Ty Brasel knows a thing about destiny. Raised on the outskirts of Memphis, he struggled with criminal behavior before rediscovering God and renewing his purpose. Now a faith-driven hip-hop star, he reflects upon his life story and encourages others to move past their own obstacles with his newest mixtape, Destiny Vol. 1. Listen here. Released today by IVAV (a hip-hop division of Curb Records), Destiny Vol. 1 is full of rapid-fire rhymes, melodic hooks, hard-hitting beats, and celestial keyboards. The result is a genre-crossing hip-hop record for doubters and believers alike, delivered by an artist who has proudly traded the darkness of his past for the bright promise of a…

The multi-cultural worship collective Village Lights released their full-length debut album, Kingdom, today. The trio includes Sarah Kroger, Ricky Vazquez, and Ike Ndolo. Village Lights released their self-titled EP earlier this year, which introduced their heartbeat of unity, inclusivity, and reconciliation wrapped in worshipful devotion. Village Lights see themselves as more than a band, but rather a movement for those who seek justice in our world and the church. The project was produced by GRAMMY-nominated Matt Maher, who has also acted as a mentor for the band. Click here to listen to the album. “Music is always best when made in a community,” shares renowned worship leader and songwriter Matt…

Today, Apple Music announced that Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Tauren Wells are featured in their second annual Carols Covered collection of exclusive holiday tracks. All of the songs on Apple’s new playlist are in Spatial Audio, giving each track an immersive feel. The playlist features Tauren Wells’ take on NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” and Tasha Cobb Leonard’s rendition of “The First Noel.” Recently, Tasha and Tauren opened up about why these covers are special to them. “This song kind of brings up a holiday memory,” Tasha Cobb Leonard shares of “The First Noel.” “When I was younger, my aunt would take a group of kids from our church. So…

Christian recording artist, author, speaker, and influencer Maddie Rey just released an expanded edition of her fan-favorite book, DWELL Empowering The Next Generation To Live The Life God Intended. The revised version builds on Rey’s personal mission to empower Christian youth and inspire the upcoming generation to hold fast to their faith. As a pastor’s kid, she’s seen many of her friends who grew up in church walk away from the church as young adults. Based on Psalm 274, DWELL is her response to this alarming problem addressing issues plaguing her generation and providing step-by-step instruction on how to stay planted in the local church even when one feels like…

1K Phew is part of a new breed of artists taking the trap sensibility and elevating it to a new sound called “Street Gospel.” 1K Phew’s smooth delivery, swag, and evocative vocals have an infectious quality that is streetwise yet commercially viable. Reach Records president/co-founder Lecrae describes Phew’s sound as hip-hop that is equally at home in the club or the church. “Our artists at Reach Records are continuing to prove that faith can exist beyond the pews of the church if expressed authentically,” Lecrae shares. “Rappers like 1K Phew are carrying forward the torch we lit with ‘Let The Trap Say Amen,’ using their music to reach hip-hop heads…

Carolyn Arends is celebrating the release of her album Recognition with a free, interactive live-stream concert on Facebook this Saturday, November 20, at 9 p.m. (ET). Several advance singles from the album have already struck a chord, including “Becoming Human,” “To Cry for You,” and “Without Music” (featuring Amy Grant). Continuing in the emotional vein, her current single, “Let Love Lead You Home,” features an equally poignant lyric. “Timing is everything,” notes Arends. “We had already scheduled ‘Let Love Lead You Home’ as the next single when I suddenly lost a beloved uncle. It astonishes me now that it pretty much serves as a play-by-play of the last few days…