The Rundown: Trip Lee, Rise

The Rundown: Trip Lee, Rise - Two years after announcing his retirement from music, Christian rhymer Trip Lee is back. On his fifth studio album, the Washington, D.C.-based rhyme star continues to meld the worlds of street-secular with the spirit of gospel, tackling the problems of soul as well as life. Check out this cut-by-cut look at Mr. Lee’s latest.  (Photo: Reach Records)

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The Rundown: Trip Lee, Rise - Two years after announcing his retirement from music, Christian rhymer Trip Lee is back. On his fifth studio album, the Washington, D.C.-based rhyme star continues to meld the worlds of street-secular with the spirit of gospel, tackling the problems of soul as well as life. Check out this cut-by-cut look at Mr. Lee’s latest.  (Photo: Reach Records)

“Rise” - The title track kicks off Trip’s fifth studio album. Electronic voices set this voyage in motion, which then explodes into Trip spitting a flurry of rhymes aimed your soul. “I’m healed. I’m healed,” he declares over booming bass and stuttering snares. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Dove Awards)

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“Rise” - The title track kicks off Trip’s fifth studio album. Electronic voices set this voyage in motion, which then explodes into Trip spitting a flurry of rhymes aimed your soul. “I’m healed. I’m healed,” he declares over booming bass and stuttering snares. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Dove Awards)

“Lights On” - Where many MCs are occupied with shining light on the dark sides of life, Trip uses this cut to lyrically celebrate the brightly lit sides of ones journey. Inspiring voices hang harmonies in the background, marching along side star-bursting synch and head-to-the-wind rhythms.  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

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“Lights On” - Where many MCs are occupied with shining light on the dark sides of life, Trip uses this cut to lyrically celebrate the brightly lit sides of ones journey. Inspiring voices hang harmonies in the background, marching along side star-bursting synch and head-to-the-wind rhythms.  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

“Shweet” - Trip takes time out to shout out and reminisce about his home state of Texas. Along this lyrical excursion, Mr. Lee reflects about his road to making his music career dreams come true. (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter)

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“Shweet” - Trip takes time out to shout out and reminisce about his home state of Texas. Along this lyrical excursion, Mr. Lee reflects about his road to making his music career dreams come true. (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter)

“Manolo” feat. Lecrae - Trip teams with fellow Christian rapper Lecrae to tease thuggish themes with righteous intent. With its eerie bounce and creeping rhythms, this track bangs with menace and swag but its all for defeating devilment and soul-depleting haters.  (Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

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“Manolo” feat. Lecrae - Trip teams with fellow Christian rapper Lecrae to tease thuggish themes with righteous intent. With its eerie bounce and creeping rhythms, this track bangs with menace and swag but its all for defeating devilment and soul-depleting haters.  (Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

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“You Don’t Know” - As Trip is a Christian MC, it’s expected that he declares his love and appreciation for the Lord, which he does on this cut. “Feel like I got a hole in one/They throwing shade, but I’m beaming because I know the Son,” he rhymes.(Photo: Reach Records)

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“You Don’t Know” - As Trip is a Christian MC, it’s expected that he declares his love and appreciation for the Lord, which he does on this cut. “Feel like I got a hole in one/They throwing shade, but I’m beaming because I know the Son,” he rhymes.(Photo: Reach Records)

“All Rise Up” (Interlude) - Just Trip talking some thoughts about his 10-year career and the friends he’s made along the way.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Dove Awards)

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“All Rise Up” (Interlude) - Just Trip talking some thoughts about his 10-year career and the friends he’s made along the way.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Dove Awards)

Photo By Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Dove Awards

“All Rise Up” - Call this the musical version of Trip’s thoughts in the interlude. “Ten years later, flow got greater,” he remembers. “Minds got closer, plus there’s more haters.” Dramatic piano notes floats with destiny-charging drums as Trip tells us, in so many words, his success didn’t come easy.  (Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Dove Awards)

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“All Rise Up” - Call this the musical version of Trip’s thoughts in the interlude. “Ten years later, flow got greater,” he remembers. “Minds got closer, plus there’s more haters.” Dramatic piano notes floats with destiny-charging drums as Trip tells us, in so many words, his success didn’t come easy.  (Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Dove Awards)

“Beautiful Life 2 (Mine)” - A proud dad, Trip celebrates his young son on this track which oozes with pride and affection. “Straight out the womb you was real fresh,” he reflects. “I cried so hard ‘til I ain’t have tears left.”  (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter)

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“Beautiful Life 2 (Mine)” - A proud dad, Trip celebrates his young son on this track which oozes with pride and affection. “Straight out the womb you was real fresh,” he reflects. “I cried so hard ‘til I ain’t have tears left.”  (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter)

“Insomniac” feat. Andy Mineo - Brash synth horns push the hefty sonic boom of this track which finds Trip joining up with Andy Mineo to set the club on fire.  (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter) 

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“Insomniac” feat. Andy Mineo - Brash synth horns push the hefty sonic boom of this track which finds Trip joining up with Andy Mineo to set the club on fire.  (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter) 

Photo By Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter

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“Something New” - More like an interlude, this short track — brimming with rolling 808 action — showcases Trip’s brags about his swag. (Photo: Reach Records)

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“Something New” - More like an interlude, this short track — brimming with rolling 808 action — showcases Trip’s brags about his swag. (Photo: Reach Records)

“Lazarus” feat. Thi’sl - Taking the story of the man Jesus brought back from the dead, Trip applies the tale to a dude brought back from the brink of the dark side. “Close for comfort, call the preach: he so gone,” Trip spits. “It’s over. Ain’t no body witcha. So long.” (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter)  

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“Lazarus” feat. Thi’sl - Taking the story of the man Jesus brought back from the dead, Trip applies the tale to a dude brought back from the brink of the dark side. “Close for comfort, call the preach: he so gone,” Trip spits. “It’s over. Ain’t no body witcha. So long.” (Photo: Trip Lee via Twitter)  

“All My Love” feat. Natalie Lauren - In the age of online dating, Trip uses this cut to boldly tackle the subject of Internet cheating. A married man meets a young lady on a site, then goes for a date and falls hard. But woe to this dude when his spouse finds out. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

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“All My Love” feat. Natalie Lauren - In the age of online dating, Trip uses this cut to boldly tackle the subject of Internet cheating. A married man meets a young lady on a site, then goes for a date and falls hard. But woe to this dude when his spouse finds out. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

“I’m Gone” - “Something on my mind. Hey, you gotta moment,” Trip confesses on this cut. “Something like swag, I just got up on it.” Just as equally as he praises the Lord, Trip denounces the power of Satan over him, which he does on this track.  (Photo: Reach Records)

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“I’m Gone” - “Something on my mind. Hey, you gotta moment,” Trip confesses on this cut. “Something like swag, I just got up on it.” Just as equally as he praises the Lord, Trip denounces the power of Satan over him, which he does on this track.  (Photo: Reach Records)

“Sweet Victory” feat. Dmitri McDowell and Leah Smith - Inspired by the story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Trip uses this cut to acknowledge his life struggles and give thanks for being able to come back from them. “Nose to the game. Cheese to the ceiling,” he rhymes. “Feeling good that we gon' make it to the finish.” (Photo: Reach Records)

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“Sweet Victory” feat. Dmitri McDowell and Leah Smith - Inspired by the story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Trip uses this cut to acknowledge his life struggles and give thanks for being able to come back from them. “Nose to the game. Cheese to the ceiling,” he rhymes. “Feeling good that we gon' make it to the finish.” (Photo: Reach Records)