FAST FIVE: March 2025
Bryson Gray, DC3, DvnielPotts, Rich Colón, Jered Sanders, & FUTURISTIC
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 March 2025 edition below.
Bryson Gray - Letters to the Church 3
January 17, 2025
Written by
Bryson Gray has released a new album titled Letters to the Church 3. This came out earlier 2025. To avoid controversy, I will only be discussing the album from a musical standpoint.
It starts with a crazy opener, “Study Thyself Approved.” I would like to acknowledge that the production of this album is insanely good. This whole album is very solid. Bryson has improved his voice and rapping style. A lot of the songs on this album deserved a spot on my playlist.
I love the sample that starts “Love Thy Neighbor.” I know that Jered Sanders used it in the middle segment of “Kobe's Back.” It's fire.
“Churches So Quiet” is also really catchy. The beat gets stuck in my head, and Bryson just flows on it. This is one of the first Bryson drops where I listen and say "Hey, that isn't so bad."
For my personal preferences, the album is a bit too long. This length works sometimes on long bike rides that I often take, but it's hard to sit down and listen to the full thing.
The album ends with “Pray For My Enemies,” and the chorus is honestly very catchy.
Overall, I would say that this is Bryson's best work, especially musically. I'll let you decide your takes on the lyrics, as they are very controversial, and that's Bryson's thing. He has a lot of out of pocket stances and views, but that's his gimmick.
DC3 - I KNOW.
February 16, 2025
Written by
TikTok has been one of my favorite mediums for discovering new music. Once again, I must thank the app for another gem. DC3’s newest single titled “I KNOW.” is a thoughtful and spirit-filled track that has been gaining much traction. In this song, DC3 raps about his desire to escape the clutches of his trials and tribulations with scripture being his main guide. His second verse has a cadence and flow pattern that can be compared to J. Cole’s “cLOUDs.” Since DC3’s debut, this college freshman has already gotten the attention of artists such as Derek Minor, Lecrae, and Rapsody. His clever marketing and impressive lyricism have led to his TikTok page receiving millions of views. With the success he’s managed to have at such a young age, I can only imagine how far this up-and-coming rapper will go.
DvnielPotts - TALES FROM THE WINDOW AREA
February 28, 2025
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Producer DvnielPotts has been working on the downlow in CHH-adjacent circles for some time now, collaborating with indie artists like B Dynasty, Joseph Muniz, and Yung Titan. With only a single release to DSPs under his belt, his announcement of a full-length album in 2025 was very exciting to fans of his work.
Well, TALES FROM THE WINDOW AREA is here, and it’s easily the producer’s best work. If you enjoy trap, house, or EDM broadly, this is for you (although I’d contest that many rap fans will also get amble enjoyment from this album). Bold synths and head-pounding drops are tied together by found footage -style audio clips in a way that makes a full playthrough preferable, but standout tracks include “SWEATER WITH COWS ON IT!,” “JAW DROP,” and “THROW IT BACK.”
Rich Colón - “People Mover”
March 21, 2025
Written by Eric Boston of
As a pastor whose church is located in Detroit’s inner-city community known as Southwest, Rich Colón has had to learn the nuances of bringing light to the darkness in his particular context. With People Mover, Colón puts his experiences into a record that features multiple “Detroit-defining” elements.
Inspired by Detroit’s downtown transit system staple, the people mover, the song’s production glides through the speakers like a ride through the neighborhoods that exemplify America’s “Motor City.” It is a journey that allows you to see all that life can throw at a person and contrasts it with the joy only found in Christ.
On “People Mover,” Colón effortlessly weaves a personal narrative as he navigates the track like a stroll down his neighborhood sidewalks, allowing listeners to get an over-the-shoulder view of the interactions with the local inhabitants. For fans of golden-era, boom-bap hip-hop, “People Mover” is a must-add to your playlist.
Jered Sanders & FUTURISTIC - “Don't Quit Your Day Job”
March 21, 2025
Written by
Bassline of the year!! The day I heard “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” for the first time, I think I probably played it half a dozen times in a row. Jered Sanders and FUTURISTIC each take a verse on this “anthem for the DIYers,” and each emcee’s distinct style draws even more value to the track.
