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The Urban Hymnal

The Urban Hymnal is a 2022 debut[2] album by Tennessee State University (TSU) marching band Aristocrat of Bands (AOB).

The Urban Hymnal

September 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)[1]

2022[2]

Tennessee State University campus, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

31:39

Recording and release[edit]

The album came about when Sir the Baptist visited the TSU campus and saw AOB performing. He suggested that he could record the group during an artist residency,[3] and the recording took place on campus, with final editing being completed in mid-2022.[2] Dallas Austin came in to produce the album with Sir.[4] Word spread in the Gospel music community, leading to several established pop Gospel artists appearing on the album, as well as faculty and staff of the university.[2] The Aristocrat of Bands submitted the recording for Grammy consideration in August 2022, in the category Best Gospel Roots Album.[2][5] The band promoted the album by performing at the half-time show of a Tennessee Titans game.[1]

Reception[edit]

Jewly Hight of WNXP named this the album of the week for September 27, 2022, praising the showmanship on the recording and how difficult it is to capture on record.[6]

Aristocrat of Bands

Guest artists

Lists of 2022 albums