Peabod – Growing Up, Pt 2 EP

Centricity Music

Release Date: July 22nd 2022

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Peabod– Growing Up, Pt 2 EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

  1. My Favorite Part
  2. MAD!
  3. Spring Theory
  4. Good News
  5. Alive

In February 2019 just over 3 years ago, I undertook a major risk musically. I faced my ‘fear’ of rap music (not really a fear, but an apprehension!), and reviewed an entire album of the unique genre. Jonah by KJ-52 doesn’t really count when I reviewed that project back in 2017, as at the time, KJ was ‘singing’ or at least trying to, on a few tracks, so it wasn’t ‘pure rap’ if you know what I mean. So as I was listening to and reviewing rapper Peabod’s debut album Healthy Snacks– I gave the record an unexpected high review (which you can read here!), and hence I went off and check out both of Isaac’s new singles “Anti-Social” and “Left Out” as well. I concluded that these songs were crazily awesome, and that Isaac is a pretty ingenious songwriter (don’t believe me? Check out both of the reviews I wrote about Peabod here and here!); and that Isaac is one of the best rappers in my opinion of this generation- mainstream and Christian (and maybe destined to become the next KJ-52!). I was positive that Isaac was due to release a new album in 2019- yet this actually eventuated into Backpack EP and featured “Antisocial” and “Left Out”, plus “Side Hustle” (which I also reviewed), “Hoodie”, and “Backpack”; but if you want more of your PEABOD fix, then never fear, cause PEABOD unveiled a 5 song EP called Growing Up Pt. 1 EP in 2020 (reviewed here). We all need inspiration, encouragement, reassurance, hope and joy in our lives, especially with the past couple of years we’ve been having; and thus, Peabod’s happy brand of rap is a breath of fresh air and revitalising indeed. And thus, because Growing Up Pt. 1 EP was in my opinion so, so poignant, heartfelt, reflective, and inspiring… how about we dive deep into Isaac’s latest release- Growing Up Pt. 1 EP?

Opening with the lead single “My Favorite Part”, this pop melody is actually quite powerful and moving. With Isaac skilfully and cleverly relaying the fact that perhaps working hard and doing the extra yards even when you cannot see the results and the fruits of your labour… is indeed the best part of the day and the favourite part of his day; he highlights that being faithful despite the circumstances surrounding you, is a beautiful measure of what kind of person you are inside. A song that speaks about the daily grind and never quitting, even when the going gets tough; we are reminded to step out in faith and do the things we want to as well- even if it does contain elements of ‘doing the hard yards’ and the day-to-day mundane things. Following on from the opener is “MAD!”. A tongue in cheek, satirical track about being mad just for the fun of it, Isaac powerfully and earnestly relays to us all that it’s ok to be mad sometimes, as it means that we are human; but we cannot let anger and grudges rule our lives, otherwise we will end up being miserable, and we will not live life to the actual fullest.

“Spring Theory”, a compelling, powerful, and heart-warming melody, is a track in which Isaac sings greatly about the literal and metaphorical seasons; and lets us know that we as people should hold onto ‘spring theory’, which is the promise that good will come in our lives one day- with this song being a beacon of light and hope as we navigate through the season of COVID-19 that we’re still in. “Good News”, a song in which Isaac actually sings on, is a worship anthem where Isaac powerfully and eloquently outlines how we can worship Jesus because He is the only good news that matters in our lives. Growing Up Pt. 2 Ep then ends with the grateful and thankful praise song “Alive”, where Isaac thanks Jesus for the breath in his lungs, and appreciates that he is alive right now in this very moment.

So…after listening to Healthy SnacksBackpack EPGrowing Up Pt. 1 EP and now Growing Up Pt. 2 EP; do you reckon PEABOD has encouraged me to listen heavily to, and review all of the other Christian rap albums this year and the many years before? Nope…just Isaac’s music and other inspirational artists like Lecrae, KB, Trip Lee, and Steven Malcolm amongst others. But the inescapable truth that PEABOD will be big this coming year or two still remains. So, what are we all waiting for? Let’s dive in and be antisocial together so that we’re not left out together, while we do some side hustling on the side while wearing our favourite hoodie and carrying our favourite backpack. While we’re also being real with each other and talking about our big feelings, and praying to our heavenly Father, an act in itself which is wonderful and scary; remembering too that we can and should love everybody because He has loved the prodigal. And, while we’re at it, let’s sing about our favourite part of life, which is being mad together, hypothesising about spring theory, spreading the good news, and thanking Jesus that we’re alive. Well, who are we kidding? We’ll probably just sit at home eating some healthy snacks too! And wouldn’t that be our favourite part of the day? Broccoli flavoured shepherd pie, anyone? Chocolate coated fruit? What about a dairy free and gluten free chocolate cake?

Score: 4/5

RIYL: Lecrae, Group 1 Crew, KB, Andy Mineo, Steven Malcolm, TobyMac, Wande, KJ-52, Propaganda

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