By: Jamie Starks

Some songs soundtrack a summer. Then some songs attempt to soundtrack a nation’s soul. DPB’s “American Strong” belongs in the latter category—a gospel-infused anthem that doesn’t aim for the club or the charts. It aims for the conscience.

David Paul Brooks, known in hip-hop’s Christian corridors as DPB, has been putting in work since the Disciples of Christ days—back when gospel rap was still fighting for a seat at the culture’s table. With “American Strong,” released May 23, 2025, he isn’t asking for acceptance anymore. He’s delivering a sermon draped in 808s and waving a flag not for political posturing, but for moral clarity. The kind of flag dipped in holy water and hoisted with hands calloused from community work.

A Call for Unity and Purpose

From the moment the track opens, it becomes clear this isn’t blind allegiance. It’s a heartfelt expression of love for the country. “We are one, yeah,” DPB chants over a swelling trap beat that feels like it was baptized in a Southern church pew. Repeating that refrain isn’t redundancy—it’s ritual. A hip-hop liturgy. The message: unity, across race, creed, and class. Not unity in theory, but unity in action.

Lyrically, DPB isn’t here to dazzle with metaphors. He’s writing from a place deeper than wordplay—he’s writing from conviction. When he raps, “Black, white, red, brown, yes my brother,” he’s not trying to impress. He’s trying to heal. This is the sound of a man who’s tired of seeing division sell records and apathy trend. It’s redemptive. Urgent. Raw.

Trap for the Transcendent

“American Strong” rides a beat that wouldn’t sound out of place behind a Lecrae verse or even a Kendrick album interlude. The production is crisp, with marching-band snares layered beneath synth pads that shimmer like sun off stained glass. The rhythm bumps, but it breathes, leaving room for the lyrics actually to land. It’s not overloaded. It’s constructed with intention.

DPB doesn’t spit like your favorite lyrical miracle rapper. His flow is measured, his tone resolute. He sounds like a man who’s seen too much, prayed through more, and still believes there’s work to do. And therein lies the song’s power—it’s not a banger because of any studio tricks. It’s a banger because of belief, because DPB means every single word.

A Song of the Soil

There’s a Southernness to this record that doesn’t scream but sits deep in the bones. You hear it in the cadence. You listen to it in the honor he gives to those who “gave their lives to protect our freedoms.” It’s Southern gospel with a hip-hop shell—less Sunday brunch, more Sunday revival. And like most revivals, it’s not meant to entertain you. It’s intended to wake you up.

The lyrics swell into a crescendo of conviction:  But that’s the point. “American Strong” isn’t safe music. It’s not tailored for bipartisan playlists. It’s a challenge dressed as a chorus. It’s faith made rhythmic. It’s a reminder that gospel and grit aren’t mutually exclusive.

Final Movement

What DPB accomplishes here is rare: a Christian hip-hop track that doesn’t feel like a sub-genre. It doesn’t ask for a qualifier. It belongs in the cultural conversation not because it’s flashy, but because it’s fearless. And in a musical landscape where much of the content dances around hard truths, “American Strong” charges right at them—Bible in one hand, mic in the other.

If you’re looking for escapism, this ain’t it. But if you’re looking for a song that mirrors the tension, the hope, and the complexity of trying to love a country that doesn’t always love back, DPB just handed you the soundtrack. “American Strong” won’t win over everyone. But that’s not the point. It’s here for those who still believe that change starts with truth. And truth, in DPB’s hands, sounds holy.

Essential Listening for: fans of Lecrae, early Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” era, community organizers, faithful rebels, and anyone looking to make sense of America through a spiritual lens.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed in the piece reflect the personal beliefs and artistic expression of the artist, DPB. The content is not intended to provide political, legal, or financial advice and should not be interpreted as such.