Na Interviews Voice

Aug. 14 2008

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Voice talks about his new album The Process of Pardon, his year at Pastors College, rhyme schemes, and theology

What is your burden for this album? What do you hope this album does in people’s lives?

The goal for “The process of The Pardon” was more didactic (teaching) then it was application. On the first two albums I felt like I was given to talk application than doctrine. While doctrine was a part of all that I did, it was more practical in its content. My burden was to do an album that was more theological than what I had done in the past. The main reason is because I, by the grace of God, am known outside of Sovereign Grace circles and I wanted to do a project that communicated our theological values not just the practice of them.

What I hope this album does is bring some doctrinal discernment to some key issues of the faith as well help people in their process of growth as they are Lord willing encouraged to press on.

How is this album different from your previous work?

Some of the differences I listed in that first question, but I think sonically people will notice a big difference. For one thing, I really believe from a production standpoint this is easily the best album I have put together. Not that the other two projects weren’t good musically, they were just limited. On “The Pardon” I had most of the beats laid out early, as well as the concept. While I made some changes along the way I really felt like I knew where I was going on this album. It was better planned than the previous ones. Another difference is the lyrical complexity. Initially, on Progression, I wanted to do an album that was lyrically simple so that anyone could follow it. Even the sound of that album was more conducive to Sovereign Grace and helping introduce them to a genre that was unfamiliar to them. On “The Crucible” I wanted to move to more of the East Coast rap sound that I grew up on but I still wanted to keep the rhyme schemes (the way words are delivered over a beat) somewhat simple knowing that Sovereign Grace was still listening. As God gave me opportunities to travel and perform across the country I would get people that would say they liked my music but it was a little too simple. Or people would ask if I rapped simple on purpose. Most people understood my method but there were some that dismissed me for not being lyrical enough. So now we are at “The Pardon” and I felt like I wanted to take all that feedback and apply it. The challenge was not forgetting my core audience. So basically what I did was rap the way I always had prior to all of this. The first half of the album is more complicated and clever lyrically. I don’t just say what I mean. You may have to listen to decipher some of the meaning. The second half (from Ordo Salutis on) of the album, apart from one song, is a bit slower lyrically and is closer to what people would expect from Voice. Although both sides of the album are accessible to anyone I have a feeling that people will want the lyrics for this album.

You just graduated from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. How did that experience shape your work here?

That played a huge part in the content of the album. I think it will be clear after just a few songs that this album has much more meat than anything I have ever done to date. There is a lot of depth on this album and it really was unintentional. I just spoke what I had been breathing in and put into lyrical form. Some of these songs I could’ve done without going to the Pastor’s College but the majority of this album flows from being in an environment for 10 months of solid theology. How can you not take that level of doctrinal discernment and not give it to others? That is where the desire to do an album of teaching came out of. I just hope that some of the concepts on the album are noteworthy and equipping to the saints. That more than anything is what I hope is the response.

What did the production process for the album look like?

Over the years I have met and been exposed to a lot of guys who make beats. From that came hundreds of different beats and styles form producers to choose from. Along with my own ear for beats I put together an album of a lot of sounds. One thing I always try to do is make an album where no two beats sound the same. I think that is a lost element particularly in rap music, but it really serves the listener to have a variety of sounds to explore. So the production is definitely a step up form what I have done in the past and I think people will enjoy the album.

So what exactly is The Process of The Pardon?

The process is the steps taken to get us to a place of being not guilty to a God who knows that we are indeed guilty. The process which on this album is a five step process. On the album it is spread out and labeled #’s 1-5 but it basically...The first process is that sin and judgment come into the world. The second is Christ is born to redeem the lost. The third is His death on the cross for our sin. The fourth is the Resurrection and the fifth is our belief in the Lord for all that he did. The pardon is the legal declaration of “not guilty” in the sense that no punishment is required for for the sins committed by us. If you combine the two then you will have the 5 step process to be Pardoned.

What’s next for voice?

Not exactly sure. Right now I am serving as a pastor at Solid Rock Church in Bowie Maryland. This CD is just coming out so I will evaluate opportunities to perform on a case by case basis. As far as music, I have a strong suspicion a few more projects are in the works. Jeremy white and I are toying around with an idea that if it goes will be crazy! Could be something that is ready by Na ‘09. Apart from that I am gratefully enjoying the initial feed back to this album and I hope others will enjoy it as well!

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Get, or listen to, the new album The Process of the Pardon here. 

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