Propaganda may never escape the infamy of "Precious Puritans," but the poet/rapper seems okay with that, since his latest album, Crooked, functions as a spiritual sequel to that song -- an album that combines the best aspects of Excellent and Crimson Cord. With his tightest productions and most biting lyrics yet, Propaganda has finally made a work in the same league as Kendrick Lamar. "It's Complicated" even sounds like a direct response to "u" from Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. And like Butterfly, Prop recognizes that the best way to tackle institutional racism is addressing his own heart. On "Darkie," Prop opens up about the odd phenomenon of black people discriminating against themselves, and although the song is a jam, it's a purposefully uncomfortable listen. "It's Not Working (The Truth)" is a convicting history lesson and the most beautiful song I've ever heard within Christian hip hop, where Prop sports enough confidence in the music itself to step out of the song for two whole minutes. And I chuckle my way through "I Hate Cats" every time I listen, not only because I can't believe what I'm hearing, but because I can't believe Propaganda is actually pulling it off. - 6/28/17 Chase Tremaine


    What makes Crooked so great is the fact that Propaganda intelligently chooses to maximize the platform of hip hop by covering every aspect of the themes he addresses. The simplicity of spoken word and rap over bass-and-snare hits allows him the clarity to recognize that the problem with systemic injustice lies within the hearts of its creators. Though topics of racial injustice and other perversions feel heavy at times, there is an element of hope that makes the album feel deeply spiritual. Some songs towards the end of the album tend to overstay their welcome, but Crooked is still a cohesive, biting album that is as infectious as it is potent. - 6/21/17 Mason Haynie


    I always thought Excellent would be hard to top, but it looks like Prop has gone and done it. Crooked is a career-defining album, featuring the best of Propaganda in every sense. The lyricism, the humility, the fearlessness to "take shots at your sacred cows," all on top of some of the best production and music ever to grace a hip hop album. Prop shows that no one is safe from satire, as he calls out injustice on all sides while acknowledging his own sinfulness. From my point of view, this is without a doubt Propaganda's best album to date, and you'd be robbing yourself to not own a copy. - 7/2/17 Scott Fryberger


    Rare is the album that can make the listener "feel" such a wide range of emotions; and I certainly felt many upon listening to Crooked. I felt sadness, anger, introspective, compassion, conviction, gratitude, hope, and ultimately challenged. Propaganda must have had a lot on his mind, and he unloads it with a heart-on-his-sleeve ferocity that never seems like pointing fingers without having examined his own heart first. Humankind has truly been rotten toward each other throughout history, and like any good professor, Prop takes listeners to school. Ultimately, he concludes that we are all equal parts hero and villain due to our sin nature, and Jesus Christ is the only hope for our now, and our eternity. Musically interesting, and lyrically thought-provoking, this Album of the Year candidate is an important must-hear for all music fans. - 7/4/17 Josh Balogh