Vinyl Review: Shades of Grey (20th Anniversary Release)

Braille released his classic album Shades of Grey on limited-edition vinyl to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of its release. Two colors come with the vinyl of your choice, black or grey. The double-vinyl was released through Braille’s new company, Gospel Banquet.

This article originally appeared in Midnight Donuts #4 from July 2024. Want to read the most recent edition of Midnight Donuts? You can do so here! 

This album is a classic in Christian Hip-Hop, releasing in my senior year of high school in 2004. Coming after the success of Pure Thoughts by Lightheaded (Braille, Ohmega Watts, Othello), Braille brings his crew with him for his second solo project and delivers. His label, Hip Hop is Music, was taking off due to the success of these projects and bringing in Theory Hazit. Braille was able to bring in 9th Wonder to produce “10 Years” after 9th Wonder produced what some people will call a classic album by Little Brother, The Listening. Braille traded bars with Manchild from Mars Ill and Sareem Poems from LA Symphony.

This album is full of top lyricism and heavy production, making noise in the CHH space and the underground scene. This is an album all CHH fans should have, and there’s nothing like having it on vinyl.