Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

Derek Minor
Your Soul Must Fly - EP



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Hip Hop / Rap
Album length: 7 tracks: 23 minutes, 46 seconds
Street Date: September 1, 2017


 
  
YourSoulMustFlyEP
READER RATING:  YourSoulMustFlyEP
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

Whether you remember his days as Pro or you only know him as Derek Minor, the RMG founder is definitely among the top rankings when it comes to CHH rappers these days. Minor has the ability to be gritty, serious, and have fun at the same time all while producing a most excellent sound. According to sources, he is releasing a four-part project over the next four months and Your Soul Must Fly is the opening act. The idea behind this short set is to get fans stoked about some new tracks while cranking party tunes that are worthy to be played at your next event. So let's see how these seven tracks do in that respect.

"Launch Pad" is a hard-spitting intro track and serves the intro purpose nicely, while "Take Off" is straight-up fire, featuring heavy hitters like Ty Brasel, Canon, and KB. If you haven't heard of Ty yet, you are missing out and the four combine here for a superior rap tune laid down with some seriously good industrial beats, making one of the best rap songs of the year so far. "Astronaut" and "Anti-Gravity" come along next and offer some light fun and encouraging tunes while carrying some outer space vibes nicely intertwined in the beats. Each track is simple in its positive message yet offers head-nodding at its finest. "Jumpin" would be the only average track present, as the hook gets a little mumbly at times, but that would be the only real misstep on this small sampling of Minor tunes. "Level" features those staple gritty raps the rapper is known for, while the title track delivers a soft chill vibe to conclude this release and reminds listeners to focus on God instead of material things that can bring us down.

In the end, this is a good release. There's nothing really mind-blowing here and some of the hooks may come off as simplistic, but for the most part, the tunes are still thunderous and worthy to be played at house parties everywhere. With only seven tracks, listeners are going to be wanting more, but if Minor follows through on his plan to release a new project every month for a while, this is a great start to what could become the best hip hop we've heard all year.

- Review date: 8/25/17, written by Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion




Conceptually, Your Soul Must Fly is as cohesive as they come. From the first line on "Launch Pad" ("Darkness all around me/I've gotta rise"), both the musical and lyrical themes of the EP are made known. The sonic palette of dark electronic percussion, looped keys parts and heavy sustained bass complements the uplifting narrative of perseverance that is apparent on essentially every song here. Unfortunately, these positive ideas get bogged down by their "party music" dressing, lessening their impact a bit. Only the title track feels truly inspiriting and story-like.

Each song has cool moments (with the breakdown on "Take Off" being the cream of the crop), but most of the grooves themselves are pretty generic. This feeling of sameness is only accentuated by Minor's engagement with some of the genre's more irritating clichés, particularly the tendency for repetition of the song's title.

Still, the consistency of stylistic integrity on this release is impressive and makes it an enjoyable listen overall. If this is an indication of what Minor's forthcoming EP series is going to be like, he'll need to do a little more to make each one feel unique, but the potential is definitely there. - Review date: 8/28/17, written by Mason Haynie

 

 Record Label: Reflection Music Group / EMPIRE
 Album length: 7 tracks: 23 minutes, 46 seconds
 Street Date: September 1, 2017
 Buy It: iTunes
 Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Launch Pad (2:16)
  2. Take Off (feat. Ty Brasel, Canon & K.B.) (3:58)
  3. Astronaut (feat. Deraj & Bryon Juane) (3:48)
  4. Anti-Gravity (3:25)
  5. Jumpin' (3:12)
  6. Level (feat. Lil Bre & Byron Juane) (3:33)
  7. Your Soul Must Fly (3:34)

 

 Sample the Music

 

 

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 23
ALBUMS
PFR Disappear (Remastered) (independent)

This Friday, June 26
ALBUMS
Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed Magic & Bird 2 (independent)
Clark Beckham Acoustic Worship Sessions [NCS]
Dragons & Astronauts Broken Parables (independent)
floodlit MiDaSu (independent)
Gracie Miss Misfortunately [Tooth & Nail]
Tiffany Hudson When You're In The Room [Elevation]
Switchfoot Forever Now [By Design/BMG]
TobyMac Heaven On My Mind – Guest List Edition [Capitol CMG]
Tomb Slayer Radiance: Modern Hymns for Kids [Tomb Slayer]
Tree63 VOYAGE (independent)
Emilie Weiss What Should I Gain? - EP [BEC]

SINGLES
AOH Music In Your Presence - Single (independent)
Cory Asbury Holy God - Single [BEC]
The Band JAREN A Symphony - Single [Hit & Run]
Band Reeves How To Forgive - Single [Centricity]
Bill B, Mic Wise, GB Daylight - Single [Syntax]
Jeremy Camp Revival - Single [Capitol CMG]
Micah Christopher Grace Happened - Single [Integrity]
Leanna Crawford Living Room Floor - Single [Provident]
Death Protocol Illusion Of Faith - Single [Rottweiler]
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Constellations - Single [Magnolia]
Grace Frances Again - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison My Honor To Need You (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Hillside Recording in the room - Single (independent)
Ellie Holcomb What Would I Do Without You - Single (independent)
Dreal LP & OnBeatMusic Move - Single [Syntax]
eddieM Posted Notes - Single [Syntax]
Ezra Worship Initiative Same God - Single [NCS]
GLADDEN & Kurtis Hoppie Round & Round - Single (independent)
Kelo Reason - Single [Syntax]
Northview Worship How Great You Are - Single [BEC]
Matt Moore Burn It To The Ground (Feat. Nick Detty) - Single (independent)
Cameron Payne Time - Single (independent)
Q-Flo Pack Em Up - Single [Syntax]
Razzie CAPTIVE - Single [Syntax]
John Reuben 1-2-Barbecue (w/ Mike Tompkins) - Single (independent)
Jordan St. Cyr Hands To The Sky - Single [BEC]
Trey Simon & Mountain People Worship Brother Jo - Single (independent)
Phil Wickham x Pat Barrett Praise The Lord Forever - Single [Fair Trade]
Tauren Wells Breathe On It (From Austin) - Single [Capitol CMG]

Next Friday, July 3
ALBUMS
Chosen Road American Morning [Thoroughbred]
Remedy Drive Daylight United | Studio Sessions - EP (independent)

SINGLES
Allan Scott, John Waller, Waller Co Jesus, I Still Believe - Single [Dream]
Beach Chapel Woke Up - Single (independent)
InTheosis The Harrowing of Hell - Single (independent)
Kaboose The Key - EP (independent)
North Palm Worship Revive Us - Single [Harmony]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Get $200 Gift Card when you sign up for a Prime Visa Card!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images