Originally Published on December 23rd, 2025
About the Artist
Wait a minute.
A recap usually means there has been a prior review before. “I don’t remember there ever being a review of Don Cephas before.”
Well, attentive reader, you would be correct. Fifteen Minutes of Fame has never reviewed Don Cephas before. That is because, a year ago, Don Cephas was going by the stage name King Kefa. Last year, FMOF reviewed the album Commercial Lov6 Ever After (An R&B Rhapsody).
We also had a nice interview to recap his year in December, which you can also view.
Long story short, the name might be new, but Don Cephas is a very familiar artist and a favorite of the FMOF platform.
Don Cephas, an independent recording artist, producer, and songwriter out of Georgia, is about as multi-faceted as one can be. Cephas got his start in music in the church. Singing in the choir, playing the drums, and as he developed as a musician, incorporated additional skills and talents to the mix, like playing the piano and production.
Cephas released his debut album at 20 years of age. To date, there are 7 albums to his name, excluding the one we will be discussing today.
Cephas really can do it all. Combining his love for gospel, soul, and drawing inspiration from a variety of artists like Michael Jackson and Prince, Cephas is an artist capable of producing great music across a number of genres like Rap, R&B, Gospel, as well as rock and pop music. Don Cephas is a human being worthy of the name. Guided by his faith, whether his music is made for the church or it is more secular, it remains a priority in the music he releases. He’s unapologetic about the man he is, scars and all. He is open about his most vulnerable emotions and he often lets the listener right into.
Music is his ministry, his mission, his work. It is his passion.
About the Album
Commercial Lov6 Evermore (A Cinematic R&B Anthology) is the 8th studio album by recording artist Don Cephas. Consisting of 10 songs with a run time of 36 minutes, it released on November 14th, 2025. It was written, performed, produced, and released all independently by Don Cephas.
Listening to this album, I hear the evolution and the similarities from the album I reviewed last year. The production is more ambient, there is more diversity in the music, and there is a more diverse influence. I hear a lot of similarity to The Weeknd. There are a couple nods to Prince still (Babylon straight up had a familiarity to Purple Rain to me), but there is a new dynamic even in the familiar.
This feels bigger, more diverse, and more experimental. What’s incredible is the range the album exhibits from start to finish. In the opener, dès vu, it starts with an old R&B feel. Once the vocals come in though, the intricacies and nuances of Don Cephas’ production start coming into view. The subtle elements that are added for texture. The use of autotune on the vocals to give it a broad, contemporary feel. All of these little pieces that add so much to the track. Absolutely wonderful.
In rivers of time, Don Cephas opens with more ambience. It has a very gently beat. A sustained synth guiding the progression and decorative production spots to bring in the vocals.
The lyrics start hitting right away: “I put my heart into this fucking marriage. I put the horse behind the fucking carriage,” into “From all the lemon squeezing, I’m drunk on lemonade.” The context strikes so deep as he connects the words that are so relatable to so many people to a composition that weaves itself right into our being. I particularly love the “row your boat” samples towards the end of the song. This track is one of my favorites of the album.
Wasting no time, we move right into 88mph. The first three songs have roughly the same tempo but the rhythm seems to get a touch more complex from teach to track. Here, the entire track just progressively builds. Don Cephas showcases his elite vocal capabilities as he erupts with runs and dynamic range towards the end.
Each track begins with a sample of a needle hitting a record. It’s an interesting effect as it sort of resets the listener’s attention throughout the album. The album, as a whole has a recurring theme, but each track brings a different approach. With these needle hits, it allows the listener to appreciate both the recurring themes and the unique approaches. I’m not sure if that was the intent but it provided a resourceful result.
At the heart of the album, Don Cephas excels. The entire album is magnificent. But there are three songs that play in sequence that are true standouts; Elkins park elegy, Vanilla Sky, and Babylon. These songs played in sequence are the epitome of a hook and if I were advising the artist on how to pitch to a major label, I would tell him to just send these three songs. Within these tracks, I think it competes with the very best of what is popular in pop R&B today. It’s purely inspirational.
Final Thoughts
I’ve loved everything I’ve ever heard Don Cephas, formerly King Kefa, do. But commercial lov6 evermore. (a cinematic r&b anthology) hits in a shockingly different way. There are no skips on this album. I’ve had to start and stop writing this review 4 times in a week because I keep having new reactions to the music that compels me to change my approach to writing it.
Not to insult any of his former work, but this is Don Cephas’ very best. This is a one of a kind album that goes beyond appreciation into a deeper and meaningful experience. It bridges a very digestive composition with lyrical content that everybody can relate to, then catches the audience with these production elements within every song that hook the listener over and over again.
From an overview, I would say the composition takes a generally minimalist approach, but as the content is gone over with a fine comb, the true genius of the musicality of this work can be further understood.
I would say to any reader who may be a potential listener, don’t walk. Run to listen to this album. Don’t skip to any tracks. Start at track one and play through to the end of track 10. Take in the entire 36 minute experience. I believe with my whole heart and say with my full chest that, if a listener respects this album in this way, it will have a lasting impact on them. It has had a lasting impact on me.
Go press play.
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