By: Korrie Payne
Erica Campbell is one half of the dynamic gospel duo Mary Mary with her sister, Tina Campbell. Erica and Tina have recently been called the “queens of hip-hop gospel” because of their upbeat tempo in songs that can make anyone get up off their feet. Recently, they have split to pursue solo careers. With the release of Erica Campbell’s first solo album, HELP, she received a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album. She is back to re-release HELP, now entitled HELP 2.0, which dropped yesterday on March 31.
The 14-track project features “More Love,” her current inspirational single. Since the release of the second track, “I Luh God” featuring LaShawn “Big Shizz” Daniels, Erica Campbell is causing quite the controversy. It’s a hot song that shows Erica channeling her inner “urban” side with a bounce trap that is quickly being put in a genre of its own called “trap gospel.” That’s right; trap gospel has recently infuriated so many Christians because they feel as though this is not how they are supposed to praise God. Erica is branching out to reach those that feel unaccepted and she is not the first to have a gospel song with a bounce track. Kirk Franklin has always been known to reach the young people through gospel, rap and hip-hop and now Erica is too with “I Luh God.”
Many guest artists such as Jonathan McReynolds, Jason Crabb, Fantasia and Lisa Knowles have truly blessed this album to become a masterpiece. If you are looking for a good gospel album with a mixture of genres from pop, country, hip-hop and contemporary, then HELP 2.0 is the album for you!
5 out of 5 Owls.
