Break Thru

Danville, Indiana rapper Blake Whiteley’s second album travels a dramatic arc on his quest for success and spiritual salvation, from the hushed determination of “Sleepin’ on Me” to the uplifting reggae bounce of the single “New Day.” Whiteley raps about his faith with intensity and conviction throughout Break Thru. But he also uses colorful metaphors and creative flows to enliven his message, elongating his vowels on the spacey, minimalist “Dream” and drawling over trap hi-hats on the combative “They Don’t Like Me.”