Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Wow! It's been years since we got any new music from the GGz and am I glad these guys are still going! Last spotted changing their name to Camp 8 at the end of 2003, as far as I know they never released any music under that moniker. Here they are back with a fresh set of songs that stands up alongside the best the mainstream hip-hop scene can serve up. Their name still identifies this group as a gospel act though after years of creating hip-hop with an in your face message, 'The Flood' sees them taking a more thoughtful, less obvious approach. But that doesn't compromise the quality here or the message, which is still present, and they still know how to spin a compelling groove and weave together a lyrical flow that will have any hip-hop fan bobbing their head and smiling and appreciating their skill. Standouts include the opening "What It Do" and the soulful "My Life" where a sung hook intersects with rapped testimony. Got to confess I do like the tracks where the guys mix rapping and melody together as on "Conscious" and "Crazy". The album even closes with "Only Jesus" for anyone who has any doubts which side of the pearly gates these reformed gangstaz are working! Where so much Christian hip-hop is mindless sloganeering, it's always refreshing when groups release CDs that have some thought and depth and irresistible grooves!

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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