Written By: Alexis Muthoga Feb 16, 2024
I first came across Caleb Gordon's music when I stumbled upon an Instagram reel featuring him rapping his track, West Orlando Flow. What immediately grabbed my interest was the upbeat energy of the song and his bar, "if you can't play it with the windows down, then it ain’t come from me.” Needless to say, he couldn't have been more accurate.
After hearing this song, I delved deeper into more of his music and noticed how different his style is from that of the majority of Christian artists and rappers. He is a pioneer in both categories of music he creates. Caleb is an independent Christian rapper from Florida who is actively bridging the gap between hip-hop and Christian music. While his flow resembles much of contemporary rap artists, he remains unique in his individuality through his lyrical genius and distinct personal purpose.
Caleb’s music has a broad appeal that resonates with a diverse audience, setting him apart from most Christian artists. Unlike most Christian music, which tends to have a slower pace with emphasis on themes of praise, worship, and faith, Caleb's music stands out by successfully blending the message of Christian music with the modern musical preferences of younger generations. Through his music, he is able to uplift and motivate his listeners with his flow. I found his music uplifting and inspiring, and I appreciate that it could have the same effect regardless of shared beliefs. He also did a cover of Jack Harlow’s hit ‘First Class,’ which received a lot of attention and praise for providing an uplifting twist to a song already popular in mainstream media. It’s evident that there is a strong demand for his unique style of rap.
It’s truly exciting to hear rap embracing subjects that are both uplifting and empowering, fueling a new sense of substance into the rap industry. Caleb is one of the first to do this in his genre of music, playing a vital role in reclaiming rap by reimagining the conventional subjects rap typically revolves around.