FAST FIVE: April 2025
Kalom Montgomery, Knaladeus, A3, BOVA, & Aable
If you’ve ever picked up a copy of Midnight Donuts zine, you know that one of our staples is the “FAST FIVE,” a collection of five mini-reviews for recent Christian hip-hop releases. In 2025, we launched monthly FAST FIVE installments here on the newsletter! Check out the April 2025 edition below.
For only $5, Midnight Donuts Bonus Batch subscribers get a free extra zine at the end of the year compiling all the year’s FAST FIVE entries. Plus more bonus goodies! Click below to join.
Kalom Montgomery - 33
March 30, 2025
Written by
THIS is the exact kind of soulful, boom-bap, lyrical, honest hip-hop that I love to hear. From the first song to the mesmerizing 10-minute-long outro track, 33 is a cohesive tour de force for Montgomery. This artist is a force to be reckoned with, and not going away anytime soon. Christ died at 33, but, with 33, Kalom Montgomery is only getting started.
Knaladeus - Deus Hymns: For Worship & Adoration
April 4, 2025
Words by
The perfect combo of churchy production and worshipful lyrics. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more appropriate Sunday morning spin amongst recent CHH releases. I know I’ve listened to it nearly every Sunday since it dropped. Knaladeus and his collaborators are honest with their faith struggles, all while pointing the listener (and themselves) back to the Father.
A3 - “FREE FROM SIN”
April 8, 2025
Words by
“FREE FROM SIN” is the second single released off of A3's upcoming album entitled escape calling. This is a song he's been sitting on for a few years waiting for the right time to release it.
“FREE FROM SIN” is about realizing that you are free from sin through Jesus Christ, putting your old self to death, denying your flesh, and choosing to walk in the freedom that Jesus Christ offers when you accept Him into your heart.
This track was made in between Hear The Heavens and I'd Go To Hell For You era, with a dance hall/edm beginning that builds up into a beat switch with A3 rapping over gritty 808s. He declares that God's worth the war, and that you have to live out who God's called you to be and not what the world wants.
Easily one of my favorite A3 songs and one of his personal favorites. This track will resonate with a lot of people and help them to realize that they truly free from sin through Jesus Christ.
Bova - “Hush Baby (feat. Dre Murray)”
April 14, 2025
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Producer Bova enlists CHH legend Dre Murray to craft this truly masterful bop. I think I’ve put this on every time I’ve driven anywhere for the past two weeks. Bouncy sample-based production compliments Dre’s lyrical mastery before turning to a vibey sung bridge/outro, also performed by Dre Murray. Very glad I stumbled across this gem, and very glad to get to share it with you.
Aable - process of elimination
April 22, 2025
Words by
The past few years I’ve started to enjoy laid-back sample-based hip-hop more and more. The kind of thing that you can put on at the house and just vibe to. The kind of soundtrack perfect for a Sunday afternoon drive.
Well, Aable perfectly nailed that vibe with this EP. This is some really incredible sample-based hip-hop by one of the most talented up-and-coming pens in our space, and the emcee’s best work to-date. Even the cover art and the song titles (all number-based, e.g. “ninetofive”) are just the right vibe. I’m looking forward to listening to process of elimination many, many times.
BONUS: William Pippins - No Writer’s Block
February 7, 2025
Words by
This came out back in February, but I missed it when it dropped and it’s one of the best hip-hop albums I’ve heard this year, so I wanted to pin it. Back when I was first getting into music journalism, I reviewed Pippins’ The Obituary, and I’ve considered him to be criminally underrated ever since. Glad to see him back releasing music, and getting a little more recognition this time around.
