K-Drama

Anybody who has had the privilege of hearing K-Drama’s music this early in his career knows that bar for bar, his lyrical content packs as much spiritual punch as any other hip hop artist. The song “Did He Say That?” off of K-Drama’s previous album 14 2 Life is a prime example of what his music is all about- aggressively challenging his listener to authentically follow Christ, without departing from his playful and humorous persona that makes his music so appealing. But that’s not to say K-Drama isn’t serious about his music. The 22 year old Cincinnati native has already launched a record label, This Clique Records, hosted and appeared on an abundance of mixtapes, and released his album 14 2 Life.

            K-Drama’s newest album, Behind the Glory, is a product of this devoted work ethic, and his creativity, boldness, and wit are all still present within his music.  

His explosively energetic single, “Wheww!,” opens the album and explains how

K-Drama lives with such hilarity and assurance. The hook proclaims:

One thing I’m aware of/

In Christ Jesus I’m always taken care of so/

I don’t worry bout a thing, I don’t worry bout a thing/

However, the last thing K-Drama wants is for himself or his listener to fall into complacency. “Teeter-Totter,” the one song on the album that can rival “Wheww!” in sheer energy, is a warning to avoid becoming a lukewarm follower of God, which as Revelation 3:16 warns, God will spew out of his mouth. The song opens with an eerie piano loop, and after the bass drops accompanied with pulsating chants in the background, K-Drama utilizes the powerful beat to provide a proposal for steadfast Christianity. He states,

The flesh is never satisfied, in His Word I’m stable/

The Word has power, in Him I’m enabled/

To mortify sin and subjugate any desire/

Esteeming itself higher than my Lord’s empire/

The Word God gave me doesn’t ensure my stability/

The fear of the Lord does, I dwell in his facility/

Without obedience I could not facilitate ministry/

And I would be worse than carnal rappers in the industry/

            K-Drama undoubtedly has the talent and potential to rival any mainstream rapper, Christian or “carnal.” But he is well aware of the lesson in Proverbs that “humility comes before honor,” and in his song “Honored” he deflects praise, saying he’s “not the best rapper,” and that he’s “honored just to live, the pleasure is mine.” The reminder that he’s no better than anyone else is imperative to K-Drama. He outlines his less than perfect life and criticizes Christians with a “holier than thou” mentality in “Just a Man.” He assures his listener, “You think I don’t understand? Yeah, I understand/ I guess you don’t understand that I’m just a man.” K-Drama expands on this theme of treating everyone as equals before God in “Let’s Luv Em.” He and his guest MC Till exhort fellow Christians to follow Christ’s example and love and embrace those who need God the most, whether they are pregnant teens, thugs, or homosexuals.

            Despite his obvious talent, it’s equally obvious that K-Drama is as down to earth as anyone you would meet on the street. In his most creative song on the album, “At 7,” K-Drama actually takes to the streets on his way to the airport, allowing himself to get aggravated and worked up over car problems, traffic and the possibility of being late for his flight. But it all works out in the end, and he realizes that the whole time he should have trusted in the Lord and stayed as calm and relaxed as he usually is. Songs like “At 7” show how K-Drama is the same as anyone else, and allow him to dish out useful advice in a playful fashion. For example, in “Waste of Time,” K-Drama offers advice for young men and women in relationships, boldly declaring in the hook, “If ya’ll ain’t getting married then ya’ll shouldn’t be together/ It’s a waste of time, it’s a waste of time.”

            While he is only 22 years old himself, K-Drama displays the maturity and wit on Behind the Glory that will inevitably make him a staple of holy hip hop for well into the future. And if he maintains his modest outlook while continuing to develop his talent, the sky is the limit for him. Because if “humility comes before honor,” his humble work ethic will certainly lead to upcoming blessings and success.      

Justin White