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Album Review: NickdoG – “Disciple of God”

| February 13, 2012 | 3 Comments

NickdoG – “Disciple of God”
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Bradford Davis
Rating: 3.1 (Out of 10)

Rating: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 

NickDOG (Disciple of God) has a great story. A man in love with the allure and fantasy of street life, God brought him into His marvelous light. God used the pain from his words, not mine “violence and addiction” reemerging in his life was used to bring him into repentance, truth, and a desire to exalt Christ in his music.  Unfortunately, the artistic quality of Nick the MC, at least in “Disciple of God”, fails in providing a strong backdrop for his faith.

Nick runs into many of the troubles that plague second-tier Christian artists.  He has an interesting subject, sure. He actually has the most interesting Subject in the universe! But, there’s an inability to express the glory of Christ with high quality art. His lyrics just aren’t interesting. Not “bad”, but definitely nothing to get you excited. Important, no necessary elements like skilled wordplay and vivid imagery just aren’t there. His flow falls into the same issue. Decidedly mediocre, Nick’s flow never catches; his timing or cadence, never unique.  In fact, his cadence remains so leveled and similar through much of the album that his delivery could easily be confused with an all-out deadpan. Combine that with Garage Band quality mixing, and you have a weak sound that dampens any MC personality he currently possesses.

The beats provide a little more interest. Unfortunately, the interest comes more from controversy than quality. As expected, the weak production values remove the “bump” or “swing” a good hip hop record should have. But most strikingly, the one really good instrumental *might* not even be his own. If you’d like to hear this for yourself, listen to “Reachin Out” and Andy Mineo’s (of Reach Records) “Whatever Comes”. The instrumentals sound identical to the naked ear.  The album liner notes give no mention to the instrumental team behind Andy’s jam.

All in all, Disciple of God is a very weak album. The testimony of Nick’s conversion and faith is a plus. But it’s just about the only one. Between shoddy production values, mediocre emceeing and possible issues relating to his integrity, this is a poor album from start to finish. Most everything about it is reminiscent of the hood mixtapes people push on you at the barbershop, rather than a professional record. Hopefully Nick ties up these loose ends on his next go-round.

Comprehensive Ratings:

  • Music- 3
  • Flow- 3
  • Lyricism – 5
  • Content – 6
  • Creativity/Originality/Relevancy- 1
  • Credibility and Confidence -3
  • Personality and Character- 4
  • Presentation Quality- 2
  • Production Quality- 1
  • Potential Impact- 3

Category: Christian Hip-Hop, Christian Hip-Hop Reviews

About the Author ()

Ed Welch is married with children. He is a licensed and ordained minister and has served faithfully in various ministries. He's been preaching, rapping, producing, and singing since he was 14 years old. Ed has lived in Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Mississippi (where he now resides). Ed Welch doesn’t focus on his own music as much, but mainly writes for other artists.
  • InHisgrace

    NickdoG’s “Reachin Out” was produced by E Dan of ID Labs Beat Production. It appears Andy Mineo also used the same beat as you can hear the “ID” vocal tag or watermark in the very beginning of his track. To question somebody’s integrety without knowing the facts is both irresponsible and slanderous.

  • Mark

    Nick Dogs music lead my sons and I to a closer walk and worship to Christ. He has a sound that Califonians were raised with and coltivated it with the good news. So I say to you,who is Mr. Ed?

  • Kerry

    I must say I was thrown back from this review. It is one thing to review the music but to actually say this man may have issues with his integrity based on an assumption with no facts about one of the beats on a song, I do not understand the purpose of doing so???????????

    As far as the “Album Review” let me tell you. This is no doubt a GREAT album. Lyrics and beats are on point, message is clear – JESUS! 

    Regarding production quality, this album was self produced and with all things considered – Well done! If I owned a record company (hint hint Reach Records) I would be giving Nick a call. 

    Brother Nick keep on pressing towards the mark of your high calling because your music is touching lives and what matters is your are spreading the gospel.

    Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

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