Reviewed by Steve Hayes

Raised in New York but now coming out of Philly, DJ Official uses his considerable mixing and production skills to recast varying hip-hop styles (east, dirty south, Midwest) to create something which is surprisingly coherent and, with its strong lyrical emphasis on mission, spiritually impactful. The project showcases many emcees, both well known and lesser known. Some dirty south low growlers explode out of the project from Tedashii / HCA (check the double timing on "Go" and also on the bassy "On My 116"), Trip Lee and tracks like "Chisel Me" also featuring K-Drama, Thi'Sl, Json as lives are offered to God to chisel to break, shake and make us. Some R&B smoothness is offered by the excellent JR on "Nothing Without You" with Lecrae letting us know that we can't live in our own strength but need God, and by Cam in "Forward Me". The East Coast gets a serious workout on "Streets Of New York" focusing us to get our eyes off the image of the city, to the children, people and projects - the real mission field. "Not My Own" has a boom bap flava, while "Chaos" with Sho Baraka fuses rock and rap. This is an excellent, challenging and satisfying project to fuel all believers.

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