J. Monty explains concept of new album ‘Second Born’

J. Monty likes surprises.

On Friday, the Atlanta-based rapper released his debut album, Second Born, a title which fans are left to assume refers to J. Monty, given that a photograph of a baby (presumably him) is on his album cover. The start of the album does not combat this assumption.

“I’m so cool, I’m so cool, I’m cool. My momma had me second. I was a baby with troubles,” J. Monty repeats on track No. 3, “Second Born.”

However, as the album continues, it becomes clear that J. Monty is not the sole focus of the album.

“I want people to think that this whole album’s about me being the second born, because I am the second son of my mother and father,” J. Monty said. “I want people to think, ‘J. Monty’s about to talk about himself.’ … And then they listen to it and realize it’s not just about me being the second born. It’s about the fact that I am living inside of the second birth. … Second Born literally just means you have received the gospel, you’ve received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you are living in the second birth right now, the birth of the Spirit.”

J. Monty referenced two Bible verses that inspired this concept.

Romans 8:29: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

I Corinthians ‭15:45-47‬: “And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.”

‭‭ This curve ball of a concept is not the first that J. Monty has thrown at fans. In February, he released the song “I’m the Best Rapper Alive,” track No. 12 on his mixtape Level 54, which wasn’t as boastful as the title sounds — quite the opposite, actually.

J. Monty may have not actually claimed to be the most talented rapper alive, but he has impressed peers this year.

“J. Monty is easily the best rapper in Atlanta right now, as far as the Christian hip hop stuff goes. Just pure rap ability, he’s very special,” Atlanta-based rapper Alex Faith, who featured J. Monty on his new album, Bloodlines, said.

Buy Second Born on iTunes or Amazon.

Buy his Freshman 15 song, “Seasons Change,” on iTunes or Amazon as well.

READ MORE: J. Monty warns Jay Z, Kanye West & Lil Wayne about likening themselves to God in ‘100 Bars, Pt. 3’ music video

David Daniels
David Daniels
David Daniels is a columnist at Rapzilla.com and the managing editor of LegacyDisciple.org. He has been published at Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, CCM Magazine, Bleacher Report, The Washington Times and HipHopDX.
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