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Alex MacDonald
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Alex MacDonald
Belt of Truth - Single

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: September 27, 2024
Style: Hip Hop / Rap
Official Site: AlexMacDonaldMusic2.com
Buy It: Amazon Music




Inspired by artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Jay-Z, Indiana-based hip hop artist Alex MacDonald took his love of music into the recording booth last year to drop a barrage of singles and EPs on potential fans. His newest song, dropping this month, is a slower track called "Belt of Truth." The song seems to pull from a wide range of styles, smashing them all together into a neat blend of chill hop, early '00s CHH, and a taste of Listener-esque talk music. The heavier emphasis on a spoken word cadence works better for MacDonald, who hasn't displayed a particularly strong flow in his previous rap tracks. It does, however, make the song feel rather repetitive, especially with the lofi beat. Chill hop is a really enjoyable style of music, and it sounds great here, but it's almost the same thing for all four and a half minutes of the song's runtime. Add that to the multiple times he goes through the chorus and it ends up feeling much longer. That being said, the song is beautifully produced. I would definitely add an instrumental version to a chill hop playlist, and I would love to hear a whole album's worth of this style from MacDonald. The overall sound and aesthetic of "Belt of Truth" certainly seems to be more in MacDonald's wheelhouse than his trap music, though. I'd be curious to see where he goes from here.

- Review date: 9/10/24, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 1 track: 4 minutes, 33 seconds
. Street Date: September 27, 2024
. Buy It: Amazon Music

  1. Belt of Truth (4:33)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics

 


 



  • Jesus Freak Hideout (Scott Fryberger): Your bio mentions a wide range of music influences. Who have you been listening to while working on "Belt of Truth?"

    Alex MacDonald: I had been listening to a lot of beats by DJ Pain1. I mostly tried to listen to God, writing to honor marriage. A few others include TobyMac, NF, Andy Mineo, KB, Bizzle, Tupac, and Mac Miller.

  • JFH (Scott): What would you say is your favorite album of all time?

    Alex: For King & Country, "Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong." This was the soundtrack when I first gave my life to Christ and they introduced me to Christian Hip Hop thru this album.

  • JFH (Scott): What's the story behind the song? And did you write and produce everything yourself?

    Alex: Working on "Belt of Truth" is actually a process over a long time period. I wrote the song 6 years ago and couldn't figure out the music to it, so I abandoned it. It came to my heart late last year and I said a prayer asking God to help me find the music. That same day I received an email from DJ Pain1 and that instrumental was the perfect fit. It was recorded and engineered by Taylor Zank of Succesful Musik Studios.

    The basis to the meaning of the song is to explain that marriage is hard, yet we can honor the covenant we made together. John Wayne says "(life is) even tougher when you're stupid." I've been taught so many lies by culture, by the world, by bad programming. We are taught divorce is ok, variety is a must. I wrote this song to honor my wife and in some of the more tough times, it has been an anchor that has helped my focus become re-centered. It begins saying I had no sword or shield and ends saying I have a sword and the armor of God. Throughout the whole song I sing "you're the prettiest princess in the whole Kingdom of God, and I'm the hero sent to rescue you." To be honest, these were hard to write, and initially tough to deliver. But the more I claim this, the more I believe I can live up to that hero role. I felt like the villain too many times. How could I do anything else? Because of Christ. He renewed us. He restores us, and we just have to keep clinging tight to the fact that we made a covenant and we have to honor it. It always gets better and better.

  • JFH (Scott): How long have you been making music?

    Alex: I first started writing and rapping in 2004, so now officially 20 years. Yet, God called me to put "A Mac" in the grave and I stepped away from music for 8 years. I returned to the music industry in the spring of '23.

  • JFH (Scott): Do you get opportunities to perform for a live audience?

    Alex: Yes, that's my biggest passion. I organize shows and work with a lot of really talented people. I recently went out on "The Extreme Tour" and that was an incredible blessing! I've learned a lot from Tom Jackson and I'm willing to travel anywhere with this music.

  • JFH (Scott): What do you have planned for after this song?

    Alex: I'm finishing up an album called "Soar Higher - See You At The Top" and have some amazing collaborations with artists including K-Drama, Battle Axe, Alli K, Rick Moore and even my beautiful wife Stephanie!

  • JFH (Scott): What is one thing potential listeners must know about you?

    Alex: I'm the rare individual that will set myself on fire so the whole world can watch me burn, I constantly learn and constantly serve. Give me a stage or a page and I'll pour everything I have out for the hope that it will help somebody live a life free and full of joy! -I'd love to help you write your own mission statement, that gets published!

  • JFH (Scott): . Where can fans connect with you online?

    Alex: My website www.alexmacdonaldmusic2.com and on Facebook and YouTube. @AlexMacDonaldMusic2

  • JFH (Scott): Is there anything else you'd like to share?

    Alex: Join the Winning Team!

    My latest work is an EP that invites listeners to realize they've already won, to break their chains, to follow the way, to have no doubt and to live life with no more nightmares. If you believe in your heart and confess with your tongue that Jesus is Lord, you're on that winning team! I'd love for you to check that out too as I worked with some amazing talented friends like NY Times best selling author Vince Poscente, djsunnysideup, ItzShlz, and Shackle Free Shacky.

     

     

     

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