Fresh.I.E. - Red Letterz

Saturday 1st November 2003
Fresh.I.E. - Red Letterz
Fresh.I.E. - Red Letterz

STYLE: Hip-Hop
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 8053-7804
LABEL: Independent
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Paul Woodward

Canada’s Fresh I.E. (FIE) are a welcome addition to Christian hip-hop, containing all the right ingredients. They rhyme with a street-friendly style capable of captivating the ears of any rap fan, Christian or otherwise. Though, unlike some artists, their ghetto friendliness does not hinder the spiritual message, which remains clear and uncompromising throughout the duration of ‘Red Letterz’. Also the fact FIE are a multi-racial group, with a mixture of white and black members, allows “black rapper/white rapper” clichés to be avoided and gives their music a welcome diversity. The musical variety is evident on the album’s first full track “I believe”, a rap metal number, although the album consists mainly of R&B-flavoured hip-hop. One could argue that although competent, FIE’s rapping style lacks uniqueness and therefore fails to offer anything that the array of other up and coming Christian rap artists can’t produce. What set FIE aside however is their angelic backing vocals, giving the songs a special quality; this is particularly noticeable on the highly uplifting “Alright”. If you are looking for a Christian hip-hop album with fresh beats, sweet melodies and a clear Christian message, you can’t go far wrong with ‘Red Letterz’. Sadly, in Christian hip-hop an innovative debut album is often followed by a decline in quality of output; rap fans would do well to pray this is not the case with Fresh I.E., for they have the potential to become Christian music’s answer to the Wu-Tang Clan.

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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Sample Track Listing:
8. Make a choice [Listen]
11. Fire [Listen]

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version.

Reader Comments

Posted by chloe murodock in Fairford MB @ 21:52 on Jan 8 2008

I wish to meet Brandon & Desmond at my school again and I wish to met all you guys there and I wish
to get to get your CD The Future Is Now and I wish to
get a Fresh I.E t-shirt and a CD and a picture with Brandon & Desmond like about two or one and one with Fresh I.E. I MISS YOU GUYS I WISH YOU GUYS
CAN COME TO OUR SCHOOL AGAIN,I LOVE YOU GUYS
AND PEACE OUT ALL KINGDOM MUSIC

LOVE YOU,CHLOE



Posted by chloe in Fairford MB @ 21:43 on Jan 8 2008

Fresh I.E is the best rapper alive and his music is just so good, I ever heard before and it just so good.

P.S and the lil disciples are the best to just like Fresh I.E and the other Kingdom Music people I wish to meet you guys again.



Posted by Anna Marie in Vancouver @ 19:26 on Nov 6 2007

Blessings to Fresh IE, The Lord Himself brought my attention to you's there was a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina (I believe) and me and a girlfriend were watching, you sing Fatherless, I started weeping, my girlfriend started weeping, we looked at each other and knew this was the Lord, He was all over that song, I had to know who you were and i bought the album the next day.
Now I need to ask your forgiveness as i have used this album to sow seeds into peoples lives, i burned copies and gave them away. It is going to cost us to win this generation and when i have seen the Lord move through me i have emptied myself out,financially, physically, emotionally and then I have seen the Lord move.
The Lord has brought me out of 30 years of hard core addiction, that brought me through the prison system and streets. I will be 8 years clean in January 08,Glory to Jesus.
I bless what the Lord is doing in and through you all and may He only increase the works in and through you and use you mightily to win this generation to the Lord.
I hope and pray that you will take time to respond to this email and if you are ever in Vancouver, please let me know, or please let me know how we can get you over here.
Prayerfully committed to advancing the Kingdom of God, Anna



Posted by shaince in winnipeg @ 06:36 on May 22 2007

hello fresh e.i

i though you show was very touching and i felt cleaned out of my sins im onley 15 but flet really guilty after your show cuz i had a chance to rap well sing but i turned it down cuz i thought doing other things would be cooler and after hearing you warren project i felt diffrent cuz it felt like you were raping and singing to me and when i tell my friends about how good it felt to learn about jessues they just laugh at me but i want to be diffrent and i know you guys arnt doing it for the fame or to get gurls i want to do what you guys are doing traveling and touching peopls hearts i pray to god every night to help become like you guys well not like you guys cause god dosent need that same people all the time I JUST HOPE YOU GUYS PRAY FOR ME SO I COULD RAP ABOUT JESSUS.. you guys make me feel amazing when i here your music

xoxox bye



Posted by Jocelyn.Alec in burns lake b.c @ 23:45 on May 10 2007

Hey fresh ie i love your music i was the one that cried at your concert at LDSS in burns lake if you guys come back could i hang out with you guys again it was really fun!!!!! i like ♥Russel♥ ♥Brandon♥and Dezmin♥♥



Posted by cherese quewezance in fort vermilion @ 01:26 on May 3 2007

hi fresh i.e when you came to high level on apr 27, 28 ,29 that was the best youth conference i ever went to. oh yah and hi brandyn if you remember me i am the one you were being cheeky to all weekend. you a pretty cool little dude. but yah all of us from fort vermilion miss u. there r a bunch of young girls that think u r pretty cool..But anyways you guys are great. i really miss all of you guys. u all sound really good.



Posted by jessica rudolph in wininpeg @ 21:23 on Feb 20 2007

hey fresh i.e will u everb come back ot ur school or to st.john's park please please peace out hommie



Posted by Rene Wilson in Norway House, Manitoba @ 23:33 on Feb 6 2007

I Miss You Brandyn I don't no if you remember me but i met you at Thompson!! And by the way Ilove You!! lol



Posted by jamie moar in thompson @ 16:38 on Feb 4 2007

great show lol it was so cool welll i loved it lastnight just awsome rappers:)and those boys were so cute haha lol i liked the one in the grey strip shirt so sweet lol haha welll hope to see you soon there fresh i e
love yah
jamie moar



Posted by x-man in winnipeg manitoba august, 16 @ 17:04 on Aug 16 2006

yo fresh i.e. i the totally diged the concert u threw on at gilbertpark, right in front of the boys and girls club was awsome u are a great

x-man



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