Christian Hip-Hop Artist KJ-52 Hits #1 with "Mental"

By Timothy Yap Oct 27, 2014 01:59 AM EDT

Dove Award winning Christian hip hop artist KJ-52's brand new album "Mental" has lodged in at #1 on iTunes Christian chart on October 21. The album achieved the #23 spot on the overall iTunes Top 100, and is holding steady in the top 10 on the Christian chart throughout this release week. Despite being released as KJ's first project as an independent artist, MENTAL debuts as the fastest selling album in his fourteen-year career.

KJ-52 in a recent interview with Hallels has this to say about the album: "We live in a world that has gone "mental" & also at the same time those who take a stand for the things of God are often branded as "mental"... it's a reminder to me that in the midst of all that God has promised to provide for us and keep us through a world gone "mental"."

Jonah Kirsten Sorrentino, better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J. Mac," a name which he later described in one of his podcasts as "horribly cheesy." "52", which is pronounced "five two", not "fifty-two", is a reference to the Biblical story of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish, which is also sung about in his song "Push Up" from The Yearbook and in the "KJ Five Two" on It's Pronounced 'Five Two.'

He was awarded the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year for "Never Look Away" and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards of 2007. On July 28, 2009, KJ-52 released "End of My Rope", which is the first single for his album Five-Two Television. His song "Dear Slim" is based on Eminem's song "Stan" and is a sort of personal message from KJ-52 to Eminem.

The excitement behind the album was given extra fuel with the announcement of the single "Tonight" being tapped as a theme song for Monday Night Football. Launched on the eve of MENTAL's release, "Tonight" is receiving unprecedented support from the ESPN network, and will be heard on the broadcast throughout the regular season.

KJ-52 is hitting the road this fall primarily as solo dates where he will be sharing his new music and message. Additional tour announcements and tour dates to follow in the coming weeks.

October 24 - Mount Gay-Shamrock, WV
October 26 - Navarre, FL
October 28-29 - Hendersonville, TN
November 1 - Myrtle Beach, SC
November 9 - Everett, WA
November 11 - Roseville, CA
November 20 - Bluffton, OH
November 21 - Melbourne, FL
December 6 - Joplin, MO
December 12 - Gladewater, TX
December 13 - Toledo, OH

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