Reviewed by Gareth Hills

"They say I'm being artistic, but right now I'm just being real." This is exactly what this street poet from Buffalo, New York achieves on this excellent album. It's hard hitting at times. Stories of drug addiction, murder and abandonment feature throughout, yet there is also so much hope and victorious defiance coursing through his verses. Much like his fellow Double Edge Ministries roster artist, Kre8tor, Buck is an artist who gets to the core of the issue, with simple yet challenging lyrics dealing with issues like Christians choosing not to help and support "difficult" individuals ("Somebody didn't do their job/They just say a prayer/Then just wrote you off") and identity ("They ask me who I am/I guess I know 'cos I know the Son"). Production throughout is superb, heavy when it needs to be, but leaving space for enough melody to keep things interesting. The album manages to be real, but is wonderfully artistic and creative at the same time. Recommended listening.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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