Jackie Hill Perry's sanctified lyrics and confident flow make The Art of Joy one of the most compelling Christian rap debuts in recent memory. Perry brings a backstory of personal struggle to the project—most importantly, she displays a poet’s gift for wordplay matched with exalted vision and a fearless heart. Confrontational tunes like “Educated Fool” and “Dead Preacher” are interspersed with hope-infused pieces like “I Just Wanna Get There” and the title track. Sparse but potent beats and tasteful keyboards frame Perry’s testimony to full advantage.