Jackie Hill Perry, a Grammy-nominated poet, rapper, writer and Bible instructor, has worn many hats over the previous decade. However for her, each artistic pursuit serves as one other expression of the identical name: to inform the reality about God.
After a six-year hiatus, Hill Perry has returned to the studio with Innocent, her first full-length album since 2018 and her debut below Attain Data, the Atlanta-based Christian hip-hop label based by Lecrae.
The 16-track undertaking is a deeply private exploration of sanctification, non secular warfare, lament and the every day strategy of turning into extra like Christ. That includes collaborations with Mission Pat, KB, Madison Ryann Ward, nobigdyl., Ahjah Partitions and others, Innocent blends spoken phrase with Hill Perry’s trademark theological readability.
“I by no means stopped creating,” the 36-year-old spouse and mom instructed The Christian Submit. “Even after I wasn’t releasing music, I used to be nonetheless writing, nonetheless letting God refine me. Innocent is the sound of that course of; it’s messy, joyful, sincere and unapologetically rooted in fact.”
When Hill Perry stepped again from music in 2018, she didn’t anticipate how lengthy her hiatus would final.
“My life was increasing,” she recalled. “I went from being married to at least one youngster, to 2, to a few. The Lord was opening doorways for me to show His Phrase, and I sensed He was saying, ‘Simply because you are able to do many issues doesn’t imply it is best to do every little thing.’ So I selected Bible educating.”
Although grateful for the ministry alternatives that adopted, together with bestselling books corresponding toHomosexual Lady, Good God and Holier Than Thou,Hill Perry mentioned the departure from music wasn’t with out grief.
“I lamented not making music,” she mentioned, “I’m musical. I like it. I cried about it.”
Her return started unexpectedly, in a church youngsters’s ministry, when she met Ace Harris from Attain Data whereas handing out fruit snacks.
“We began speaking about music, and I felt the Lord nudging me: ‘Ask him if it’s time to make music once more.’ And it was. So I adopted God’s lead,” she mentioned, “I prayed, I talked to my husband, I talked to my leaders. When one thing aligns with God’s character and goal, that’s the place I’m going. For me, music is simply one other technique to disciple folks.”
The title of the album, Innocent, comes from Jude 1:24: “To Him who is ready to preserve you from stumbling and to current you innocent earlier than the presence of His glory with nice pleasure.” It’s a phrase, Hill Perry defined, that captures each aspiration and dependence.
“Blamelessness is unimaginable aside from Christ,” she mentioned. “The album isn’t about sinless perfection; it’s about longing to appear to be Jesus even if you don’t. It’s that stress each believer feels, between loving God and realizing how far you continue to are from His picture.”
A lot of that sanctifying work, she added, has come via ache.
“The Lord makes use of pruning, trials, betrayal, slander, to make us extra like Him,” she mentioned. “He’s not going to make use of you drastically with out breaking you first. If He doesn’t, you’ll break your self with satisfaction. I’ve discovered that the onerous manner.”
Hill Perry alludes to those seasons on songs like “Satisfaction & Prejudice,” written after enduring what she referred to as “public slander” that examined her resolve.
“I used to be taking my cues from Peter, when Jesus was reviled, He didn’t revile in return,” she mentioned. “The Lord instructed me to be quiet, to belief Him. However that makes the ache more durable. ‘Satisfaction & Prejudice’ was my manner of not being quiet, to course of what occurred actually.”
The monitor, she added, carries each confession and self-critique. “It’s satisfaction, as a result of there’s some ego in there. But it surely’s additionally prejudice, the assumptions folks make after which sanctify as reality. Writing it jogged my memory that I’m advanced, and so is everybody else.”
Every music on Innocent represents a “room” in what Hill Perry calls the “Innocent Home,” a metaphorical house the place “religion and failure” coexist. Collaborators like KB, Madison Ryann Ward and nobigdyl. assist furnish that house.
“I selected collaborators not only for their expertise however for his or her character,” Hill Perry mentioned. “I didn’t need folks on Innocent who didn’t reside blamelessly. Integrity mattered as a lot as artistry.”
Whereas she’s open to collaboration, Hill Perry mentioned she treads fastidiously in terms of crossing over into mainstream music.
“It could rely upon the particular person, the conversations, the readability,” she mentioned. “I simply wouldn’t wish to be complicated. That’s my foremost factor.”
Hill Perry first gained nationwide consideration in her 20s as a spoken phrase artist with an unapologetic protection of the Gospel and commentary on human flourishing and sexuality.
Over time, her platform grew to embody educating, podcasting and authorship, all whereas rising her household. Alongside her husband, fellow artist Preston Perry, she co-hosts “With the Perrys,” a well-liked podcast that blends theology, tradition and candid discussions about marriage and ministry.
That multi-platform strategy, she mentioned, is much less about diversification and extra about stewardship.
“Music, books, podcasts, no matter it’s, it’s all the identical mission: serving to folks know God,” she mentioned. “Some folks will take heed to a music earlier than they’ll ever open a Bible. So if music can attain them first, reward God.”
“I’m not dedicated to music,” she careworn. “I’m dedicated to speaking biblical reality. That is simply the medium God’s given me proper now.”
However as her platform has grown, so has the non secular warfare. The writer and speaker revealed that in recent times, she has skilled each “profound” struggling and the sweetness of God concurrently.
“It has been very onerous privately,” she shared. “I’ve communicated that quite a bit. I believe if folks take heed to me, I speak about struggling far more than I used to, as a result of I’ve suffered, and I do know it’s each non secular warfare and God’s goodness. To me, the Lord makes use of Devil, the Lord makes use of affliction, the Lord makes use of thorns to maintain us low, to maintain us humble, to appear to be His son. Any ache, any hardship, can be a possibility to share in Christ’s struggling.
“Although it is onerous, I do know that the Lord loves me by permitting me to undergo what I’m going via,” she added.
Past her artistic work, Hill Perry has emerged as a number one voice advocating for larger theological literacy throughout the Church, notably amongst girls. She’s presently pursuing a grasp of divinity diploma at Reformed Theological Seminary.
“We’re seeing a lack of know-how in fundamentals like justification, sanctification, the atonement,” she mentioned. “That’s leaving the door broad open for false educating. Not all the time the extremes, however refined types of legalism and detachment from grace.”
“It’s not that ladies can’t study,” she added. “It’s that we’re distracted. I’ve seen it in myself, studying fewer books, spending extra time on social media. Now we have to combat for focus.”
Whereas some lament the absence of younger, theologically grounded feminine leaders, Hill Perry mentioned she believes they exist, simply not all the time in public view. “Some are serving quietly of their native church buildings,” she mentioned. “They may not look cool or have huge followings, however God exalts the common-or-garden. These girls are on the market.”
After a whirlwind launch season, Hill Perry is prepared for stillness. “Actually, what’s subsequent is relaxation,” she mentioned. “I wish to get again to high school, end my diploma, possibly begin a brand new e-book. Music could or might not be a part of the subsequent season. Proper now, I simply wish to put up a Christmas tree.”
However even in relaxation, Hill Perry mentioned she’s all the time looking for to “stroll in obedience,” and stays deeply conscious of the strain between calling and value.
“It’s getting tough out right here,” she mentioned. “Love is waxing chilly. But it surely all comes all the way down to obedience. No matter God calls you to do, you’re not alone in it, not within the pleasure, not within the ache, not within the studying.”
“Regardless of the medium,” she mentioned, “the message stays the identical.”
Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Submit. She could be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com
