Speaker, author, Jackie Hill Perry is here with her debut album with Reach Records. Perry isn't new to lyricism -- she previously released two projects in 2014 and 2018. Since then, she has grown her following through bestselling books, motherhood, and co-hosting a podcast with her husband titled With the Perry's. In 2024, she announced her return to music by signing with the iconic Reach Records and dropping the single, "First Draft," which sent shockwaves through the CHH sphere. Her new album, Blameless, delivers 15 tracks of bold lyricism that doesn't shy away from addressing the state of the Church.

"The Home" opens the album with Perry stepping in strong, delivering bars rich in symbolism and layered meaning. From the outset, she calls listeners to reflect, awaken, and ultimately turn from their ways. Beneath the dense lyricism lies a piercing critique of culture today -- how distractions so easily mask themselves and pull us away from God Himself. The track crescendos with a chilling close: the word "Repent" spoken, then emphatically shouted, leaving the listener with no room to ignore its urgency.

The flows continue impressively in "Pride and Prejudice," with sharp lyrics, "Indian in my blood / You can tell by the roots / Ain't selling dream catchers /Everybody wanna be a prophet / Til it's time tell the truth / It's Phil Mitchell With the black hoodie / Tell the grim reaper / We can let him choose." The catchy chorus drives the point home, "This is just pride and prejudice / Maybe I'm just relevant / Maybe I'm just arrogant / Maybe y'all need a therapist." A sermon snippet on our sinful nature and the Gospel closes the song, leaving listeners with a reflective charge.

"Shimmy" switches things up with a head-bobbing beat and a catchy chorus, where Perry confidently raps, "Look at the way that I walk, yeah." Aha Gazelle contributes alternative flows that make this track an instant favorite. "Anti Social" is a smooth R&B-infused track featuring Aja Walls, whose effortless vocals and layered harmonies give the song a journal-like intimacy. Perry showcases her versatility as a rapper on a solid groove, "It's seven thousand that ain't bow the knee / The type that like to hitch / The type that like it French / I mean, we translate it, ain't no uno out / I'm drawing four til I got a score that won't cut it out."

Other standout tracks include "The Chant," "Lighthouse (feat. KB), "Northside" (feat. Project Pat), and "Glory (The End)," each adding their own weight and depth to the project.

"Menorah" is a particularly heavy, introspective track featuring Nobigdyl. At one of the longest runtimes on the project, Perry seems to portray multiple perspectives, while Nobigdyl adds a third. Mixing confession, critique of the Church, and inward reflection, "Menorah" is one of the best on the album. The song transitions into a reprise featuring Madison Ryann Ward singing "Running Back to You," originally by the gospel group Commissioned.

All in all, Jackie Hill Perry delivers a cohesive and compelling body of work with Blameless. She doesn't overreach; instead, she zeros in on the current state of the Church, humanity's sin, and the glory of God, crafting a project that feels both reflective and impactful.

Blameless is full of tracks that demand multiple listens, and that may be the most refreshing quality this genre needs. Not every song has to be a quick, feel-good "Praise God, He washed away my sins." Sometimes the Church needs weight, depth, and substance -- and Jackie Hill Perry is the artist who brings that refresh.

In a space growing crowded with talented CHH rappers, Jackie Hill Perry may very well be the best.

- Review date: 9/18/25, written by Michael Carder of Jesusfreakhideout.com