Why it matters: Rev'd Kiran Lotay's debut album, "Recovery," tackles challenging issues, including trauma and healing, creating what he calls a "safe space" for discussions within the Triangle estate community in Ipswich.
The details: The 36-year-old minister of Triangle Church has published his first full-length hip-hop album on YouTube, building on two previous EPs and a mixtape. He received a Church of England grant to fund studio time and mixing at South Street Studios.
"One of the things I love most about poetry and rap music is how you can compress meaning and express complex ideas in just one or two lines," Rev'd Lotay said.
"The music I make looks to speak to the experience of the young people I'm working with, as well as my own journey and spirituality."
The bigger picture: Rev'd Lotay, who grew up in Wembley, London, said the album covers topics including trauma, healing, spiritual growth and how the local community can help support people through difficult times.
"I want people to be able to engage with my music and for it to help people talk about things they find difficult to talk about," he said.
What he's saying: The estate minister emphasised his focus on serving his local community rather than building a broader online following.
"I'm an estate minister in my bones," he said. "I care about the things that serve the place I'm serving in.
"I'm not trying to create an online community outside of Ipswich, though I'm happy if others benefit. I'm really looking to impact the community I work with through my music."
The bottom line: Rev'd Lotay hopes his music will encourage young people in Ipswich to discuss challenging topics they might otherwise avoid.
The album is available on his YouTube channel.
