Rapture Ruckus - I Believe

Published Sunday 25th February 2007
Rapture Ruckus - I Believe
Rapture Ruckus - I Believe

STYLE: Hip-Hop
RATING 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 21200-12198
LABEL: Parachute PMD038
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2006-11-30
RRP: £9.99

Reviewed by Greg Inglis

This is the second album from the New Zealand-based rapper and features the superior production talents of Brian Gardner whose previous credits include Eminem and 2Pac. There are echoes of the aforementioned Slim Shady on tracks like the powerful "Rhymes For Times" but the mix of hip-hop and crunching guitars is closer in sound to Mike Shinoda's "Fort Minor" or earlier than anything else. Throughout the album, Ruckus lays his cards on the table with hard hitting lyrics that challenge the listener to make a difference where they're at, most notably in the rallying call of "Move". With so much energy here there is a short instrumental towards the end to give you time to get your breath back before the radio friendly "Get Ready" hits the speakers. Be warned, this is a tune which will be doing Muhammad Ali-like rounds in your head. You can feel the passion oozing from every corner of this release both in the delivery and the lyrics themselves but it lacks the real distinctiveness of artists like 4th Avenue Jones who bring greater variety to the musical table. More of a scrum than a ruckus but plenty here for the musically open minded to feast upon.

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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Product Description
Rapture – aka Brad Dring – fills the demanding roles of rapper, programmer, engineer and occasional drummer on Rapture Ruckus’ groundbreaking followup album, I Believe. Seven months in the making with final touches added by LA hiphop guru Brian Gardner (Eminem, Dr Dre, Janet Jackson, 2Pac, Blink 182, etc), this latest offering calls on six years of music making history from one of the New Zealand’s most respected underground talents.

Busting out of humble working class surrounds, the Rapture Ruckus story leans heavily on a remarkable journey of hardship, redemption and all things music – jazz, hip-hop, heavy rock – you name it, and you can bet that Rapture’s called on it as he’s fought to bring his emotionally charged songs to the expectatant masses.

With a sonic landscape suggesting Fort Minor, Cypress Hill and Marshall Mathers, Rapture solidly convinces even the most hardened detractor with a talent that defies critique. This year the underground came out from hiding, and it’s got a name - Rapture Ruckus.

Reader Comments

Posted by Janelle in Blackwater @ 11:37 on Jun 25 2008

Rapture Ruckus rox i met him at Emerald youth last friday and i got a pic with him he rox and he haz amazon music and very hot



Posted by tashia silva in baysprings miss @ 19:29 on Mar 14 2008

i really loved your songs this week i want to thank you for playing for us



Posted by holly in mississippi @ 18:14 on Mar 14 2008

i loved this cd. i just got back from church camp and i met rapture ruckus. he is an amazing person and very nice i love his music. it really speaks to me.



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

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