Here's a contrast to illustrate the point. DC Talk changed the game in Christian music with Jesus Freak, ironically by shifting from rap to rock. A standout confessional song, "What if I Stumble?", explored the allure of celebrity and its temptations. Today, as Christian rap flourishes, Lecrae tackles the same questions on "Fear." But where DC Talk were only able to offer up fairly simple worries, Lecrae is able to mine the topic and leave listeners with much more to consider, "What's after I can capture all this mess my heart was after? Will I end up empty-handed when I stand before my master? Did I master the mathematics of a passive disaster? Add in my selfish ambition, All the while, subtracting what matters."

Anomaly's collaborations (Andy Mineo, Crystal Nicole, Kari Jobe, for King & Country) are well-executed and add important variety, and "Messengers" in particular flat-out rocks. The two closing tracks should serve to broaden his audience even more, and with a message like this, as well-executed as this, that's a very good thing. - 9/8/14, Mark D. Geil of Jesusfreakhideout.com


    Solidifying himself as the best rapper associated with the Christian music scene, Lecrae has become a household name and has set the bar extremely high for himself with each new piece of music released. Anomaly is an album that reaches that proverbial bar. Standout tracks like "Good, Bad, Ugly" and "Fear" speak some of the most depth around in hip hop today, while "Nuthin" and "Say I Won't" are stellar rap tunes for all to enjoy with superb beats and unmatched lyrical flow. Not to mention the unique collaborations with artists like Kari Jobe and For King & Country which all turned out awesome. All of that said, there are a few missteps ("Dirty Water" and "Timepiece"), and this isn't Lecare's best work ever, but overall, you really can't go wrong picking up this album. - 9/5/14, Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com