reviewsgtoh

Reviews - G to H

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.

Greenjade - Chronicles | TOP

Released in 2003, this album is a compilation of the best of the UK's Greenjade tracks to that date. Greenjade hail from London, UK and consist 4 MCs ripping mics for 10 years globally (the Jade - Judah, Wizdom, Wei and 3rd Son - also including DJ Secret Weapon, spinning beats). I've met one of the crew at the UK's Cypha hip-hop gathering and he was a top man. This is a top album showcasing much of what Greenjade can do, although since this release they've stepped things up much further, especially in production. Greenjade describe their music as 'tru-skool' meaning that hip-hop belongs to the Creator. Starting up with 'Best Kept Secret' a shout about the secret behind Greenjade - Christ the risen Son. Another favourite and standout track is "Merrily" whic brings a cathcy hook about Greenjade merrily enjoying repping Christ through hip-hop. An excellent intro to 'the Jade' which is worth picking up to support UK Christian hip-hop. Expect even more from these cats real soon. Run Time - 76.59.

Greenjade &… ‘The Nu Jerusalem Project Vol 1’ | TOP

UK represent with hot tracks of rap and urban - top production, top album! Greenjade have performed across the UK and the globe to critical acclaim since 1996. In 2003, after much sacrifice and 6 years prayer, a dream was realised with their own ‘Nu Jerusalem’ studio, a quality space for the Jade and UK artists to record and release their musical dreams. Thus the Nu Jerusalem Project Vol 1 was breathed into life. The album explodes into life with Greenjade bringing heat over The Tribe’s, “Take Back The Beat”. So what else can you expect? Prodigal Son from Nottingham raps insightfully about “The Things People Do For Money” - a track where the glockenspiel melody vividly and brilliantly contrasts with the realities of street life and the need for Jesus. The outstanding Siani bring their contemporary urban gospel sound in “Love Is” (featuring Greenjade), which recently hit number 1 in the Blues&Soul chart. London 5 piece Eklesia deliver a fantastic urban gospel rap sound in “Move Remix”. On the UK hip-hop tip there’s Zionnoiz, “Let It Out”, Jahaziel “Headlines” and “No More Secrets” by Beatlab. Three seriously catchy tunes with smooth, vibrant and sanctified deliveries. Chapter 29 bring, “The Fellowship Of The King”, fresh from their performance at Flavor Fest in Tampa. The project varies it up with the energetic dance soca-style, “I Can’t Stop” (Soca Susie remix) by MV. We round things off with “One Voice, One Heart” the powerful UK Christian artists collabo for the Tsunami relief. As for the hidden track.. wicked tingz warnin! Run Time - 58.07.

Grits – The Art Of Transformation | TOP

The Art opf Transformation is basically a remix of the ‘Art of Translation’ album (see below). New takes on old classics, mainly in terms of production, rather than lyrical content. Generally, I’m not a great fan of remix albums as there is always a danger of adding just a few different sounds (or using rejected mixes) to put out an allegedly ‘new’ album. ‘The Art of Transformation’ doesn’t suffer from this. Instead we have varying levels of change in the mixes from the original ‘Art of Translation’ album. Grits have brought in remixers across the album, with Liquid Beats, Pettidee and Ric Robbins taking over the controls. There are some tracks from the original album that have been dropped (including the interludes), but this causes no problems to the flow. The overall impact is an album with a slightly more minimalist, laid back (even Latino) vibe than the original. We still have the same famous Grits dirty south sound. “Ooh Aah” is one track that sees little difference from the original. On some tracks we find original vocals over new musical melodies and beats, such as “Runnin” and “Be Mine”. Other times the tracks take on new directions as in, “Make Room” and “Lovechild”. Tracks such as “Tennessee Bwoys” and “Believe” definitely aren’t as catchy as the originals, but aren’t bad at all. Other times the more laid back, chilled out vibe takes over, with “Seriously” and “Sunny Days” being examples. Overall, this is a very tight remix album, ended with a tasty Jay Mumbles remix.

Grits - The Art of Translation | TOP

Starts off with the funky, latino sounding 'Here We Go' which is a catchy track. This has a dirty south beat overlaid by a syncopated guitar riff. Excellent lyrics, also heavily and creatively syncopated and fast flowing.. "i was born in the cold - moved to the heat - got used to the flame - now i spit it on beat - i was raised in the womb - groomed by christ - with a gift to raise souls from the tomb.' The melodic 'Ooh Aah' has a real catchy hook and calls out to God for those times we're far away, times of fear, telling God, ..'sometimes i fall i slip, my heartfelt desire be more like you, trying not to quench your fire by the things that i do.' There are many tracks with well-crafted female vocal backing like in 'Runnin'. We head down to the dirty south sounds in the appropriately named 'Tennessee Bwoys'. Another beautiful hook on 'Be Mine' narrates the process of getting married and finding the right girl - 'cause the union we got ain't no comparing any other, I'm askin you to be more than a baby's mother, my help mate soul tie my right hand, beginning and end and better half of life, to be my lady my lover my best friend and wife hey..' A serious topic over a heavy guitar in 'Serious' is a commitment to them writing quality lyrics and with Christ's depth - 'put the cross placement, with the cross over placement.' In 'Video Girls' there's a shot across this business of video making, of short skirts and the costs involved plus not treating women with disrespect. 'What Do You Believe' is another sweet, dope tune, challenging people to reach out to truth and to make something of life. 'What the blood spilt for. A ship in harbor is safe but that ain't what it's built for..' We head down south again for 'Get It' and 'Make Room'. Another nice tune is dropped in 'Sunny Days' with an old skool flavoured bassline. Depth. Go seek. Run Time - 53.21.

Grits - Dichotomy A | TOP

The first album of a 2-part release CD, Part B has recently dropped (November 04). This album is quite a mix of flavours and features the usual Grits style of dirty south and catchy hooks. The game is def raised though. Aside from being part one of a 2 part series (a new concept in itself) this album takes 'The Art of Translation' and takes it up a level. Production is something I always listen out for and this is exceptional. We start out with 'Hittin Curves' which is the lead single and has a feel good midwest vibe. 'Bobbin Bouncin' and 'I Be' both head up to the dirty south - minimal beat, hats high in the mix - but also with some good scratches dropped. 'I Be' is one of my favourites, dope sub bass, Pettidee inspired claps and percussion, lyrics riding the beats while The Grits and the awesome Pettidee speak words of testimony, words of life and identify themselves. What a roller! Next up are words spoken over strings (from Apple's Soundtrack and Garage Band btw!) challenging girls to check the way they dress, the men they date and see themselves right in God's life. 'Anybody' is a very tuneful but challenging song - 'What you wanna know, where you tryin to go, what you tryin to see, where you tryin to be.. I got to break these chains..' The next track is another tuneful and live drum sounding roller, 'Pardon Me Yo' mixing The Grits with Pumpata Jutte dropping soulfully over Grits vocals - a telling God, 'Don't know what to do without you'. Nice. Very fresh. One of my favourite tracks. 'High' moves back to 'Bouncin Bobbin' territory, another south party track, asking God to let the fire burn and roar.. 'Rhymes that represent you Lord.. gettin angel wings to soar high'. A soulful r&b with jazz guitar lick number drops with 'Get Down' encouraging us to find our proper perspective and place in life - 'I never understood great til I really repented.. God's will being fulfilled, my life complete.' In 'Where RU Going?' The Grits talk about their desire to reach people through their music - eternal existence is real. In 'Mind Blowin' there is a collab with 4th Ave over guitar licks, church organ stabs and soulful lyrics especially on the hook. The song crosses hip hop scenes from south to west coast. in 'Shawty' we have the hook, 'What's Happenin' with Lisa Kimmey from Out Of Eden distinctive. This is a story pointing about a boy on the streets to the right way in life, playing a 'roll with no control'. This is a challenge to the 'urban streets' and their values. Light rolling beats over a guitar riff, samples and strings conjure a magical heartfelt vibe. 'Gutter Boy' has a more powerful ragga vibe with big bassy samples and Jamaican overtones - 'big up your shield of righteousness, yes!' Final track is another great end track choice, again with elements of reggae, the last track you'd bump at a club. Great album. There's a Dichotomy B too. Run Time - 46.50.

Grits – ‘Redemption’ | TOP

In summary, Grits show their versatility with a quality mix of the crunk and the contemporary. This is a more musically all-rounded album in terms of syles. In a commercial hip-hop era where dirty-south sounds have come to predominate, it is so refreshing to have the Grits faithfully creating and shaping real, outstanding spiritual hip-hop music. In this album, the Grits cover a lot of hip-hop territory in what feels like their most rounded album yet.  We start with a deep sub bass southern party track, as Grist spit smooth, tight rhymes as they point that they are blessed and changed. The Grits also lace smooth and catchy vocal hook laden tracks, such as “Holla @ Ya” with its clean break and sound, and “You Said” (the broken promise of a couple ‘always being together’) featuring the outstanding Pigeon John and BTwice, with a cruising beat and tune. In tracks like “Heyyy” we have a downtempo crunk contemporary sound. This contrasts with the thought-provoking “Soul Cry” talking about how so many souls are crying out ‘help me’ – the Grits commenting they cannot standby and do nothing. “Ambition” has a more regular hip-hop beat (as has “Memories), over which Grits bring some great lines together, with Canibus bringing an aggressive flow in contrast to the laid back beat. “Open Bar” is a more lively, standout track featuring a rasping synth sound, mixing up a dirty south and west coast vibe. “Right Back”, the end track has a piano-riff (almost 80s backing track) with a vocal hook from Brittany Waddell and more smooth flows from Bonafide and Coffee. Nice ending to a great album. Run Time - 46.09.

Hip Hop Alliance - Coalition | TOP

Actually the first Christian rap CD I ever purchased. I bought it from my local Christian bookstore in 2001 and they've been stocking rap for me ever since! This features solo songs (not mixed) from a variety of artists such as LA Symphony, New Breed, MG! The Visionary, 4th Avenue Jones and John Reuben. Production from the man Pigeon Jones does no harm at all! This album crosses styles too, from the refreshing and uplifting 'Sea Breeze' of LA Symph (reminding me more than a bit of Tribe Called Quest), to the south style of Campquest collective, to the Puerto Rican LA raw and New Breed to the distinctive funky breaks of MG! to the 4th Ave band rock soul funk rap through to the fresh energetic John Reuben - plus many more styles. 14 tracks in total. Run Time - 55.36.

Hip Hop Praise - Sinners Prayer | TOP

I bought this album when I was hacked off with people telling me I had to worship God through guitar based worship (nothing wrong with that - just don't go round prescribing ways of worship!) I've been remixing Christian stuff in different flavaz for a few years so it was sweet when this hit my doorstep, hot from the US. It doesn't disappoint, remixing classics like 'Lord I Lift Your Name On High', 'As The Deer', 'Open The Eyes Of My Heart', Matt Redman's 'Heart Of Worship' and more. 'Awesome God' is a jazzy guitared beautiful track with a well delivered hook. I also like 'Sinners Praise', prolly my favourite jam on the album. Each song has a different flava, crosses rap, r&b, sampled and live drums/percussion, guitar licks with great vocals. Worshipful, real fun, sometimes unexpected and just uplifting. MG! The Visionary delivers a quality hip hop worship album that is also fun and both lyrically & vocally varied with plenty of varied guest performances (Lojique collective, Manchild, Playdough and dope vocals from Holly Campbell) that mix together and really work. A great combo and fun track is found in 'Holiness' with a mix of vocals both and funny & deep lyrics. Not one for the die hard underground backpacker purists but lyrics are clever, spit Christ and are delivered with passion. Expand your mind, release the sense of fun inside of you and check it. As the prayers and lyrics in 'Heart of Worship' say, 'Jesus, it's all about you..' Run Time - 56.10.