reviewsatob

Reviews - A to B

Please note that the reviews are ordered by Artist first name..

All reviews are opinion, a guide only. Some are short and to the point, others go into more depth. No real reason why other than when the reviews were written! For other fantastic reviews, check out trailblazinministries.com, sphereofhiphop.com, gospelflava.com, hiphopforthesoul.com and jydist.com. Cross Rhythms has some good reviews too, although limited in content.

Please note if you see any of these reviews elsewhere, it is because I have done the reviews for others. These reviews are mostly for Cross Rhythms, although they edit the reviews. The reviews on these pages are my full reviews.

4th Avenue Jones - Stereo: The Evolution of Hiprocksoul | TOP

Been meaning to get some 4th Ave material since I watched them deliver a crazily good set on the FlavorFest DVD from 2003. This performance showcased the varied and quality musicality of 4th Ave Jones, as guitar (Timmy Shakes) 'battled' violin (Gailybird) and Ahmad Jones 'battled' wife, Tena Jones in a song about men and women. The show ended with the audience going mad to a rendition of that 'wahoo' song by Blur! The album of course, doesn't disappoint in any way. As ever there are elements from so many genres it's hard to know where there aren't influences from (well, no country & western thankfully..) But we have hip-hop, soul, rock, jazz, funk, r&b and more! We mix fun and deeper intent. Linking the tracks together are the team on a 'stereo'. First up, "Stereo" sees a heavy guitar riff about erm, a stereo been taken everywhere! "Fabulous Dramatics" sees a beautiful riff kick into a heavy chorus about an ex bringing drama. "Unhappy Birthday" sees Ahmad trying to make up with Tena. Another powerful track is "Overloaded". Next up, "Take It Away" is a cry out to God to take them away from the haters resenting their lifestyle, Ahmad and Tena on passionate vocals. "Sorry" is about saying 'sorry' mixing singing and MC-ing from Ahmad. "Monumental Continental" mixes things up with Grits. "Who's Watching Me" sees beautiful rhymes and singing from Tena Jones fusing hiprocksoul and rap under r&b vocals. "Caesar" sees Ahmad more on a regular rap tip, a serious track looking at the state of the nation and need for Jesus. In "Why" we have a determination to be ready in life. "Rush" sees a more downtempo sound kick in about people rushing to push themselves, 4th Ave will stay true to their faith. We end up with "It's Over Now" (a more percussive / old skool track) about hip-hop no longer being what it was. Run Time - 43.32.

(The) Ambassador - The Thesis | TOP

I bought this on the strength of mp3 clips and because this came up out of the hip-hop academy that is the Cross Movement. I was not disappointed. Without doubt one of my favourite albums of 2005. This truly is a thesis, an exegesis of hip-hop, Christ and the relationship between the two. At the centre of his thesis is his relationship with Christ and the truth that Christ came to redeem a fallen world. How then can the church reject hip-hop. Hip-hop needs Christ. Period. Truth. Up first is "Thesis Pieces" where a melodic child-sung hook is that 'Jesus makes everything right' over beats, and old-skool synth sounds. 'We need this.. Hip-hop properly submitted to the glorious Lord.' Next up is "Amba-Ss-Ador" which forms the basis for the hook over deep rumbling toms and a east coast beat. "Song for You" mixes up samples and a rolling beat - cutting in slow samples before bringing back the beat and smooth delivery fire. "Feels Good" does to the listener what it says on the tin. A lighter beat and vibe with female harmonies on the hook. This is about the freedom that is found in Christ, as opposed to the lies of the world and a life away from hate, thugs and hopelessness. "Get You Open" is Ambassador's alternative to Snoop Dogg's 'Drop It Like It's Hot' - with a similar roller of a beat / little other instrumentation. 'We're gonna get you open..' A challenging track, full of dope truths and delivery. Love this. "The Explanation" lets us know about 'The Thesis' project - examination of hip-hop culture. This is as much an album for the pastors and parents who dis hip-hop. 'Hip-hop properly submitted to the glorious Lord.' A big beat with swirling horns sees Ambassador take a look at the "Elements" of hip-hop. "Crown Him" starts up with a rolling bass and delivery- 'Crown him Lord of all..' An awesome look at Jesus, this is hot. "Oh Wretched Man" slows up to take a look at Romans 7.23-25 about how we all fail and do things we do not want to do, falling short of God's glory - 'the problem is that we've got sins.. we need to be free, we need a new heart.' In "My Clothes, My Hair" we have a nice break over guitar and old church hammond organ - about how God sees beyond our appearance. "Back Home" - streets and the church need each other. Church being salt and light, the streets being the mission field. Interesting production with a light kick drum. "We Worship You" - we need hip-hop to know who they should be worshipping, God, and his awesome-ness. Nice track with the hook proclaiming, 'We worship you.. Oh Lord, our God.' Another hot track. "The Testimony" Ambassador lets us know that the culture of hip-hop isn't evil, it's the people who need to be redeemed and transformed by the Spirit of God. "The Anthem" brings a lively sound, break and delivery. On point with outstanding monotonal-sounding and fast delivery. Boom! "Body Talk" is a gentle smoothie with a challenge about women's dress-code means their 'body talks.' Finally, "The Fall" ends in an epic way with timpani and synth pads - a look at the fall in Genesis and its consequences. We hear the call from God, 'I'm the living God and I made you.. I'm the only God that can save you.' Ambassador points people to Christ. So does this album. Run Time - 70.48.

Anthony DeMore – ‘Yahweh’s People’ | TOP

Anthony DeMore comes out of the Bronx and his mission is to call Christians to stand firm on the foundation of truth which is Christ, in a time when the world is upside down, where ‘bad’ is good and ‘good’ is bad. The album contains the depth of Anthony’s love for God, evidenced in tracks like “Lord I Love You” with an old skool and simple flow focusing on the Lord. We are encouraged to read the Word and “check through these verses, like you’re looking for jewels, cos in these Scriptures are life..” in “These Words Are Life”. In “Dark Terrain”, probably my favourite track, the flow matches the subject as we are reminded this world is a dark terrain and Jesus is the light. The album also fixes our eyes on God and his ultimate victory – with DeMore challenging us that although it’s a war, God is going to win. As he says in “Brethren”, “God is calling you to life”. Overall, an experimental and encouraging project that shows the heart of Yahweh’s People, while leaving room for a future step-up.

Arrested Development – ‘Since The Last Time’ | TOP

US spiritual hip-hop collective, Arrested Development stand out as a band of pure quality - instrumentally, poetically and lyrically. Since their first album, they have consistently produced albums with socially and spiritually challenging messages, loaded with live instrumentation and catchy hooks. Their depth in ‘Since The Last Time’ is a far cry from the superficial hip-hop that unfairly gets the radio play. In the words of the funky title track, “..we never sold out for the high chart position.” Stand-out tracks lace the album from start to end, with tracks such as the uplifting, “Miracles” bringing a breezy old skool vibe, along with the beautiful “Sao Paulo” and “Heaven”. The crunk infused but highly infectious “Down & Dirty” deftly proves the versatility of Arrested Development. Messages of hope, character and positivity flow throughout the album such as the lyrical message from Speech that, “the things that I stand for tell who I am” in “Stand” to the cry for hope on the streets in “It’s Time”. Love fills the airwaves, from the inter-racial love story of “Sunshine” and the insights in “Nobody Believes Me Anyway” that everyone should have “someone to love above themselves to help (them) grasp the depths of love.” If you dig Arrested Development and if you’d like to learn, get this album.

Baliva – ‘Resurection’ | TOP

Mark "Baliva" Johnes originally hails from Harare in Zimbabwe and became a Christian in 2003 before throwing himself into serving God and continuing his passion for rap and recording, as evidenced from the first track where Baliva expresses his purpose of living for Jesus Christ, in the effervescent and crunk “Living For”. The album is a fresh and raw exposition of Baliva’s faith and journey, challenging the listener too. Uniquely his albums are available to download for free on ilike.com. The album is laced with Scripture and Biblical principles, for example in “Real”, a caring and yet challenging tune. Production is really very good, with different beats - if individually repetitive musically at times. Occasionally the flow doesn’t always match the beat (There is a clear step up with his second album, ‘Sunrise’). Lyrically, Baliva is Godly and on point with a raw edge, although again his flow improves as he progresses on his album, ‘Sunrise’. A standout track is “Hope”, where Baliva talks to us about hope and how hope is found in Jesus. “Trust In God” takes us through a real-life type scenario where a girl goes from hopelessness to Christ. We end with a Scriptural based account of “The Resurrection” and the Beatitudes read out over music. Good stuff, I can certainly see Baliva becoming a great producer of hip-hop.

Beatmart Presents – ‘Best Of The Submissions Vol 2. With DJ Morphizz’ | TOP

Volume 2 of Beatmart's (compilation) submissions series features DJ Morphiziz brings a hot mix of 23 tracks (plus intro / outro), bringing a flava of independent recording artists who’ve submitted and had their songs voted onto the album. Kicking off the mix is the inimitable distinct voice of Soul Plasma with the pulsating intense, “5 Fingers”, stripping down to other street sounds like “Something Wonderful” (Shabach & Pee Wee Collins), hearkening back to better days of hip-hop and “Come On” with Christ centred hip-hop. We have a mid-section infused with a measure of tasty crunk filled hip-hop (CZ, Ziklag Boys, Frontlynaz, Same Old Jake), before the talented R-Swift kicks in with a different, east-coast soulful flava in “So Amazing”, with all tracks pointing firmly heavenward to God. A similar street vibe is found in Rob Hodge’s, “You Gotta Love It”. Bobby Bishop lets us know that Beatmart are hungry and that they are keen to keep raising the bar and encouraging gospel artists to keep on. A vibe change comes with the “Volumen” and a carnival latino feel. There are a number of underground sounding tracks, with artists such as the excellent Urban D featuring among many other talented artists. Zion throws the female perspective into the mix with “Breathe Thru Mic’s” before we close out with DJ Morphiziz turntable deftness.

Believin’ Stephen – ‘What I Believe EP’ | TOP

Anyone that knows the Lamp Mode Artists from Philly will know that the entire crew are focused on Chistocentric hip-hop that clearly and dynamically expressed. This independent group’s sole purpose is to point to God, Jesus and the Bible through hip-hop culture. “Intro” brings clear insight as Stephen lets us know that Jesus is the only way with no other god, in his quest, “giving rap a facelift” (“Good News”). Production is tight and continues to grow, with a host of beatmakers (Tony Stone and others), many simply effective breaks - alongside scratches from DJ Essence. In this up-close and personal album, Stephen covers a range of topics (across and even within tracks), spitting the good news that he got saved and that the listener should too. We find how sin infects every area, with Christ alone who can cleanse in “Sindicate Remix”. A standout is “Exposing Relativism” in which the fallacy of relativism and believing what you want is exposed - “forget your pre-supposition and get the one that is Christian..” Continuing in the truth, the album ends as powerfully as the beginning, with the moving and enlightening, “Jenny’s Story”. The message - you never know when your end will come, “Jesus was the only person ever who was righteous” so get right with him today. True.

Believin Stephen – The Perseverance Mixtape | TOP

“The Perseverance Mixtape” is the latest step forward from Believin Stephen aka Stephen Brindle. Like his brother, Timothy Brindle (who the project is dedicated to) and the Philly-based Lampmode crew, Believin Stephen produces music filled with and fuelled by Christ. His mixes lyrical ingenuity with Biblical and theological concepts, all set to some crunchy and mainly underground beats (“Persevere”). One thing I respect about this album is the honesty and lack of self-promotion throughout the music, in stark contrast to much hip-hop! “God is diesel” is an ode to the all-powerful God who sits above all others. Throughout the project, Stephen brings a clear message about Christ, the Gospel and the Word. From track to track Stephen and guests quote Scripture and pointing to the saving and on-going work of Christ. All the times, Stephen and crew drop witty lines, “I’m an alien, like Dan Ackroyd..” before bringing Biblical truths back round, “I reap what I sow”. The project is East-coast in tone and projects Christ, with the MCs acting as Christ’s servants throughout the mixtape, pointing upwards not inwards. There are some tight beats throughout, such as the grace-laced “Jesus, Jesus” across to more underground beats like “Ya Kept Me”. Interesting flows cross the project as guest MCs and Stephen keep it varied. This is a great project to understand God’s Word and purposes. Plus you can download it for free. Can’t say better than that!

(The) Body - The Body | TOP

In summary, this is a mix and blend of east coast, mid-west and even a touch of dirty south from this rap family coming out of the New York area. 'The Body' represents the latest project from the Get Gospel Records community. This super group includes 8 MCs, who’ve been performing together since 2003 and hail out of Brooklyn, NYC. This album and their sound reflects their roots from the Jamaican neighbourhoods of Flatbush and Crown Heights in New York. The tracks vary up rap, r&b and soulful vocals, as the beats and delivery travel through the hip-hop musical neighbourhoods of east coast, mid-west and dirty south. The album fires off predominantly minimal sounding contemporary beats - with lyrics around life-issues (“Imagine”) and Christ-centric (“The Mission”) – and songs combining both, like “Real Life”. Delivery ranges between easy going and abstract, with some serious lyrical agility, from Nzingha’s double-timing on “To Be With You” through creative flows in “The Body”. The one area where the project could be stepped up is with a more varied range of beats. This is not helped by the obvious reliance on sounds and beats from the Korg Triton range (yes, I know it’s sad that I know, but the fact is I noticed..) But no matter, as production is tight. We journey from the downtempo, “When It Drop” and “Rejoice” - through the more challenging and lively such as “God’s Army”. At least 2 tracks from this project (“The Body” and “Hands In The Air”) are getting serious airplay across Christian radio stations - a testimony to the quality throughout the artists making up The Body. Run Time - 54.42.

B.I.G Shadow – ‘The Assignment’ | TOP

BIG Shadow is part of Adullam House Records in Detroit, Michigan who are dedicated to the development of today's generation and to help restore the heart of the fathers to the heart of the children and today’s generation to the fathers. ‘The Assignment’ is not just an explanation of calling, it’s a journey through hip-hop, opening up with a grimey dirty south low rider with BIG Shadow not in it for the Cadillac or the loot, but in the rap business “for the truth”. We travel across sub-genres with dirty south rollers in “That Heat” and “The Anthem”. We reminisce personally to younger days with “Them Day’z” – the gentle tune contrasting with contemporary issues of heartache and pain. There are regular east coast elements in tracks like “Much More” and “Making Chedda” (confronting other rappers and the garbage they spit). Worth mentioning are “Daddy” (touching on a daughter’s difficult relationship with her father) and “Non Fiction”, both of which have a minimalist feel. Bringing up the tail is the gentle yet powerfully challenging, “Red Shoes” – the red shoes representing when people “rise up” and bring something valuable out of another person. This reflects the priceless life transformation available through Jesus. A sensitive yet challenging album.

Braille - Shades of Grey | TOP

Shades of Grey is an awesome hip hop album. I totally see how John Book, a reviewer for rapreviews.com put this album in his Top 10 hip hop albums for 2004 (click here). Right from the start up you have a perfect blend of beats from different producers, interesting cuts, brilliantly assembled samples and sick delivery from Braille.. The first song, 'Right This Moment' fires u p with an operatic sample with Braille (initially he reminded me of '. Next up we have 'It Won't Last' - quite a party track in the Lightheaded vein with a grooving guitar sample, horns and a catchy hook. Braille says this is one of his favorite verses he drops on the album and you can feel the passion and energy of the track. Othello drops a verse, as does Pigeon John in his sung style which really works on the track. 'Hiphop Music' (a dedication to, lesson in hip hop music) features a nicely EQ'd bass and beat from the excellent Tony Stone producing - with the master Rob Swift cutting scratches in across the hook. Another banger - an uplifting, catchy track. In '10 Years' we have a mix and blend organ, keys (from 9th Wonder) combining to create a head nodder, beautiful music with Toni Hill dropping sweet vocals over the top. (Giving an almost Fugees feel). Braille rides the beat nicely. In Statements Part 2 we find Braille and Othello on form, a track that came from their old crew name (Return to Sender) and shouts to the current crew, Lightheaded. There's a Tribe Called Quest style 'rock, rock on' headz up too. On 'Microphone Rush' we find Manchild from Mars Ill guesting and adding to the track. No surprise, as the music and beat could easily be something from Mars Ill, 'Backbreakanomics'. The lyrics took Braille over a year to write. Very well crafted. On 'The Find' we have another dope track (again, a vibe reminiscent of Tribe Called Quest?) but mixed up to fit Braille's delivery, given a slight distortion / radio feel - to add. Cuts (from Muneshine of Lightheaded), sampled voices, and horns give a live/party hip hop feeling. 'Keep On' - Braille brings a story of hope, that we have all fallen but we can all live free and 'shine light when it's too dark to see.' A real encouragement to 'Keep On'. I got a lot from this track and it spoke a lot to me. A mix of flute, harp and and I think oboe and samples being mixed up through the track is a master touch. 'Let Go' (letting stuff go close to you) was written by Braille when in New Jersey. It has that kind of feel, if you're feeling me and has an awesome story behind its creation. Guests on this track (too many to mention) really add and make it. This has a deep urban flow. It is crafted to perfection. 'Poetry In Motion' (part two) - nice cuts with a vocal sample of a child really helps. Again, Braille's delivery roles and surfs the beats - 'giving 100%, never settling for less.' Another change in 'Life Cipher' with another guest producer keeping the sound fresh. This is Braille's equivalent of an interlude. 'Goliath' sees Braille committing to stand for his values against goliaths, more specifically the music industry - and emerge victorious. Interesting samples and cuts keep it rolling and varied. 'Soul Rock' is described by Braille as 'an ill type posse track' with fellow lightheaded emcees, Ohmegga Watts and Othello - plus Sharlok Poems from LA Symph. I can see crowds nodding, rocking out to this track. I would.. In 'Nobody' a slightly detuned guitar sample gives a raw and authentic edge. Braille spits about how nobody (representing a person, or all people) is reluctant to be true, come out from themselves. As I hear Braille, I'm reminded of the Matrix 1 where we find a world of people content in their un-true life. Braille encourages 'nobody' to 'take off the mask.' Very clever lyrics. 'Shades of Grey' is the final mash up, again from the prominent Tony Stone. Tune starts off like something from Lord of the Rings! Breaks down to another excellent flow from the man Braille. Shades of Grey is described as '..the place where the lines between right and wrong are blurred.' This is a personal flow. Braille wanted a soundtrack feel to this and it is fully delivered. 10/10, no doubt. Run Time - 55.13.