K-Drama WE FIT:The Workout Plan Review

Label- Cross Movement Records
We all know him (ok most of us do), father, producer, rapper and very importantly Christian. K-Drama ladies and gentlemen, the dude from Ohio who literally changed Christian Rap with his song “Air Jordan” the official “I want to remix it” song of last year (in case you didn’t know, that song has more remixes than Phil Jackson has trophies!!!).He’s got the love and respect of many and rightly so, his previous albums are good examples of consistency and he’s been rewarded so to speak with a recent record deal on the Cross Movement label!! Now he’s given us a “workout plan” to help us “get fit”.
How many of us remember the John Wells (Tonic) jam “The Body” from his “the Dash” album??? Now imagine a whole album with many more analogies on “body building” and “Godly exercise”, some beats that’ll make any of the vintage Jane Fonda fitness tapes go green with envy and then some amazing lyricism and you are ready to experience this album. Clocking in at 17 tracks K-drama doesn’t hesitate to show us he’s really got his weight up since 2008’s Boombaptism. This is quite the album considering it’s an easy contender for one of the top five albums of the year in a year that was extremely explosive for Christian Rap. Some of the tracks are literally workout tracks, perfect for playing while you jog or go through some regimens in the gym, take “holistic” or “This Waste” as examples, high tempo songs that talk about pushing one’s self to go above and beyond... this album is a “DIY” manual by rap that generally shows a Christian how to grow in The Faith. Nothing short of the best we hear a whole new level of maturity and even diversity exhibited on this project as opposed to Boombaptism (which can hold its own by the way). The beats range from heavy drum synths to techno sounding tracks with a few mellow tones present.
The intro as is always the case with K-Drama is on point, “Bodybuilders” gives us an overview of what the whole album’s about, then the fast paced “Holistic” tackles the ‘work out your salvation with fear and trembling’ tip and from there on out it’s blast off mode. A bunch of different themes are touched on and done justice to. “Don’t look down on me” with AD3 and Sean Slaughter kicks against judgemental stereotypes, “Stronger on My knees” emphasises how essential prayer is and “Spot Me” addresses the importance of building with other members of the Faith. Other strong tracks include “Get Your Weight Up”, “You doing too Much” (funny song), “DIE-IT” which features Humble TIP and a pretty neat D-MAUB sample and one of my favourites alongside “ This Waste”, “Hope They Aint Lying” a pretty good social commentary on the state of things right now(listen to the first verse on this one).
I’ve been all praises right? Any weaknesses? Well for starters some of the featured artists didn’t come hard enough. Although I understand discipleship and encouraging upcoming emcees, there’s often no need to throw a rookie on to the pitch if more “consistent”, “star” players are available for selection. Secondly(and finally), at 17 tracks the concept of “Building the Body” seems almost akin to flogging a dead horse, it’s almost as if the best songs are at the beginning of the album.
This project overall is a contender for the top 5 albums of the year. The balance between basic yet pretty much overlooked solid concepts, memorable beats and K-drama’s lyrical ability and wit make for an album that easily rubs shoulders with Rhema Soul’s Fingerprints or Json’s City Lights. Hopefully listening to the latest from the recently signed Cross Movement Records rapper will help you prayerfully get your “Weight Up” and get you as “ABnormal” as possible(pun intended). Just remember, “be like the cricket, hear from your knees, with Faith as eyes and knees as ears” (how deep is that?) actual words from K-Drama himself. I’ll give this a 4 star rating without flinching. Yeah it’s that good....
P.S. a Nigerian actually produced one of the jams on this project!!! Yup, a Nigerian.

K-Drama Holistic Video

This is a wonderful song from one of my favourite albums, the video's pretty awesome too!! Enjoy...

Outtadisworld Everyday Process Review

Everyday Process-Outtadisworld
Label-Cross Movement Records
C.S. Lewis (The great man who gave us Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity and much more)once wrote “if we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we are made for another world”. True? I guess so, my neighbour says that’s just hedonism and all I asked was “are we not all hedonists?” hence our dire need for Jesus. That C.S. Lewis quote is the first thing you hear in this robotic/futuristic voice on the freshest Everyday Process album Outtadisworld. And just in case you’re wondering neither the Cross Movement rappers nor my humble self have forgotten how to spell.
This album came out in late 2009 two years after their debut album and I must say it is more than awesome!! These two hard hitting cats from Philadelphia have given us an expository account of living an alien concept as far as the world is concerned, Christianity. Much like their first effort this album is just a grand slam! Refusing to be put in a box, they’ve given us a versatile/futuristic sounding album. Each song is the type that get’s you asking yourself if you are behaving like the “alien” you are or you’re just blending in with popular culture. With a style you can’t exactly brand apart from calling it the “Everyday Process sound” this is an album that has everything from techno beats to r n’ b beats, witty punchlines, scriptural admonitions and most of all the type of thing that David did and got God head over heels for him… Praise!
Right after the C.S. Lewis quote the first song “Invasion” has EP saying “I’m so left that I aint right” and that’s pretty much the concept throughout the album, they basically present the same message in different lights. It’s either the poignant “Against the Grain” or the nostalgic “Freak” (a sort of hip hop rendition of the dc talk Jesusfreak concept). From the techno inspired “I Don’t Belong” to the laid back, soothing and R n’ B influenced “Make You Smile” it’s just a case of beautiful rendition after beautiful rendition. Iz-real and Mac the Doulos do more than hold it down on the project and make an offering that will be loved by the average music fan and the hip hop head alike.
Of course like most albums there are lead tracks and to mention a couple the adoration drenched “Jesus Pride” is one, an anthem of sorts, this joint just outlines a bunch of attributes our Lord has without a hook or pause for air leaving you in a state of goose pimples and smiles as you attempt to visualize all that’s being said. I mean Mac the Doulos starts off by saying “Jesus is preeminent that means He’s supreme…” and ends with “…He killed death and shook it off/brushed His shoulders off and said look I’m Boss!” get the picture? Another one is “Fire” an ode to Jeremiah and not being able to hold back God’s message because the fire’s just too much (like third degree heat to the bones to be exact) and you could easily get consumed. Take note of the effortless delivery on this song along with witty metaphors for example “I’m powered by The Son like solar/… you can’t find the depth of His Love using sonar…” or “I tried to keep silent like mute man/but that was fire to the bone marrow like fusion…” how about “No longer like the X man but still they call me mutant…”? Classic stuff I tell you.
Are there any drawbacks? Believe it or not the only one I can think off is just as you’re getting amped on the message they are spitting you hear “Bye Bye” and “The Saga Continues” songs signalling the end and you’re probably thinking it’s a joke, but it’s true, the album’s too short! Such is the quality within this project. It’s been quite a while since I heard an album and wished it was a little longer (you’d probably have to go as far back as 116 Clique’s Amped!!!) but I guess the brevity is deliberate, so you don’t bite much more than you can/should chew.
This is truly a keeper, primarily for the message and then because it’s different from what is obtainable in Christian hip hop today, and not just different but unique!! To sum it all up all I can just tell you is this album is what they say it is… Outtadisworld!

Review- Entermission Dj Official

DJ Official-Entermission
Label-Reach Records
There’s a culture that’s been alive for thirty something years, a culture that refuses to be defined geographically, a culture that is probably more influential on a lot of societies than their collective governments, a culture you can either love or hate but it will grow and survive regardless of your feelings. This culture I’m referring to is what we know as and call Hip hop. As with every other culture hip hop has its signature elements, take for instance it’s aka emcees or rappers, it’s language or hip hop slang/lingo, it’s traditional dance or b-boying (yes, all ye jabbawockees and soulQuest fans and the like, hip hop was here first), it’s art or graffiti (which nowadays is deemed illegal in most places). Hip hop even has its own dress code, its own rules for behaviour, but unlike every other culture there is one important element that I haven’t yet mentioned, an element that was there at the beginning and despite its importance seems to be ignored, it’s the element known as deejaying!! Yes! The deejay, he/she who is responsible for the music, he/she that dictates the pace, he/she whom all others in hip hop pay respect to.
The hip hop culture was lost for a long time in a fallen state, it was in turmoil, chaos, shapeless and void (reminds one of Genesis 1). Well Christ came and redeemed it and today we have the gift of Christian hip hop and by extension Christian rap music. We have a culture that has been evangelized to and is saved even though certain brothers and sisters of this culture choose to be stubborn…
Before I get carried away, this is a review on a veteran (and saved) DJ’s project; Dj Official’s Entermission. One of the most anticipated albums in Christian music ever!! We first heard about this album when Dj Official gave an interview on the Reach Records website shortly after the DWYL (Don’t Waste Your Life) tour. He told us he was working on his debut album and that the concept was basically Missions, something we all agree hip hop music needs. What is Missions? The intro gives us a clue “Enter the Mission” with Dr Eric Mason, pastor/co-founder of Epiphany Fellowship tells us “the Christian by identity is a missionary we don’t just do missions. Missions are not just trips to certain destinations, it’s who we are, and its God’s call on our lives to go into the world based on the Great Commission…” (Matthew 28:19). Now carry that and spread it across 18 tracks and what you have is a banger sizzling with God’s mandate and over 20 passionate cats spitting lines to put across the point.
This album was released on Boxing Day 2009, ending the year 2009 and kicking off 2010 with old and new rappers respectively. It has everybody worth noticing as far as Christian rap is concerned on it and of course they are all spitting one message, the call to missions. After the excellent hard hitting R-swift intro we have the first single off the album which I’m scared to say was not the best1 it’s Lecrae and Flame on the song “Show Off” meant to urge the listener “show off” God’s glory in every nook and cranny of the globe. From here on out we have a diverse mix of songs from the hardcore/streetwise “Streets of New York” and “Streets of Philadelphia” to the “different” sounding “Love Fallen” that had Brits Jahaziel and Gems and the reggae “specialist” Benjah. Of course there are the mandatory 116 Clique jams with Trip Lee’s southern delivery dripping all over “Get Busy”, Sho Baraka narrating a few stories on “Chaos” and Tedashii holding his own on “Use Me” and later on alongside newcomers H.G.A. on one of the standout songs on the album, “Go” a jam that’ll blow you away thanks to the staccato like delivery (reminiscent of T-Bone or Dwayne Tryumf on the 777 intro). Other cool collaborations include Thisl, K-Drama, Json and Tedashii (again) on “Chisel Me”, an earnest prayer to God to hone us into fitting instruments for His mission and of course a remix from Trip Lee’s 20/20 album, “Eyes Open Remix” with Sho Baraka.
Now for me the best songs on the album were not from the “usual suspects” (Lecrae et al) they were from the cats that’ve made “Lyrical Theology” the awesome phenomenon it is today. Enter Christian rap pioneer and stalwart Phanatik alongside Lampmode Records emcees Evangel and Stephen the Levite on the very deep “Not My Own”. If Entermission had a title track this would be it! With each emcee on point with their lyrical prowess, they take things a notch higher by laying on us some serious theology telling us about the ‘Proto Evangelion’ or the first evangelic mission all the way back in the garden of Eden and how that has been replicated over and over till present times. Phanatik aptly sums it up with his bars saying “let’s slay a man to save a man…/then send the lamb down through the man’s family line...” this song is a classic, reminiscent of the early Cross Movement days (biblical truths conveyed and Christ glorified). The other outstanding jam is the song “Missio Dei” (or God’s Mission) with the relatively unknown God’s Servant spitting a DIY manual for missions; it just effectively sums the concept of the whole album. Like I said earlier on, this is just top notch Lyrical Theology.
Now are there any minuses on this project? Well for me it is the problem of adequately balancing both style and /or content. A lot of the songs (especially from the 116 guys) had an excessive ration of style which just kept distracting you from the message they were trying to pass across as opposed to some others which were just plain by way of the message embedded within. Of course people must be able to like what is being said on these songs but we need to be careful to ensure we are not just bumping heads and not convicting hearts with our music. Plus the r n’ b songs on the album “Nothing Without You” by J.R and Cam’s “Forward Me” felt a little out of place and much too conventional, nothing you would remember in three or six months time. That being said Entermission is a more than decent album overall, reminding us how important the deejay is to the hip hop culture and how important Missions is to the Christian culture. By the way, watch out for the delightful instrumental outros after a few of the songs are over and even the one instrumental track “For My Breakers” which is a wonderful tribute to the hip hop culture… in 2010 we expect a lot of things but one thing that has come and must stay mandatory for every one of us Christians is our “entering the mission”……

The Tonic-The Dash, Refreshment for the Race....

Yes, Ambassador’s got 3 albums, Phanatik has got 2, heck even Tru-Life has an album! (As solo artists that is) not to mention R-Swift, J.R., T.R.U.T.H. amongst a few. So the question that had been bugging me was what about tonic? Of course I kept asking that partly because he’s my fave among the fab four and also because I wondered what a Tonic album would sound like considering he was mostly responsible for most of the “anthems” on all ‘em C.M albums.
Then I got into my second year in school and I was pleased to hear he was working on his solo project aka “The Dash”. You can’t imagine how amped up and happy I was until Bam!! News hit us that Mr John Wells (his real name by the way) had had some sorta breakdown which led to hospitalization and work on the album was postponed indefinitely. Heartbroken, we rayed hard for him and by god’s Grace the tonic bounced back. I was meanwhile stuck with “Forever” (arguably the best C.M jam ever) and then History dropped just before it was announced that would be the last album they’d produce as a group. Talk about heartbreak! But there was at least a great legacy to look back upon. With Chop Chop, Soapbox and other albums dropping I kept itching (or should I say thirsting) for a Tonic album and on the 31st of March 2009, The Dash was dropped. Yup! After at least 4 years of anticipation the album’s here and my God! If reviews are anything to go by, another C.M. emcee has given us a top notch serving!
So what exactly is The Dash? For those of us conversant with athletics it’ll be common knowledge that the dash refers to a race and isn’t that what life is? Cradle to the grave, youth to old age, birth to death. And we’re all running different races whether we believe it or not. That’s the basic message on this album and Tonic further elaborates by explaining that on every tombstone (ok most of ‘em) is an epitaph that reads whatever the person or his friends/family wants it to read. Now just under that is a timeline for example 1947-2009(imaginary) and it’s pretty much obvious that there’s a dash in between the two dates. One’s life is more or less encapsulated in that dash, his or her achievements, activities, likes and dislikes are all attached to that little dash. With this album Tonic takes the initiative to try and suggest the best way to make that dash approved by God’s standards.
Now don’t get it twisted, just because this album’s been in the oven for about 4 years doesn’t mean it’s outdated (which is an impossibility with the C.M. by the way, flattery aside) because it’s got banging beats, catchy hooks and of course Heavy word! In addition to the mix is the all star cast of guest emcees ranging from Izreal to Shabach to even Enock and Earthquake (remember ‘em from all those C.M. albums of old?). And a couple of new cats inclusive too…. Trust me this is an album to listen to over and over again……
Parting shot? The Boss is the Boss, don’t mean to start any arguments but The Tonic’s not just C.E.O. by name or title, he’s C.E.O. by rap too. He’s got a mind that one needs to have 24/7, a mind that looks at issues critically. The dash is just the 1st in along series (I hope) of Tonic renditions. Simply put, High walk, High Talk, High Thought (in reverse of course)….

Watch Out!!!!

with great joy I wanna tell peeps to watch out cos some of the best in The Xtian Rap Ministry are bout to hit us with some tight stuff!yup I can mention @least The Tonic, Da'T.R.U.T.H. and Tedashii!!!('ll update ya'll later) Tonic's album is the long awaited The Dash,Tedashii's is Identity Crisis and ma boy T.R.U.T.H.'s album is called The Big Picture. Truly this year's gon' be a crazy one!

Bye bye January...

yeah, they call it the 1st month of the year, January...it's gone and if you wonder what I was up to, then I might as well let you know...
What was I listening to? hmmm...
1.Rebel-Lecrae
2.20/20-Trip Lee
3.The Chop Chop-The ambassador of CMR
4.The Sound-Mary Mary
5.Life on Life-Json
6.What if We-Brandon Heath
7.Soapbox-Rswift
8.Total Attention-21:03
9.WOW 2009-Various Artists
10.Simply Nothing-Shawn McDonald
11.(prob my favourite) Stefan Chega Singing!!!

I read a couple of books too!
1.The Bible (constantly!)_God
2.The Ezekiel Option_Joel Rosenberg
3.The Passion of Jesus Christ_John Piper
and movies?...let's js say the pick of the lot was Madagascar 2!!!
the most probable question is "who's askin?"but it's my blog aint it?!!(just kidding') these are just stuff I'll highly recommend to you,reading this blog...
Peace...

Me on my soapbox....

R-SWIFT_SOApbOX

Amusingly for someone who’s hooked on who’s supposedly hooked on Holy Hip Hop(or Gospel Rap for Craig Lewis faithful)I refused to listen to this album simply cos I felt it wouldn’t be on the same level of quality with Da’T.R.U.T.H., Lecrae or any of his other “contemporaries”. Of course all this was before a certain bloke named Akor (God bless him) gave me the album last year at the YWAP end of leadership retreat. Let’s just say I’ve been hooked since then! As a staunch fen of “conscious” rap, I couldn’t help but get disarmed by this offering. Not exactly 5 mic material I know, this probably the 1st and most accurate Social Commentary done by a gospel artist (except maybe Everyday Process’s Illumination and Elimination LP).
It covers (yeah study the album cover) everything from today’s music to our greed(for prosperity), social vices and of course, our God…
Ok what’s a Soapbox? Apparently this is a word that refers to a sort of impromptu platform raised above the surrounding level for an orator/ speaker to give a speech or address people on!!(You’re forgiven for thinking it’s just a container of soap). And here’s what R-Swift does, he makes you ask yourself “what’s up with my beliefs?” he unapologetically asks you what you are proclaiming on your own platform!
Away from the message a bit and focusing on the production… it’s now common knowledge that CMR boys don’t ever fall hand cos some banging beats done by the very much on the rise Mac The Doulous and even J.R were on the album. If Soapbox is a movie then the cast for this album is an assorted collection of Oscar nominees and Winners with the likes of Lecrae, J.R, Izreal on board(Particularly the album’s cipher The League boasts a cast of the Who is Who in underground gospel rap). In short this is just tight East Coast material and I think anyone who hasn’t heard it is missing a lotta good stuff big time!!!
1. Stage Fright
2. In Session
3. Good Mourning
4. Freedom
5. Breatha (Featuring Lecrae)
6. Message 1 (k-Drama)
7. The League
8. Gone
9. Killadelphia
10. Lifetime
11. Message 2 (Flame)
12. American Soil
13. Love Letter (Featuring Michelle Bonilla)
14. Me on My SoapBox
15. Message 3 (Teddy P)
Fav Jams? The League, Breatha, Soapbox, Lifetime….










Json_Life on Life

Dang!!! This dude is independent(or was independent till he signed on Shailinne’s Lampmode Records) but of course he brings heat just as blazing as one of em CMR/ Reach Records bois. Released two years after his first album (The Seasoning), Life on Life is simple, straight to the point and an album that emphasizes discipling/ sharing one’s Faith with others. To start with, check out the album cover, then the beats, then the songs!...This guy’s from St Louis and he lets us know with banging Crunk jams, topics like (yup you guessed it!)The Word of God, leaving our comfort zones to share the Word and Growth. The album comes across as a Christian Big Brother just tryna update you on what’s been happening and the next few steps to take in your walk with God.
The same Json flavor that hit us on 13Letters and The Compilation Album is present on this album with even more swagger! There’s a couple of new cats like Future and Titus on the album but we also hear the likes of Thisl, Flame,Lecrae and even Trip Lee(amongst other established acts)
To tell the truth I’ve been listening to this album like everyday since the year kicked off and I can tell you my Faith and Belief has grown based on some concepts he makes mention of. If you can cop this album, do it pronto!!!!
1. Life On Life Intro
2. Catch Up (Interlude)
3. Run
4. Music
5. Turning Point
6. What It Do (Feat. Titus & Trip Lee)
7. Listening Choice (Feat. Tedashii)
8. My Heart (Feat. Dawndia of Cho’zyn)
9. I Do
10. Glory Revealed (Interlude)
11. Sitting Big
12. Fight (Feat. Thi’sl & MikeREAL)
13. Who He Is (Feat. Lecrae)
14. Confession (Interlude)
15. Ladies & Fellas
16. Move Out (Feat. Future & Flame)
17. In The Studio
18. Grow
19. Outro
20. Grace (Bonus Track)

Fav jams? Sitting Big, Who He Is

Who is this?

Who Is This?.....
21
A few things bout this bloke…
1.His Name’s Peter Akinnusi(obviously..)
2.Passionate Christian(Born Again)
3.Student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
4.Lover of Gospel Rap (Reach Records and all things CMR)
5.Loves Reading, Writing, Football, and um....
6.Favourite Verse: Philippians 4:5
7.Uhmm….Would Prefer U Listen To What He Has To Say and 4get Bout Who He is…

Now it was apparent I had to start this, I refused to eat the frog for at least one year, but let’s just say I finally found the right chef to help me grill it… this blog’s meant to be my view on the world, an avenue for expression and the skin for my mind to paint on. What’ll be seen here will be things that interest me, fascinate me and just generally stuff I feel should be passed across to Y’all.
I chose this name simply because of a couple of verses in Philippians (3v13-14) that talks about an endless aspiration for progress and letting go of one’s so called “achievements” thus an idea of a construction in progress. I’ll like to believe that’s what we all are as Christians, Under Construction and it’s only The Professional Builder that can perfect us!!! So come with me, comment, criticize, encourage, suggest, just view the blog as we build ourselves up (Proverbs 27:17)……
P.S. I dare not start this without saying thanks to my friend “and fellow blogger” Harry Itie who has been more or less an inspiration (better be there when I have questions oh!!!), then of course James Uji, Stefan Chega, Spokesman, Captain Quest and yeah you, Mya… Peace and God Bless peeps….