Reviewed by Steve Hayes

Occasionally an album just connects with you in a creative way. This is one such CD. As has become increasingly popular, P.O.E.T. (Prophet Of Eternal Testament) delivers some acapella inserts through the album (such as "Thankful"), but kicking off with "The Bullet" as he "rolls off (his) parables and paragraphs." At times we ride across the hip-hop landscape, from west to south, and across the east coast. In the west coast "Was Handed The Mic", POET testifies to all, including any haters that it was God who handed him the mic. Other bouncers include the grooving west-coast inspired "7" - and the "Rock The Cross" rider, looking at people wearing a cross, and the fact that his Rock is The Cross. One of my favourite tracks is the east-coast "Theme Of The Wise" where the rapper flow reminds me of Talib Kweli, comparing the depth of Christ and his message with the superficiality pumped across the airwaves. Some compliment! There are a number of contemplative, minimalist and deep tracks like "Power", the powerful "Saved" and "In Memory Of" looking at the effects of killing in the ghetto, over a gentle vocal hook. All in all, this is a complex and interesting album.

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