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Pre-Order Derek Minor’s Coming Album, “Reflection” Today!

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Derek Minor’s new album, Reflection, drops 10.14.16. Now, you can preorder it on iTunes!  When you do, you’ll not only get the album on the release date, but you’ll also get the 1014EP!

The album includes the lead single “You Know It,” “Until I’m Gone” featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, “Love Go High” featuring Chrisette Michele, “I’m Good” featuring Janice Gaines, among other tracks.

 

“The overall message of this record is you really are made for greatness,” Minor explains. “You’re not the sum of your mistakes. We are all imperfect. You were made to be greater than your probably realize.” – Derek Minor 

 

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Inspired by his jazz musician father, mother, Tupac, DMX, Kanye West and Curtis Mayfield, Minor demonstrated his passion for music at a young age, producing his first song, a 60-bar rap, when he was 12 years old.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Record Industry Management at Middle Tennessee University, Minor released his first album, The Blackout, on his own label, Reflection Music Group, a partnership with his friend Doc Watson. The Blackout was followed by Redemption in 2010. His next two albums, Dying to Live and Minorville, were released in collaboration with Lecrae’s Reach Records. For his fifth album, Empire, he began a partnership with Entertainment One.  Additionally, he has released a half a dozen mixtapes.

As a producer, Minor received a 2015 Dove Award for his production contributions to Lecrae’s Anomaly album. Minor’s Reflection Music Group roster includes celebrated acts Canon, Tony Tillman, B. Cooper, and Deraj.

 

Watch Minor’s Video for The First Single from The Coming Reflection Album: 

PreOrder Reflection on iTunes now + get the 1014EP

 

 

 

 

 

MORE ABOUT DEREK MINOR:

Derek Minor is a member of a small, elite class of hip hop artists who are adept at MCing, producing, and running their own companies. Two of his albums, 2015’s Empire and 2013’s Minorville, reached Number 6 on the Top Rap Albums chart, and 2011’s Dying to Live achieved the Number 11 spot. His wordplay and relatable lyrics have made him an in-demand collaborator who has worked with the likes of Lecrae, Andy Mineo, and Colton Dixon.

ArtSoul Radio is a 24/7, online Christian Radio Station and Entertainment news site promoting new and diverse sounds in Christian music! We highlight both indie and mainstream artists in Contemporary Gospel, Pop, Soul, Hip-Hop, Alternative, and Spoken Word Poetry.

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Entertainment

Aklesso Unveils Deeply Personal Album “Still Lonely” Under Rodney Jerkin’s “Alienz Alive” Label

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After a three-city string of private listening events and insightful new interview with Sway In The MorningMiami’s own Aklesso unveils his deeply personal album Still Lonely, released via Rodney Jerkins’ Alienz Alive. A follow-up to his praised 2024 album Lonely, the project solidifies him as one of Hip-Hop’s most honest storytellers.

Produced by Okay.BennyWilliam Soolua, and GLEECEStill Lonely is a vulnerable, atmospheric exploration of fatherhood, faith, abandonment, and generational healing. The album expands the emotional universe introduced through his recent singles, including the Lecrae-collaborated single “Lonely” and the Darrel Jones–directed “Range!” featuring 1K Phew.

Listen to Still Lonely in its entirety below and watch his intimate conversation with Darkchild below:

 

The Florida-born entertainer officially signed with Alienz Alive back in September, marking a new chapter in his career. Rodney Jerkins, founder of Alienz Alive, adds:


“Aklesso’s story, his culture, and his sound all carry a weight that this generation needs to hear. From Miami to Haiti to the global stage, he’s not just making records, he’s making an impact. At Alienz Alive, we’re about building legacy, and Aklesso embodies that. I couldn’t be more excited to walk this journey with him.”

The Haitian lyricist, Aklesso, shares:

“This is the most honest project I’ve ever made. It’s not about perfect answers, it’s about presence. It’s about realizing God was with me even in the moments I felt the most alone.”

Be sure to stream and purchase this latest release – Now Available everywhere where music is sold.

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Music Videos

Aklesso & Jon Keith Release Fresh Visuals for “Freedom” — A Song About Breaking Cycles and Choosing Healing

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Aklesso and Jon Keith — both artists signed to legendary producer Rodney Jerkins’ label Alienz Alive — have released fresh visuals for their collaborative single, “Freedom.” The record blends hard-hitting Hip Hop energy with smooth, melodic vocals, creating a sound that feels emotionally raw while remaining sonically intentional.

While both artists are often categorized as Hip Hop, Freedom exists beyond strict genre lines. The collaboration reflects a layered musical identity — Hip Hop at its core, but shaped by vulnerability, reflection, and a willingness to confront real-life struggles head-on.

At the heart of Freedom is a conversation many artists — and listeners — are quietly having: how do you break generational cycles without becoming consumed by them?

Aklesso’s verses pull listeners into an unfiltered space, addressing trauma, fear, and mental health battles that often go unspoken. Lines wrestling with destiny, survival, and internal conflict give the song its emotional weight, while the repeated declaration — “Promise you, promise God, I will never repeat the trauma” — stands as both a confession and a commitment. It’s not framed as perfection, but as responsibility.

Jon Keith’s chorus offers balance and resolve, reframing freedom as something that requires intention and partnership. “There’s freedom if we try… if we fight” positions healing as an active process — one that involves effort, faith, and community rather than isolation. The repeated refrain, “It’s you and I,” underscores the idea that freedom isn’t achieved alone.

The visuals echo that same tension between struggle and hope. Clean, focused imagery allows the message to lead, reinforcing the song’s core theme: freedom is not just personal — it’s generational. Choosing healing today shapes what gets passed on tomorrow.

In a cultural moment where conversations around mental health, faith, and generational healing are becoming more urgent, “Freedom” lands as more than a collaboration. It’s a statement — one rooted in honesty, faith, and the courage to choose a different path forward.


WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

WATCH: ArtSoul Radio’s Exclusive Interview with Aklesso & Jon Keith on “Freedom”

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Culture

NEW MUSIC: Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts Deliver a Soulful Moment with “Still”

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Chicago was the backdrop for a moment you couldn’t script any better: GRAMMY®, Dove, and Stellar Award-winning powerhouse Jonathan McReynolds linking arms with American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts to deliver a live ballad that hits straight to the soul. Their new single, “Still,” isn’t just another worship record—it’s a reminder that God’s love is the one thing that doesn’t shift when life does.

Recorded live in McReynolds’ hometown, the song is lifted from his forthcoming project Closer—an album already carrying heavy anticipation. What unfolds in “Still” is classic Jonathan: heartfelt storytelling, layered with rich theology, now elevated by Roberts’ fresh, unshaken voice.

👉 Watch the live performance here.

Legacy Meets New Fire 🔥

Jonathan McReynolds has carved out a lane few can touch—an artist who makes Gospel feel as real as your group chat confessions. His catalog has always balanced honesty and worship, bringing Sunday morning depth into everyday playlists.

Enter Jamal Roberts: the new voice America fell in love with on American Idol. His win wasn’t just about vocal ability—it was about heart, authenticity, and the kind of presence that feels rare. Pairing him with McReynolds doesn’t just make sense; it feels prophetic. It’s the kind of intergenerational link-up that keeps Gospel fresh while honoring its roots.

The Vibe

With “Still,” Jonathan McReynolds and Jamal Roberts don’t just give us another Gospel single—they give us a soundtrack for resilience. It’s raw, it’s soulful, and it’s proof that the future of faith-based music is in good hands. Expect this one to be on repeat long after the Stellars.

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