Jars of Clay is a Christian alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The members met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. They consist of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars. Although the band has no permanent drummer or bass guitarist, Jeremy Lutito and Gabe Ruschival of Disappointed by Candy fill these roles for live concerts. Past tour band members include Aaron Sands, Scott Savage, and Joe Porter. Jars of Clay's style is a blend of alternative rock, folk, acoustic, and R&B.
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan, former vocalist Anders Colsefni and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Crahan, Gray, Joey Jordison, Craig Jones, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, and Jim Root. Slipknot is well known for its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows.
Slipknot is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. It was released on June 29, 1999, by Roadrunner Records, following a demo containing a few of the songs which had previously been released in 1998. Later, it was reissued in December 1999 with a slightly-altered track listing and mastering as the result of a lawsuit. It was the first release by the band to be produced by Ross Robinson, who sought to refine Slipknot's sound rather than alter the group's musical direction. This is the only album to feature original guitarist Josh Brainard who left at the end of recording in late 1998 while the band was taking a brief break. Jim Root, who recorded two tracks at this point, would appear full time on subsequent albums starting with their next album Iowa.
Rap metal is a fusion genre that combines hip hop with heavy metal. It usually consists of heavy metal guitar riffs, funk metal elements, rapped vocals and sometimes turntables.
We the Kings is an American rock band formed in Bradenton, Florida, in 2005. The band's eponymous full-length debut album, released in 2007, included the platinum single "Check Yes Juliet", and went on to sell over 250,000 copies in the US. The group's second album Smile Kid (2009) included Top 40 singles "Heaven Can Wait" and "We'll Be a Dream", as well as the single "She Takes Me High".
Amisho Baraka Lewis, better known by his stage name Sho Baraka, is an American Christian hip-hop artist and writer who has recorded both independently and as a founding member of the 116 Clique. He was originally signed to Reach Records until leaving in March 2011. He then co-founded a record label and group known as "High Society" with fellow Christian rappers JR, Swoope, and Suzy Rock. His debut album Turn My Life Up was released in November 2007. His second album Lions and Liars, was released March 2010. His third album Talented Xth was released in January 2013. His fourth album, The Narrative, was released in October 2016.
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner, better known by his stage name Xzibit, is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, and radio personality. He began his musical career in 1992, and signed with Loud Records, an imprint of RCA Records to release his debut studio album, At the Speed of Life (1996). The album saw positive critical reception, modestly entered the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "Paparazzi," which peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998) was met with similar reception and spawned the single "What U See Is What U Get."
Church Clothes is the first mixtape by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae, released for free on May 10, 2012, and hosted by DJ Don Cannon. It featured No Malice of Clipse on the song "Darkest Hour", and included production work by 9th Wonder, Boi-1da, S1 and Street Symphony. Label-mates Tedashii and Andy Mineo, as well as other fellow Christian hip-hop artists such as Dre Murray, Thi'sl, Swoope, Christon Gray, and Braille, also made appearances on the album. The mixtape was downloaded 100,000 times in 48 hours, and met with critical acclaim. It received controversy in Christian media upon its release due to its condemnation of hypocrisy in the Christian Church and Lecrae's collaboration with the mainstream producer Don Cannon. A shorter, remastered EP version was released on iTunes on June 25, 2012. The EP debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Christian Albums and Gospel Albums charts.
Andrew Aaron Mineo, is an American Christian hip hop artist, producer, music executive, and video director based in New York City. He is signed to Reach Records and his creative initiative Miner League. In addition to his solo work, he is a member of Reach Records' hip hop collective 116 Clique.
W.L.A.K. is the debut studio album from the Christian hip hop-contemporary R&B music group W.L.A.K.. It was released on their own independent label Collision Records on March 5, 2013. The album charted on the Billboard 200 at No. 81, and it was awarded a five star rating by New Release Tuesday and a four star rating from Rapzilla.
Alex Faith is an American hip hop singer-songwriter born and raised between the Cabbagetown enclave of Atlanta, Georgia and Riverdale, just south of Atlanta. He was formerly a member of the rap collective W.L.A.K.
ATLast is the debut studio album from Christian hip hop musician Alex Faith. The album released on November 5, 2013 by Collision Records to select retailers such as iTunes and November 19, 2013 to all retailers. It charted on the Billboard 200 at No. 193.
Andre' Ledarryl Murray, better known by the stage name Dre Murray, is an American hip hop artist born and raised in Houston, Texas. He is a member of the rap collective We Live As Kings (W.L.A.K.).
Gold Rush: Maybe One Day is the third studio album by the American Christian hip hop musician Dre Murray. Released on July 9, 2013 by Collision Records, it reached No. 189 on the Billboard 200.
Christon Michael Gray is an American R&B singer and rapper born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He calls his music "about being human." It is this approach that has allowed him a successful transition from Christian music to mainstream.
School of Roses is the second studio album from singer/rapper Christon Gray. It was released on March 25, 2014 by Collision Records. It charted on the Billboard 200 at #44 and #5 on R&B Albums.
Lawrence Allen Swoope II, mononymously-known as Swoope, is an American hip hop Christian singer-songwriter and producer born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He was a member of the rap collective W.L.A.K. and High Society with Sho Baraka.
Wake Up is the debut studio album from Christian hip hop musician Swoope. The album released on March 20, 2012 by Collision Records.
Sinema is the second studio album by the Christian hip hop musician Swoope, released on August 5, 2014, by Collision Records. It is a follow-up to Wake Up. Highly praised by critics, the album reached No. 3 on the U.S. Christian Albums chart, No. 1 on the Gospel chart, and No. 4 on the Rap Albums chart.
Southern Lights: Overexposed is a combined studio album and visual album by Alex Faith and Dre Murray, released the album on April 28, 2015. Faith and Murray worked with Swoope and Wit Shahbazian in the production of this album.
