Reviewed by Steve Hayes

I recently introduced KJ-52 to some young people and they were instantly engaged and hooked, as I always have been. KJ-52 has a unique blend of highly commercial appeal, yet with powerful and moving tracks that have clearly touched lives across the globe. These two albums showcase the KJ-52 that we know and love - a fusion of rap, rap and old skool beats, interweaving heartfelt stories, playful lyrics and catchy wordplay. KJ's message is unequivocal about the truth and transforming power of Jesus such as the immensely powerful "I'm Guilty". The power of God working through rap and KJ himself is clear in tunes like "#1 Fan" and KJ's heartfelt plea to Eminem in the much-misunderstood, "Dear Slim" which led to a part 2 on the 'It's Pronounced Five Two' album. KJ-52 performs some verbal linguistics in old skool theme-specific tracks like "47 Emcees", "47 Popstars" and "5th Element" looking at the (original) 5 elements of hip-hop. If you roll with KJ-52s humourous side, you'll love tracks like "Ya Bref Stank" and the infamous mullet track from the 'Collaborations' album. Two for the price of one showcasing a hugely talented rapper's earlier work - can't go wrong!

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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