In a career that has come to defy categorization, Lecrae comes across more vigilant and self-aware than ever on Let the Trap Say Amen. “2 Sides 2 the Game,” another standout track, sees Lecrae teaming up with one of Atlanta’s best-loved sons Waka Flocka. Over Zaytoven’s monstrous trap drums, the two rappers swap captivating street tales that examine their respective family histories in the trap. It takes on an eerie tone and reflects the pure, unsullied Atlanta soundscape that has come to dominate in hip-hop; it sounds like gold grills, cookouts, and late-night rides through the city. “It’s two sides to the game and they ain’t gon’ tell it” implores Waka Flocka.

Then there are cuts like the hopeful “By Chance,” with its soothing piano loop, and the confessional “Judge Me,” which has Lecrae silencing his detractors, especially those within the church, and reaffirming his dedication to staying his course at all cost. “They condemn but don’t offend me, I’m still in His will.” It’s true that major success can become a burden for artists the world over, and for someone like Lecrae who’s been navigating these distinct environments—each which carries its own set of unwritten rules—for over a decade, perhaps even more so. But if there’s anything he’s learned over the last few years of his flourishing career, it’s to trust his vision and steer clear of those who make no effort to understand him or what it might be like to live constantly in the public eye. “I’ve seen it all, people who want you to fall / Find everything you do wrong.”

With every release, Lecrae pushes the boundaries of what’s possible for an artist who is known equally for his faith as he is for his work. On Let the Trap Say Amen, he looks at a shifting America and world through fresh eyes and emerges with a manifesto of sorts. These are trap-psalms created to expose the more inglorious aspects of life with evocative detail. That he still manages to make it fun, thanks in large part to Zaytoven’s instrumentation and haunting atmospherics, is a feat unto itself.