The Good Life is the fourth studio album from Christian rap artist Trip Lee. The album was released in 2012, through Reach Records. The album includes features from Lecrae, Andy Mineo, KB, and Jimmy Needham, among others. Four singles were released for the album, "One Sixteen (featuring Andy Mineo and KB)", "I'm Good (featuring Lecrae)", "Fallin' (featuring J. Paul)", and "Robot".[citation needed] Three promotional music videos were released for the album for three of the four singles, "I'm Good",[5] "Fallin",[6] and "One Sixteen".[7] It was released to critical acclaim, with critics praising Trip's flow, pop-style hooks, high-quality beats, moody electronics, and lyricism.
| The Good Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 10, 2012 | |||
| Genre | Christian hip hop | |||
| Length | 61:36 | |||
| Label | Reach | |||
| Producer | G-Styles, Dirty Rice, CJ Luzi, Alex Medina, Swoope, D-Flow (TheBrassman), Joseph Prielozny, Andre Atkins, Mark Mims, Maurice Tonia, Sharif Chauncey, Mushran Johnson, Ndelible & Tony Stone | |||
| Trip Lee chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |   [1] |
| Hype Radio Network | Positive[2] |
| Rapzilla |  [3] |
| DaSouth | [4] |
Album concept edit
The album artwork shows Lee's face with a distinct orange line through it, signifying that he is "no longer a robot". The overall theme of "no longer being a robot" follows suit in all of the songs on the album, sending a message of freedom from sin through the gospel and not conforming to the ways of this world. It takes its idea from Romans 12:2, which reads, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will". Lee wanted to explore and redefine "The Good Life," arguing that "though the world, the flesh, and the devil lie to us about what the good life is, we don't have to be controlled by those lies. We don't have to be robots. We can choose life." Lee wanted to "challenge the lies we've been told, and present a more glorious picture." It directly challenges and addresses such hot button issues like abortion, lust, the love of money, and excessive consumerism. Overall, Lee wanted to "point his listeners to the grace found in the gospel".
Sales edit
The Good Life debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of over 22,000 units, making it the sixth-highest charting Christian Hip Hop Album of all-time (tied with Tedashii's Below Paradise).[8]
Book and further promotional material edit
To further elaborate on his ideas, on September 20, 2012 Lee wrote and released a book with the same title to accompany the album. It has a foreword by Matt Chandler. To accompany the book, Lee released a remix of "Robot", and "I'm Good," as well as a new song, "Tell It".[9]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "New Dreams" (featuring Sho Baraka, J.R.) | William L. Barefield III, Amisho Lewis, Michael Jamal Jefferson, Derrick Omondi Okoth, Ronald Hill II, Gabriel Azucena | G-Styles | 4:03 |
| 2. | "Robot" | W. Barefield, Kenneth Chris Mackey | Dirty Rice | 3:34 |
| 3. | "I'm Good" (featuring Lecrae and Natalie Lauren (uncredited)) | W. Barefield, Lecrae, Moore, Carl Justin Luzi | CJ Luzi | 4:25 |
| 4. | "War" | W. Barefield, Natalie Sims, Alex Medina, Allen Swoope, Dustin Kensrue | Alex Medina, Swoope | 4:25 |
| 5. | "Fallin'" (featuring J. Paul) | W. Barefield, N. Sims, K. C. Mackey, Joseph Prielozny | Dirty Rice and Joseph Prielozny | 3:54 |
| 6. | "iLove" ((featuring Jessica Barefield- uncredited)) | W. Barefield, A. Medina, Abraham Olaleye, J. Prielozny | Dirty Rice, D-Flow, Joseph Prielozny | 3:06 |
| 7. | "Know Me" | W. Barefield, K. C. Mackey, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | Dirty Rice | 3:46 |
| 8. | "One Sixteen" (featuring KB, Andy Mineo) | W. Barefield, Kevin Elijah Burgess, Andrew Mineo, Andre Atkinson, Mark Mims, Sharif Chauncey, Alex Medina | Andre Atkinson, Mark Mims, Maurice Tonia, Sharif Chauncey, Mushran Johnson, Alex Medina | 4:06 |
| 9. | "Heart Problem" | W. Barefield, G. Azucena | G-Styles | 3:55 |
| 10. | "Take Me There" (featuring Jimmy Needham) | W. Barefield, K. C. Mackey, Jimmy Needham | Dirty Rice | 3:48 |
| 11. | "Beautiful Life" (featuring V. Rose) | W. Barefield, N. Sims, K. C. Mackey, J. Prielozny | Joseph Prielozny, Dirty Rice | 4:24 |
| 12. | "Fantasy" (featuring Natalie Lauren) | W. Barefield, N. Sims, K. C. Mackey, J. Prielozny | Joseph Prielozny, Dirty Rice | 4:40 |
| 13. | "Love On Display" (featuring Andy Mineo) | W. Barefield, A. Mineo, A. Medina, J. Prielozny | Joseph Prielozny, Alex Medina | 4:41 |
| 14. | "For My Good" (featuring Jai) | W. Barefield, Jaime Williams, G. Azucena | G-Styles | 4:32 |
| 15. | "Good Thing" (featuring Leah Smith) | W. Barefield, Ndelible, Tony Shepherd, Leah Smith | Ndelible, Tony Stone | 4:23 |
References edit
- ^ "Trip Lee, "The Good Life" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. April 10, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Justin Morden. "Trip Lee - The Good Life [Album Review] (Released April 10, 2012) | Hype Radio | #1 Syndicated Christian Hip-hop show on the planet". Jamthehype.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "Review - Trip Lee 'The Good Life'". May 29, 2012.
- ^ DaSouth review
- ^ "Trip Lee - I'm Good Ft. Lecrae (@triplee116 @Lecrae)". YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
- ^ Bradley. "New Video - Trip Lee Fallin feat. J. Paul". Reach Records. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
- ^ Arbet, DeVante (October 2, 2012). "NEW MUSIC VIDEO: TRIP LEE – 'ONE SIXTEEN' FT. KB AND ANDY MINEO". The Gospel Guru. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
- ^ Jacobs, Allen (April 18, 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/15/2012 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Solis, Stephen (October 2, 2012). "LISTEN TO & GET EXCLUSIVE TRIP LEE SONGS WITH PURCHASE OF THE GOOD LIFE BOOK". Rapzilla.com.
- ^ "Trip Lee – The Good Life [Credits]" – via genius.com.
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