Reviewed by Steve Hayes

With the 116 Clique in charge of an album, you know it's going to be heavy-hitting. This doesn't disappoint. 'Man Up' combines a seven-track album, plus a 50 minute movie on the theme of manhood. The drama follows one Bryan (played by Anthony "One" Moonie) and the consequences of his bad decisions. Other actors in the drama are Lecrae and J'Son. The accompanying album explores several issues relevant to manhood. The powerhouse "Man Up Anthem" starts things with all the artists behind the project supporting, in verses and production as we're encouraged to "man up" and follow Jesus. The theme of responsibility is taken up on "Envy" which, amazingly, samples Annie Get Your Gun ("Anything you can do, I can do better")! Great beats and grimey bass dropp in over Tedashii, Andy Mineo and KB while there is some pulsing synth and bass on "Courage" where we are reminded that "our value is eternal". The issue of temptation, especially sexual temptation, is confronted and overcome on "Temptation" over some rolling snares while the slower "Repentance" is a powerful final track.

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There’s an ongoing war within urban culture. Confusion over what manhood is has plagued our cities, families and lives. The concept of a biblical man has been lost in our generation. Unfortunately, many churches struggle to provide its urban members, much less those beyond their walls, with a tangible definition of a real man.

The Man Up album featuring Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, KB, Andy Mineo, and Sho Baraka tackles six different areas of manhood that young men fail to live up to. It serves as a call for men in urban culture to repent for their failure to become the men that God has created them to be and for believers to live as who they truly are in Christ.