Guvna B - Hands Are Made For Working

Published Monday 9th September 2019
Guvna B - Hands Are Made For Working
Guvna B - Hands Are Made For Working

STYLE: Hip-Hop
RATING 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 170799-26845
LABEL: Allo Mate 5037300833712
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2018-05-18
RRP: £9.99

Reviewed by Steve Hayes

Britain's best known Christian rapper's latest project is like a story book - a personal insight into life, as Guvna B takes us deeper and further into life and his life. The opening track "Carry On" is probably one of the most powerful and moving tracks I've ever heard as he breathes out an ode to his father. Reflecting this loss, the album then plays out the need for fathers, as Guvna quotes from the life of his dad ("Been Hustlin' (Black Del Boy)"). The album's lead track "Everyday" sees Guvna lift his struggles to God but still chooses to worship. This all sets the tone for something special throughout the album as if Guvna B is stepping up and stepping out into more of God. This isn't introspective though as we're taken from pain into hope, from Guvna's struggles into a future and from the darkness of the life on the streets into a life given to bring purpose. The album mixes UK hip-hop and grime and goes from reflective songs to more jump-up numbers. From "Heart Of A King" comes the defining heart cry for the album, "It's better to be a light than to curse the darkness." Guvna challenges young people on the streets that there is something more - God's good purpose for their lives. This is a theme deepened by "Dun All The Hype" as Guvna B lays down a grime flow alongside Melvillous offering a different way to the gang problems in London and beyond. The album has so much depth, so much goodness infused into it, it's hard to begin to scratch the surface, other than to highlight the worship remix of John Mark McMillan's "King of My Heart". An astounding and outstanding album. Despite everything, God, "You're never gonna let me down. . ."

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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Product Description
‘I was a pretty lazy kid growing up and my Dad would always say to me ‘Son, hands are made for working. It was his way of telling me that nothing comes easy in life, and if I don’t work hard, I won’t get much done or achieve anything worthwhile. He said a lot of things to me, but for some reason, Hands Are Made For Working is the phrase that sticks. Writing this album has been therapeutic for me. I realise how important fatherhood is and how much a father figure can affect the trajectory of a young person’s life. I touch on this from all angles on this record, and I’m more inspired than ever to work hard and put my hands to good use’.

Hands Are Made For Working contains wisdom from lessons learned and reflections on finding hope and faith in difficult times. ‘Everyday’, the first single from the album, speaks about Guvna’s determination to take the rough with the smooth in life and to not give up. The follow up single, ‘Been Hustling’, speaks about Guvna’s journey to discovering what true success means, and ’Dun All The Hype’ featuring Melvillous speaks into the issues of youth violence prevalent in the UK’s capital in
recent times.

With features from the likes of Samm Henshaw and Martin Smith (Delirious?) this album is Guvna B’s most impressive to date with next level production and more vulnerable lyrics than ever. You could call it a coming of age project as you can hear Guvna’s growth and maturity through this offering. It’s an important album for this generation and one that does a great job of honouring his father’s legacy.

Guvna B, at 26 years of age, is a multi-award winning, record-breaking rap artist from London. He became the first rapper in UK history to top the Official Christian & Gospel charts, and his most recent No. 1 release SECRET WORLD was the UK’s highest selling urban Christian album in 2015. By the age of 20, he had won the prestigious MOBO Award and there were more awards to follow. He has worked with highly acclaimed artists such as Matt Redman, Hillsong Music, Destiny Child’s Michelle Williams, LZ7, Nick Brewer, Jocelyn Brown, Keisha
Buchanan, Deitrick Haddon and more.

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