Sandusky, OH; Chicago, IL - “‘See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the covenant you delight in — see, he is coming,’ says the Lord of Armies. But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.” [Malachi 3:1-2]

The duo of emcee iNTELLECT and beatmaker Tae Lamar formed as Above the Clouds in 2020 with their debut ‘The Righteous.’ Since the initial release, Above the Clouds has taken the time to grow in their faith, while also refining the integration of Christ's message into high-quality hip-hop.

The result of the group’s hiatus is a project that is squarely in the Album of the Year conversation.

The Messengers hits digital streaming platforms on August 1, 2025, and features nine tracks of classic boom-bap hip-hop proclaiming the hope found in Jesus Christ.

With production from Tae Lamar, The Messengers features a plethora of lyricists from the Christian rap underground. Guests on the project include Polished Arrow Music artists m1L, MotionPlus, Kaboose, Procyse, JusJames, and Griffin, along with additional features from Elan Brio, DJ Radiohead, KAIR One, and DJ Grubbernaut.

The Messengers includes the acclaimed singles “The Product,” “Soul Food,” and “Applause.” Be sure to check out the latest project highlight, “Beware the Ops,” and add it to your playlist on your favorite music streaming service.

The Messengers is a much-needed album in these current times. It is a reminder that no matter how we are defined, we have a higher purpose at play that we cannot ignore.

Support Above the Clouds: Polished Arrow Music Substack | Instagram | iNTELLECT on Instagram | Tae Lamar on Instagram

• Title: The Messengers

• Artist: Above the Clouds (iNTELLECT, Tae Lamar)

• Release Date: August 1, 2025

• Label: Polished Arrow Music

• Production: Tae Lamar

• Engineering: David “iNTELLECT” Bunts

• Features: m1L, Elan Brio, DJ Radiohead, MotionPlus, Kaboose, Procyse, JusJames, Griffin, Kair One, DJ Grubbernaut

1. The Messengers (Intro)

2. Beware the Ops

3. Applause

4. Ring the Alarm

5. The Lord is My Shepherd

6. Soul Food

7. The Product

8. Real Ones Pt. 2

9. We Don’t Miss

Rapper iNTELLECT and beat maker Tae Lamar formed the group Above the Clouds in early 2019 due to their common love for Jesus and 90’s hip hop. Drawing comparisons to classic hip hop groups like Pete Rock & CL Smooth and Gang Starr (who the name of the group is inspired by), this producer/emcee collaboration delivers a nostalgic brand of hip hop that shows that you can deliver the gospel over classic boom bap.

 

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