Last night I got invited to an exclusive listening party by the President of 22Visionz Record Label for an album called The Imprint by Christian R&B artist named T-Ran Gilbert. I didn’t really know what to expect because I am not so familiar with the Christian music industry. I was sent some music via youtube and was very impressed so I accepted the invitation. It was an intimate setting with only 20 chairs set up for hand-picked people in the music industry. Out of all the sound engineers and radio personalities I was honored to be the only blogger there. I do apologize in advance for the lack of photographs as it was an exclusive event and no pictures/videos were allowed during the party. When I first walked in T-Ran was there to greet me with a handshake and a hug. We had never met before but it was like we were friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. He is a genuinely nice guy and he really believes in the message that his music is sending.

The album is called #TheImprint and it comes out everywhere on Monday 6/6/16. @TRanGilbert has historically been a Christian artist but this album is more mainstream. Now being a, let’s just say, non-Christian, I very much enjoyed this album. Most Christian music is too overtly spiritual for my taste but this album is something I would listen to in my car if I needed some positivity in my life. Each song sounds different. Although all of them mention spirituality in some way (some more blatant than others), there is no doubt in my mind that this album could make it to the mainstream R&B charts.

“Nowhere”, although written about different struggles in his own life, is dedicated to the awareness of sex trafficking around the world. You most definitely won’t find a song like this on the Christian charts. T-Ran is looking to change the game with this track. Most people in this state don’t know that there is a large slavery problem still alive and well in Tennessee. To learn more about what you can do to end sex trafficking here in your own state check out WhatIs13.com.

“Breathe” should definitely be a track that gets sent to every radio station. Although it is about a serious subject (and the video is yet another statement piece), it has a very catchy chorus that is easy to remember and will resonate with a lot of people whether they are spiritual or not. There is also a remixed version on the album but that is the only song we didn’t get to preview.

Most of the songs on #TheImprint can certainly be classified as R&B but “Hands Up” is more of a dope hip-hop dance track. To change the game even further the hardest rocking song on the album is called “Jesus.” This song is not R&B at all and is most unlike the others. It is a hard rock tune and there is a killer guitar solo right in the middle that will most certainly attempt to melt your face off.

“Miracle” is an acoustic track that was written when @trangilbert was just 13 years old. He shared with us that it is about his brother who got diagnosed with diabetes. He had a blood sugar level of over 900. Anything over 600 is considered fatal. But his brother was walking around fine with a deadly blood sugar level. But after a couple of days, he was seemingly cured and his levels went back down to within normal range. This song brought tears to all of our eyes as we envisioned a 13 year old boy begging God to save his brother’s life.

“Let Go” is probably my favorite song on the album. T-Ran calls it his summer single. It is dancey and catchy. This is the joint that will make T-Ran Gilbert a household name. Even though T-Ran has only been in Nashville for a short time, he will soon be known everywhere around town. His brand of Inspirational R&B will speak to everyone regardless of religion or lack thereof. Watch out Nashville! T-Ran is coming by storm!