I will preface this by saying I am not a critic or musical professional of any kind, I just happen to know what music I enjoy. Under that category of music I like is KB’s newest album His Glory Alone.
Kevin Burgess, known by his stage name KB, is a Christian rap artist whose most recently released album is his first since leaving his previous label Reach Records. The album name itself is both named after KB’s group HGA, as well as a reference to his goal in music which is to bring glory to God in whatever he performs. In this new album, KB raps about his faith while also tying in current issues and giving his take on several.
The lyrics are what I find so engaging, but the music is equally as entertaining. Most of the songs have a high paced feel to them, with two songs (“Libre” and “Si Cancion”) being less rap and more latin-pop, including lyrics in Spanish. Other songs on the album sample contemporary Christian songs, such as “Let It Reign” sampling Michael W. Smith’s “Let It Rain,” “Yes Song” sampling Vertical Worship’s “Yes I Will” and “Armies” using lyrics from Chris Tomlin’s “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies).”
As for the subject matter of his new songs, KB puts his Christianity at the forefront. As a man of faith myself, this is what I find the most compelling part of the album. He takes theology and turns it into music that anybody can understand. Some of these ideas KB mentions are the consistency and never-faltering character of God (“10K”) and the freedom that is found in Christ (“The Name”). I think it is also important to say that the lyrics are not just written from KB’s mind, his lyrics are backed by Bible verses.
While he makes his faith the focal point of the album, KB mentions several other ideas and issues, whether for a brief line or for a whole song.
Two notable songs that do these would be “Lil Boy” and “Masterpiece” which KB dedicated to his two sons and his daughter respectively. These two songs bring up KB’s thoughts on maturity, fame, marriage, money, what is important in life and what beauty is. In these two songs KB sings to his children about what he believes is important and is trying to set an example for them as they grow up and face these challenges.
While I believe those two songs call out a lot of issues that we commonly struggle with, I believe no song calls out struggle like “Dark Skin” does. “Dark Skin” is focused on racism and, in my opinion, is his most outspoken song to date. KB even mentions the controversial George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery incidents, as well as brings up problems with immigration, law enforcement and political differences.
It is KB rapping from a position of vulnerability, and he offers a simple solution: God. He goes from rapping about racial problems to imploring the listener to find comfort in the Lord and hope in the Gospel, with one of the last lines he says is, “yes, I love America, but heaven is the standard.”
In my opinion, this has been KB’s best work so far and there is not one song that I skip on my playlist. Each song tells a different story and he backs up all of his lines with scripture. No matter the topic of the song, KB still ties everything back to God, which is fitting since everything he does is for God and his glory alone, nothing else.
I believe that KB has composed an album that covers a multitude of topics, both secular and religious, that will catch the intrigue of listeners who want to hear from his perspective.
