A breeding ground is defined as a place or set of circumstances that encourages the development of certain ideas or conditions. Life and its trials, trouble, and triumphs all contribute to the development and growth of our faith. Gammage is a man who has seen his share of tough times, creating the perfect conditions for him to lean on faith and watch it grow to higher levels. We’ll take a walk through his debut album, Breeding Grounds, and find out just how far God's grace has brought him.

A breeding ground is defined as a place or set of circumstances that encourages the development of certain ideas or conditions. Life and its trials, trouble, and triumphs all contribute to the development and growth of our faith. Gammage is a man who has seen his share of tough times, creating the perfect conditions for him to lean on faith and watch it grow to higher levels. We’ll take a walk through his debut album, Breeding Grounds, and find out just how far God's grace has brought him.

1. Prophecy: a unique intro that features a preacher, I expect that it’s the Pastor that Gammage is accountable to, speaking a prophetic word of encouragement and direction to him. Gammage describes his album with the following bars: “I could’ve drowned off in my misery but that ain’t what you planned for me/ instead the beast took the pain and turned it into energy/ had no sight but now I see/ clearly what’s in front of me/ took a while but now I’ve found/ your Word is the Breeding Grounds.” Expectations set, let’s see how the rest of the album measures up.

2. Champion*: an anthem if there ever was one, Gammage shows off the defiantly gritty style that is his trademark. The hook says it all as Gammage lets loose on the listener and advises them of how he made it by God’s grace. With a little Gladiator feel to it, the beat is definitely necessary for this song.

3. No He Didn’t feat. C-Dot: in regards to songs labeled as “anti-hater”, I’ve said before, I wouldn’t miss them if no one ever recorded one again. The production is catchy and feels as though it was wasted on giving some CD time to trying to send a message to the ever-present doubters. Gammage definitely has a story to tell and that’s one of triumph currently (and to come) but I feel he and C-Dot missed a chance to really heap hot coals on the haters.

4. Country Boy*: I remember when this song first leaked here back about a year and some change ago. I think I replayed it a few times just off the strength of Gammage’s energy and passion about who he is in Christ. Nicer lyricism than many will catch of give him credit for, this track is a feel good, barbeque type of piece.

5. Because He Died: the first thing that came to mind as this track started was, “This cat is taking what Pettidee started and is pushing forward with it”. By that I mean that Gammage is ready to continue with the passionate, street ready flow that speaks unhindered of how perfect God’s grace is. The only downside of this track was the autotune- type effect on the hook, which was unnecessary and masked Gammage’s raw approach to the subject at hand.

6. Avon Park*: I’m of the opinion that there’s nothing wrong with shouting out your old neighborhood, even though we as believers ultimately claim New Jerusalem. Gammage does just that on arguably one of the better produced tracks of the year. Gammage walks us through his old hood, old friends, old beefs, all to lead us to his motivation- that they may all know Christ. I could put this on a CD, along with “Jesus Muzik” and “Windows Down”, to ride to without a doubt.

7. War Music*: the beauty of this track is really something I hope anyone who hears it will see. Again, the unrestrained passion Gammage shows on this song, mixing in a more than decent singing voice, really helps take it to another level. Using a bit of African drum influence mixed with some synths, Bakaz Men put together a true canvas for Gammage to paint a picture of triumph and worship. I think it would be a perfect combo of Pettidee jumped on a remix on this already strong song.

8. Instrument feat. Joseph Gaynor: good, flute- driven track that features a well sung hook from Mr. Gaynor. This song is midtempo mellow but the hook brings some old school strength to the equation. Gammage tells a couple stories with the overriding theme being that he is ready to be an instrument of praise for the Heavenly Father.

9. Tattle Tales feat. Mr. Del: another song that addresses those who gossip and doubt what the Lord is doing with Gammage. The beat is okay and Mr. Del brought a decent verse that fit with the bass heavy track. This song didn’t really add anything crucial to the album but may be a motivational track to a listener that deals with the haters turned tattle tales.

10. Reasons*: I first heard this song, as well as others on this album, on Gammage’s mixtape Da Drowning and am still impressed. More or less a pure worship rap song, Gammage goes in from beginning to end about the reasons he loves the One whose love is perfect.

11. Ultimate Love feat. Michoo & Jerry Christmas: Gammage takes us to his island roots and speaks some more words of reverence to the Most High. With the added international flavor provided on the hook, this song is laid out perfectly and is a good, unique track. There is no doubt Gammage never hesitates to give honor and glory to the Lord.

12. The Argument*: Great story- telling track here, to the point where I was riveted waiting to see what the outcome was going to be. It feels a bit out of place in the flow of the track list but definitely in line with the overlying theme of Breeding Grounds. Just as it seems the story is spinning out of control, stick around for the conclusion that ties things together in a biblical way. One of the most intense story tracks I’ve heard in a minute.

13. Reasonable Service: to hear the gruff voice of Gammage over a quiet storm sounding track seems like it would be a weird mix, but it truly works. Again, with his speech directed to the Throne, Gammage uses some storytelling to encourage the listener that no matter their past they are eligible for Christ’s service. The track is quality and the lyrics on this song are thorough, definitely a nice song.

14. Holding On feat. Byron: Gammage goes the Christian Rock/ CCM route with this song and it actually does work. I caught a little background harmony from Gammage tucked in the track and he really seemed like a good fit on this type of song. Another good, worship- centered song.

15. Legacy feat. Jamie Driscoll*: letters are always good things, letters to your unborn child are even greater, but to spit that letter over a beat for the world to hear is official. Gammage spends the 3:32 running time speaking to his yet arrived son, thinking of memories that have yet to pass. Truly a heartfelt track, I’m sure it’ll be special to play it for his legacy.

16. Broken Wings feat. Tiffanie: the tribute tracks continue as Gammage mellows things out for his mother. There’s not too much that can go wrong with the structure of a song dedicated to the woman that birthed you. As for what did go wrong, Tiffanie’s voice fit well on the hooks but when she sang on the bridge the song lost its way some. Subtract the missteps on those handfuls of notes and this song would be that much better.

17. Momma’s Letter feat. Jeremy Gaynor: what’s better than a song to Momma? Two songs for her back to back. This one provides other memories on Gammage’s heart and makes it okay to have these similar songs right next to each other.

18. All In All feat. Sons of Levi: two things were accomplished with this song. One, Gammage shows that he truly has a heart for worship and isn’t fixated on showing off his rhyme skills endlessly. Two, the Songs of Levi album is something that needs to be on the radar. They definitely showed strong vocal ability in the midst of this platform. This was a good way to bring this album to a close.

They say art is an extension of a person’s heart and reflection of their life experiences. In the case of Gammage, his art shows us that he is a man who has grown up from the hardest earth, rooted by faith and watered by the Word. Breeding Grounds has an international feel on many of its songs, with a southern sensibility about the album as a whole. The production covers a wide range, all at a sound quality that is high level. Mixing allowed for hard hitting drums without drowning out other instruments or the crisp bars that Gammage laid out. Faith is the basis of this album’s content as Gammage makes some War Music from a Champion, knowing that he is in Reasonable Service, Because [Christ] Died. This is refreshing because the one thing that many complain lacks in Gospel Rap, passion, is found all throughout the project. This is a debut album has a few hiccups but is worth sampling and the multiple worship style tracks is a plus. Overall, this album is a 4 star offering that seems to be the beginning of good things from yet another talented Florida- native.