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Mental marks the ninth album from KJ-52. The Paradigm Collective released the project on October 21, 2014. He produced the album with Solomon Olds. Mental is KJ-52's ninth album and the follow-up to 2012's Dangerous.
CCM Magazine, "Backed by killer beats, fashionable electronics and in-vogue vocals, KJ pits his sophisticated wordplay against current cultural issues to press out a perseverant scriptural message for all people."[1] Jesus Freak Hideout, "Mental does not really sound like something I would have expected KJ to make, and it is way too easy to pin him as simply trying to morph his sound into a mold that sells better, but it would be unfair to the quality of Mental to do so."[2] New Release Tuesday, "This new KJ is no less about fun, but he has added an aggressive maturity to his music."[3] Indie Vision Music, "With Lecrae (by way of remix), Tedashii, KB, Propaganda, and Flame all showing up, Mental feels as much like a Reach Records or 116 clique album as it does a new KJ-52 joint. But, add in gratuitous use of former Family Force 5-er Soul Glo Activatur, as well as guys like Social Club and SPZRKT and a bold new experience takes shape."[4]
Specifying in a four star out of five review by CCM Magazine, Andrew Greer recognizes, "the multi-Dove Award-winning wordsmith poises his ninth recording for the ultimate spiritual confrontation."[1] Mark Rice, agrees it is a four-star album for Jesus Freak Hideout, responds, "it is safe to call Mental one more step in the evolution of Mister Five-Tweezey, and a good step at that."[2] Signaling in another four star review from New Release Tuesday, Mark Ryan realizes, "Call it Spiritual or artistic maturity if you like, I will just call it a new attitude and a new passion ignited."[3] Lee Brown, indicating it is a four star project from Indie Vision Music, replies, "Mental brings five absolutely amazing tracks to the table, along with a couple remixes and one track that is ok, but doesn't hold its own against the weight of the rest."[4] Rating the album a 4.2 out of five for Christian Music Review, Jay Heilman says, "Mental is a great album and gives us another reason to get behind today's Christian hip-hop, which continues to pick up momentum while putting Christ atop their messages."[5] Maddy Agers, awarding the album ten stars at Jesus Wired, writes, "It's new, it's real, and it's amazing."[8] Rating the album four stars for Christian Review Magazine, Leah St. John states, the album is a progression of his "sound".[6]
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