Jor’Dan ArmstrongStronger
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
Released September 25, Stronger is Jor’Dan Armstrong’s latest album. The fourteen-track project is propelled by compelling Jesus beats and ambient electronic melodies. It represents his finest work to date.
Armstrong, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, issued his debut album, Champion, in 2009. He received the 2010 En Sound Music Award for Best Male Urban Artist, and on Stronger, he demonstrates why he was deserving of the honor. Armstrong is an agile and passionate singer whose tenor voice embraces expansive flights of falsetto, especially on “Angel.” As such, he is reminiscent of equally melodic Christian hip hop artists Aaron Sledge and d’Renauld.
The album receives ample support by top-shelf artists Canton Jones, Jai, and Dee-1, who team up for the opening “I’m Down,” a song that signifies a street-savvy commitment to Christ. Other featured performers include Franchise Tief (“Stay Clean”) and Psylence (“Love If You Wanna”). Grammy-nominated producer Kendrick Dean contributes his writing talents, and The Good Guys Production team puts it all together.
Several songs on the album offer praise and heartfelt love to the Lord, including “So In Love,” “So Easy,” the Jamaican-influenced “Tropicana,” and “Love If You Wanna,” which is as good as any electronic dance music in the clubs today. “Make It Alright” expresses confidence that the Lord will heal the hurt inside.
The album certainly lives up to its title. A more gripping release than his previous Jesus, Fashion & Beatz: The Mixtape, Stronger is an exceptional Christian hip hop album that can hold its own against work by some of this era’s top sellers, such as Lecrae and Trip Lee.
Four of Five Stars
Picks: “I’m Down,” “Love If You Wanna.”
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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