Reviewed by David Bain

Mario Valenzuela, that's EM8 when he's rapping, has come some way. He has one of those tough histories out of which he became a Christian. Since that moment he has been on a journey, deepening his relationship with God. With a passion for hip-hop, it wasn't long before he began getting involved with putting down lyrics about his new found faith. Teaming up with producer Sono, EM8's sly and witty rapping is highly commendable. Unfortunately, the music lets the whole side down. Sono has created a messy mix of synths and clumsy, unintelligent beats. It's difficult to hear how good EM8 is with such a badly constructed sound, grumpily rumbling away in the background. EM8 has stacks of promise and, in all fairness, Sono almost delivers a stunner with the last track, "Handzup", showcasing this rapper's talent properly. With better tracks, we should be hearing more from this artist.

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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