The debut album from Yunek (pronounced “unique”) offers 16 tracks with some of the most transparent and honest lyrics you’ll find these days.  Titled Exodus Three:Seventeen, it’s clear that this musical project depicts the culmination of a journey for her.

At first glance, Yunek’s music is not what many people would consider strictly “gospel.”  Instead, it might fit better in that newer genre of “life music,” as she deals with relationship drama and life’s struggles from a Christian perspective.  But that can demonstrate the Gospel, too.

The project has an urban/hip-hop gospel vibe (she both sings and raps) and Yunek has written/co-written each track.  For me, I wanted a bit more musical and vocal complexity from her songs, but I’m also a snob in that regard, so take that for what it’s worth.

Yunek’s strong suit seems to be her lyrics, which are well-stated, often poetic, and clearly therapeutic for her.  With topics ranging from unwed motherhood to drug use to homosexuality (including her own struggles with that), she’s one of those conscious writers who isn’t afraid to broach serious (and too-often taboo) topics with candor and love.  And that makes her… well, unique.

Standout tracks for me: the project’s single, “Got Fruit?”, on which Yunek uses a bouncy track as her lyrical playground while discussing the fruits of the Spirit that should be evident in a believer’s life; “Have You Ever,” an india.arie-esque, acoustic-driven track; and “Straddle The Fence,” a head-boppin’ cut which sounds vaguely reminiscent of a throwback Missy Elliott track.

Check out her video for “Got Fruit?”:

And visit http://www.yunekmusic.com for more info about her.

Anyone already have the album?  What do you think???