***April Fool’s Joke***
I’ll be the first to confess that I’ve never been the biggest NF fan. I’m very particular about what types of hip-hop songs I actually enjoy, and while I’ve seen friends jump on the bandwagon, I’ve never totally been sold on his songwriting. Then, there’s the matter of how overt he is about his faith in his lyrics – there’s no question that so-called Christian hip-hop has also become just another casualty of artists abandoning their faith entirely.
Of course, this brings us to today’s topic. NF, born Nathan John Feuerstein, first landed in the public eye with his chart-topping album Perception in 2017. His songs have been featured in sports video games, like MLB, and he’s collaborated with artists including TobyMac and Flame. However, despite his success in the Christian sphere, he has denied the label of being a Christian rapper, instead claiming, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t make Christian music. You’re not going to reach everyone with just one point of view. I write about things I’m actually dealing with. You don’t have to be Christian to relate to them.”
Today, NF announced in a post on X unveiling his next plan to relate to an even broader audience. Apparently, after meeting T-Pain after a show in Miami in 2022, the two are finally ready to release a batch of songs which show the best of both artists. It goes without saying that listeners can expect crisp production, though it’s still too early to know exactly what influences the pair will borrow from this time around.
The collaboration is not without controversy. Many of T-Pain’s songs include explicit language and themes of sex and drugs, leading some early commenters to question the dangers of the friendship. Here are a few comments:
@chrisnelson282 wrote, “Wow, another apostate. Not surprised.”
@thecookie_crumbls instead said, “What a powerful opportunity to share the Gospel. Pray for NF!”
Others still have likened it, for better or worse, to Kanye West’s alleged conversion and how he still collaborated with unbelieving artists. Ultimately, it’s too soon too judge – the music, message, and partnership alike – and while it might certainly be unwise in many ways, it’s always better to start with the benefit of the doubt. We should definitely keep both artists in prayerful consideration.
As for the music itself? While no exact release date has been given, NF did share a small clip of the new project, NFT, which you can check out here.
What are your thoughts? Is NF selling out? Does this collaboration sound promising? We’d love to hear your thoughts.