Mental (album)

Mental marks the ninth album from KJ-52. The Paradigm Collective released the project on October 21, 2014. He produced the album with Solomon Olds. Mental is KJ-52's ninth album and the follow-up to 2012's Dangerous.

Mental
Studio album by
KJ-52
ReleasedOctober 21, 2014 (2014-10-21)
GenreChristian hip hop
Length32:21
LabelThe Paradigm Collective
ProducerSolomon Olds
KJ-52 chronology
Dangerous
(2012)		 Mental
(2014)

Music

CCM Magazine, "Backed by killer beats, fashionable electronics and in-vogue vocals, KJ pits his sophisticated wordplay against current cultural issues to press out a perseverant scriptural message for all people."[1] Jesus Freak Hideout, "Mental does not really sound like something I would have expected KJ to make, and it is way too easy to pin him as simply trying to morph his sound into a mold that sells better, but it would be unfair to the quality of Mental to do so."[2] New Release Tuesday, "This new KJ is no less about fun, but he has added an aggressive maturity to his music."[3] Indie Vision Music, "With Lecrae (by way of remix), Tedashii, KB, Propaganda, and Flame all showing up, Mental feels as much like a Reach Records or 116 clique album as it does a new KJ-52 joint. But, add in gratuitous use of former Family Force 5-er Soul Glo Activatur, as well as guys like Social Club and SPZRKT and a bold new experience takes shape."[4]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[1]
Christian Music Review4.2/5[5]
Christian Review Magazine[6]
Indie Vision Music[4]
Jesus Freak Hideout[2]
[7]
Jesus Wired[8]
New Release Tuesday[3]

Specifying in a four star out of five review by CCM Magazine, Andrew Greer recognizes, "the multi-Dove Award-winning wordsmith poises his ninth recording for the ultimate spiritual confrontation."[1] Mark Rice, agrees it is a four-star album for Jesus Freak Hideout, responds, "it is safe to call Mental one more step in the evolution of Mister Five-Tweezey, and a good step at that."[2] Signaling in another four star review from New Release Tuesday, Mark Ryan realizes, "Call it Spiritual or artistic maturity if you like, I will just call it a new attitude and a new passion ignited."[3] Lee Brown, indicating it is a four star project from Indie Vision Music, replies, "Mental brings five absolutely amazing tracks to the table, along with a couple remixes and one track that is ok, but doesn't hold its own against the weight of the rest."[4] Rating the album a 4.2 out of five for Christian Music Review, Jay Heilman says, "Mental is a great album and gives us another reason to get behind today's Christian hip-hop, which continues to pick up momentum while putting Christ atop their messages."[5] Maddy Agers, awarding the album ten stars at Jesus Wired, writes, "It's new, it's real, and it's amazing."[8] Rating the album four stars for Christian Review Magazine, Leah St. John states, the album is a progression of his "sound".[6]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Gameface (1st Half Edition)" (featuring Soul Glow Activatur, KB)3:14
2."Fight Music (I Don't Do Black or White Music)" (featuring Lecrae, Propaganda)3:35
3."Island of the Misfit Toys" (featuring Social Club, SPZRKT)4:23
4."Mental" (featuring Soul Glow Activatur, Tedashii)3:53
5."Tonight"3:25
6."Gameface (2nd Half Edition)" (featuring Soul Glow Activatur, KB, FLAME)3:12
7."Fresh Kicks On"3:22
8."It's Going Down [Remix]" (featuring Canton Jones)3:21
9."Brand New Day [Remix]" (featuring Bethany Jo, Humble Tip)3:56
Total length:32:21

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[9] 12
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[10] 10
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[11] 21
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References
  1. Greer, Andrew. "KJ-52: Mental". CCM Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  2. Rice, Mark. "KJ-52, "Mental" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  3. Ryan, Mark. "A New Gameface". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  4. Brown, Lee. "KJ-52 - Mental". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  5. Heilman, Jay (October 20, 2014). "KJ-52 'Mental'". Christian Music Review. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  6. St. John, Leah (October 31, 2014). "Music Review: "Mental" by KJ-52". Christian Review Magazine. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  7. Hoskins, Kevin. "KJ-52, "Mental" Review - Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  8. Agers, Maddy (January 13, 2015). "KJ-52 Goes Mental With New Album". Jesus Wired. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  9. "KJ-52 Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  10. "KJ-52 Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  11. "KJ-52 Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
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