The mass murder of unholy proportions from terrorists (domestic and international) seem like regular blog fodder - and that’s just sad, ‘yall. It feels like every time we log online, there’s news stories about people of color being gunned down in the streets or being violently assaulted by a trigger happy police officer, or somebody with hate in their blood. Right now, the world is undoubtedly going through an extremely dark, confusing, and hate-driven era. Other deviations, such as the spoken word poetry-esque lines of “Eternal Reflection Interlude” and the sermon-like motivational words that bookend “Just Win,” add to the spiritual mantra of the album artwork and name.The church is usually a place for spiritual healing. While perhaps a minor detail, it exemplifies his intense dedication to his craft.

What’s even more meaningful is that Jeezy himself, perhaps vis-à-vis one of his affiliates, took the time to personally annotate and define these lyrics through his certified Rap Genius account.

He dives one level deeper, bringing in some personal life events to his music, referencing his declining relationship with his Auntie and an unresolved quarrel with his little sister over her wedding planning. It pays off, as every track on Church in these Streets feels clean, crisp and fresh despite the repetitive content.Īn anomaly emerges in the album’s last record, “Forgive Me.” Jeezy admits his imperfections, asking forgiveness from those he has wronged. Per usual, Jeezy is meticulous about his image and sound, taking his time to put his best foot forward on “each and every song, each and every verse, each and every ad lib,” as always.

The album’s lack of features keeps with trends over other recent releases, like Fetty Wap’s Fetty Wap and Future’s What a Time to Be Alive, but unlike these two relatively new rap phenomena, Jeezy is a true rap game veteran - so much so, that famed hip-hop manager Coach K credits Young Jeezy with the founding of Trap-style rapping with his early mixtapes, Tha Streets Iz Watchin and Trap or Die.Ĭhurch in These Streets is a testament to Jeezy’s own veteran status, bragging that he is “a God in the hood,” over the psychedelic trap beat of “GOD” and proclaiming himself a “ghetto profit” in “Sweet Life.” Hard beats can be found at every turn, from “Holy Water” to “Church in These Streets,” from balling out of control like “J-Bo” to grinding and hustling in “Just Win.” The absence of flaunted flair on the cover reflects the contents of the album itself, with just two features over 19 songs - it’s Jeezy going steady.

Young jeezy album church in the streets