For better or worse, the word “frenemy” is a part of our cultural lexicon to describe someone who claims to be a friend but really doesn’t always have your best interests in mind. If we are honest with ourselves, there are times when God could consider us his frenemies, due to sin that creeps into our lives. The Gyft’s short release “It’s Official: Jude 24,” clocking in at seven songs and a handful of interludes, deals largely with negative emotions and actions that we need to overcome, while praising God for his clemency in those matters. Though we continually fall down and get up, God still desires to bring us into His glorious presence “without a single fault,” as The Gyft alludes to with the title of his album. We only need to be real with Him on our weaknesses, so He can perfect His power in us.

For better or worse, the word “frenemy” is a part of our cultural lexicon to describe someone who claims to be a friend but really doesn’t always have your best interests in mind. If we are honest with ourselves, there are times when God could consider us his frenemies, due to sin that creeps into our lives. The Gyft’s short release “It’s Official: Jude 24,” clocking in at seven songs and a handful of interludes, deals largely with negative emotions and actions that we need to overcome, while praising God for his clemency in those matters. Though we continually fall down and get up, God still desires to bring us into His glorious presence “without a single fault,” as The Gyft alludes to with the title of his album. We only need to be real with Him on our weaknesses, so He can perfect His power in us. 

Let’s take a look at the songs (Editor's note: skits were omitted from this breakdown)…

Falling From Grace: I like the contrast between the shimmery, futuristic keyboarding and the warm piano that winds its way through the track. The song has a contemporary feel but deals with an age-old struggle: fighting sin’s lure to separate us from God. The Gyft lovingly sings that He can’t let go of God. Young Rell (aka Young-Tower) contributes a few appropriate bars.

Road to Recovery: This one starts with a convicting rhyme by The Gyft on hate, where he says he has stood in similar shoes as Saul when in negative mode. I liked this smooth R&P track, which praises God for holding on to us even when we falter in how we connect with Him.

Dirty: The Gyft again criminalizes our sin, this time comparing our big and small indiscretions to betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, like Judas. But in the end, it praises God for giving us grace, even when we are at our worst. The live rock sound of this song is a good match for this unconventional praise song. This one gets a lot of spins from me!

Crushing on God: The cell phone/downloading metaphor is confusing, but aside from that, this song skillfully calls us on times when we let trivial things in our lives get in the way of connecting with the Lord, as though we are “crushing“ on Him, rather than living a full-time, devoted relationship with Him. Another solid R&P track.

When I Die: This track, with its reflective neosoul groove, encourages us to think about our actions and thoughts in the same way as the other songs, only this time, from the perspective of how we will be perceived after God calls us home. Nothing to complain about here.

Prayer Closet: Looking for a well-crafted love song to God? This track has a serene pop swagger and has The Gyft shutting himself off from the world for some quality time with God.

Love Again: This song has a gritty rock/hip-hop feel to it, and yet also has gossamer touches of piano on it. The Gyft takes on rapping duties on this one again. The song might have been better with another rapper on it, but the lyrics are definitely straight from the soul. This song is about longing for a deeper feeling of love with God. “I want that blaze like I just got saved/I want that flame that’ll never behave,” he sings, asking for God to resuscitate his heart. I like the versatility that The Gyft shows with his vocals on this one, often a restrained rock growl, in contrast to the crooning elsewhere.

I have to give props to Always Timeless Productions for the music on “It‘s Official: Jude 24.” The Gyft is not a cookie-cutter artist, nor is the sound backing him up. Whether rock or R&P, the songs shine with live instrumentation and unique touches.

I really enjoyed this album--for the sounds and the thoughts that the lyrics put me through--and have had it in rotation. My only gripe is in the skits. Several skits on the album are of a radio DJ saying outlandish things, or interviewing other saying shocking or confusing things. I think The Gyft was better at shining a light on our imperfections with the actual songs, however.

Aside from that, it has been refreshing to hear The Gyft at the start of his solo singing career. His bio lists him as unsigned; I pray that someone snatches this brother up!

Top Tracks: Dirty, Falling From Grace, Prayer Closet