Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

This is a happening hip hop CD! A righteous rapper, Promise serves up disturbing word pictures of contemporary society and its issues and then into the moral malaise blasts the shining light of truth with the force of a prophet. Stylistically, a lot of this sounds like Coolie's "Gangsta's Paradise" with its dramatic words matched by similarly effective music. Lyrically it's out on its own, a complete antidote to the usual egotistic, violent, misogynist rap music that is sadly so popular. Check it out! There's a no holds barred attack on those who legally murder babies including a graphic description of the plight of those babies whose lives are ended by abortionists on "Killers". There's a moving description of the abuse of children and its lifetime affects on those who are damaged in "Father, Mother, Child". "Lustful" obviously deals with overcoming the temptations that so easily divert from a righteous life and in characteristic style Promise explodes all the contemporary myths about the lustful "lurve" that lures with its promises of fulfilment but leaves the participants permanently tainted. If it all sounds a little heavy, so what? It's all stuff that needs to be said. Other standouts include "Promise Can I Kick It?" and "If I Gotta Die" which both spell out the cost of discipleship. Overall, it's clear that Promise knows what he's talking about since he was miraculously delivered from serious involvement in gang life and radically saved as a teenager. Definitely one of the most radical rap records I've ever heard!

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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