‘Mansion, Therapy Session, and Perception’ by NF [Saturday Morning Review]

I love rap music, * cue the DC Talk song *, and I am always interested in hearing new rappers, especially ones that keep their lyrics clean. I like it when I can listen to it with my little brother and sister, without having to worry about it.

I first heard NF featured in TobyMac’s Til The Day I Die.

“Who’s that?” I wondered.

I Googled him and instantly became a fan.

NF is a rapper, singer, songwriter, who has charted in both the Christian hip-hop and mainstream hip-hop markets and I am IN LOVE.

He keeps it clean, covers difficult subjects, tells his story in the most real and raw way, and he deals with his emotions through his music. He is the most emotional rapper I have ever heard, and I love that. His lyrics are full of truth, reflecting what he says he wants his music to be– real. And he raps them with feeling, every album full of emotion.

[Video via YouTube]

My Review

His three albums: Mansion, Therapy Session, and Perception are all my favorite so I will be reviewing all three today and share how I personally experienced them. These albums are an inseparable trio in my opinion and my personal playlist plays them in this order.

MANSION

In Mansion I feel that he dealt with a lot of anger regarding his life.
This album actually helped me to realize that anger is not a bad emotion. I have always felt that anger was a bad thing, and being angry made me feel guilty. I am learning that anger is okay, real and valid. I was able to release my anger over a new medical diagnosis, in a healthy way without feeling guilty, thanks to this album.
If I had to choose one favorite song from this album it would have to be the last song: Can You Hold Me? feat. Britt Nicole. This song is the anthem for those of us who are tired in this dark, heavy world.

Can you hold me?
Can you hold me?
Can you hold me in your arms?
Just wrap me in your arms, in your arms.
I don’t wanna be nowhere else.
Take me from the dark, from the dark.
I ain’t gonna make it myself.

THERAPY SESSION

Therapy Session is titled as it is because, for him, music is his therapy. This album is sad but in a good way. I cried when I listened to it the first time and I was ugly crying all through How Could You Leave Us? This album was full of a mourning, sorrowful, painful sadness regarding his experiences, memories, and relationships– and it’s so real and beautiful.
This album only emphasized something I have learned, and that is that it’s okay to be sad. This world is broken and hard and it’s normal to feel that and express it.
My favorite song would have to be Oh Lord because it’s the prayer of all of us broken-hearted who have wondered if God sees us down here in this sad, broken place. It has a lovely stringed instrument in the intro and throughout the song which adds softness to the hip-hop rap sound.

Sometimes I look up to the sky,
And wonder do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?

PERCEPTION

I counted down till Perception came out (I pre-ordered it with the t-shirt and everything). And I am glad to report that I was not disappointed at all with the album and the t-shirt is super comfy.
This album covers his view of life, love, relationships and things he has learned as a rapper, dealing with so many people’s expectations and opinions of him, something which we can relate to, albeit on a smaller scale.
When you hear his lyrics, they’re really good, but they get better every time you listen to them because you’ll hear something new every time. So many good lines.
My favorite song on this album has to be If You Want Love. It describes what it’s like to love in life.

If you want love, you gon’ have to go through the pain.
If you want love, you gon’ have to learn how to change.
If you want trust, you gon’ have to give some away.
If you want love, if you want love…

Conclusion

NF is my new favorite rapper and I hope he continues to come out with more music. I would pre-order the pre-order if there was such a thing– t-shirt and all.

He is currently on a world tour. Tickets and tour dates can be found here and although most of his shows are already sold out, there are still some tickets left.

You can buy his music on iTunes and Amazon. Also, he has some more of those comfy t-shirts and more in his store.

This just barely scratches the surfaces of these three albums. You should go buy them and listen to them to really experience them.

Allison Dye

I'm just an American-Italian girl who enjoys writing. I am a lover of music, words, cats and afternoon tea.