DEION JOHNSON sanctified hip-hop with high-vibe melodic introspection in ‘Time to Shine’ –

DEION JOHNSON raised the game for soul-soaked hip-hop with his latest single, Time to Shine. Louisa, Virginia’s multifaceted independent artist, who developed his musicality through quartet gospel and sharpened it across the disciplines of songwriting, engineering, production, and guitar performance, channelled his roots and resilient mindset into one of the most affirming tracks 2025 had to offer.

The melodic arrangement glistens with groove-soaked guitars and airy layers that swirl around Johnson’s killer cadence and hymnal vocal presence. He doesn’t waste a bar preaching hollow platitudes or chasing metrics. Instead, he paints a vivid portrait of spiritual wealth and grounded ambition, pushing past the played-out rags-to-riches arc in favour of something far more valuable: a spotlight on mindfulness, inner peace, and perspective. There’s no compromise between soul and substance; he rides the beat with unshakeable faith-solidified fortitude while staying firmly tethered to his sense of self.

Where others might veer towards indulgence or posturing, Johnson delivers a rare dose of optimistic introspection. Time to Shine is an invitation to see success in a different light. Off the back of his earlier breakthrough, ‘Dream Chasin‘ and following the release of The Audition, Pt. 2, this track affirms Deion Johnson’s place as an artist who creates from conviction, not calculation.

Time to Shine is now available on all major streaming platforms, including YouTube. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast