Houston, Texas-born rapper Adub Nati brings a refreshing take to conscious rap with his latest project, Righteous Black Eyes. The 10-track body of work explores life from the black perspective and fuses elements of his Christian faith, his experiences on the mean streets and the struggles that come with being black.
The first track, “Zion Is No More,” is an anthemic opener that juxtaposes Biblical characters, their stories, with modern-day situations and how these lessons helped shape him into being who he is today. The next track, “God of the Strongest,” features Iva Joe and sees Adub Nati reflecting on trials and tribulations. He reflects on his mistakes and missteps and how God redirected his steps. He sounds remorseful as he raps, “Don’t judge a book by its cover, you might get crushed by the toll”, lines that underscore his spiritual growth. Iva Joe closes out the track with a fiery performance and insightful verse. In “Unity,” Adub Nati talks about the power of unification and how his Christian belief has given him the much-needed insight. He doesn’t shy away from being firm on his beliefs and gives audiences more than a glimpse into his world. In “Grace & Mercy,” he recruits singer/songwriter Jermigo Christian for a soulful praise and worship tune over a punchy cinematic soundscape. Once again, he gives listeners an unfiltered look at his life with heartfelt lines like “I had a taste of finer things and I know I didn’t pay/Did some things that didn’t please him but ain’t cast me away/A pretty girl that talked to me, I was ugly inside/Tempted God on occasion but my flesh hasn’t died.”
So far, the project is steeped in tackling the dichotomy of secular music with his Christian faith. Far from posturing or forcing his opinions, Adub Nati presents his stories from a personal perspective. Tracks like “Not One of My Own” and “Teach Me How to Pray” dive into self-growth, affirmation, and a refreshing take on finding power in prayer in this modern world.“Ain’t Giving Up” is an aspirational and refletcive piece comprising moody pianos and thick 808-driven drums underpinned by emotional powerful lyrics that details his trust in God over detractors and naysayers. “Friend of David” is a hard-hitting tune that explores the blurred lines of being righteous and rugged in this new age, with lines like
“The damage been done,now its a snowball effect/ and yo instead educate you all in righteous respect/Most bamboozled think you real Christian, passive and pray/Take no heathen, time to kill the hatred you learned in a day,” Adub Nati reminds us of his street savviness. He talks about battling inner demons on “Tormentors of the Mind,” while on the final track, “Surrender,” he displays sincerity and blind faith as he submits to his lord and saviour.
Overall, Righteous Black Eyes is a snapshot of Adub Nati’s religious upbringing and the journey through life as his worldview expands.
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