Into the Night is the latest release from the always-candid rap duo, Social Club Misfits. Through a mix of wit, witnessing and pop culture truth-bombs, rappers Fern and Marty have crafted a solid hip-hop album that even casual fans of the genre can appreciate.

The first track, "Nightmare," opens with a killer line that throws listeners into Social Club's bold style: "Devil's worst nightmare, us." The two rappers then fire back and forth over a slammin' backbeat that would get even the most reserved of us to tap on our desks. To a casual listener, lines like "you know that we spit the best work" might be mistaken as typical rapper swagger, though Marty and Fern's frequent references to God's grace separate them from the secular norm. As with much of Top 40 hip-hop, most tracks feature pop artists and other rappers, notably American Idol alums Danny Gokey and Jordin Sparks in the lively, Latin-flavored "Tuyo." Not only is this song fun, with excellent vocals and a catchy hook, it also shows Fern and Marty's underlying faith in God and their love for His people. Marty raps, "This is for my people…en Puerto Rico...the hurricane could not defeat you / I promise that He'll never leave you / He'll never lead you in the wrong way / Every day God we need you." It's a timely message after Hurricane Maria, and a reminder to all of us that, no matter what happens, God's got us.

Throughout the album, Fern and Marty rap honestly and aren't afraid to call out those who don't. In "Happy Accident," Marty addresses artists that only care about fame, saying, "It's not about making it up to the top / It's about making a difference." In "Clear," they demonstrate what "making a difference" means as Fern references his cocaine addiction and how Jesus rescued him from it. He raps, "I was the kid on the block / Who got intrigued by the blocks... It is the goodness of God that would lead a man to repentance / I put my life in these words / And I pray you don't catch you a sentence." On first listen, "Clear" might be one of those songs you skip in favor of livelier, melody-based ones like "Solo." But, on both tracks, these guys wear their hearts on their sleeves as they proclaim, in Spanish and English, Christ's grace for the lost.

In short, Into the Night is more than an entertaining hip-hop album with great rhymes and infectious choruses; it's also, in Marty's words, "about making a difference." Personally, I am not a die-hard hip-hop fan and, though I admit there's a lot of talent in the industry, I have grown cold toward much of secular rap's demeaning and immoral lyrics. So, when hip-hop, which so many kids listen to, has important and truly hopeful things to say, we should thank God for artists like these who spread the truth.

- Review date: 3/1/18, written by Andie Hardee of Jesusfreakhideout.com