i-witness – “Free”
Released: 11/11/2011
Reviewed by: WyldBill “The Khalifa”
Rating:  6.9 (Out of 10)

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Heath Honzell who is known by his moniker, i-witness, is from Pittsburg, TX, a small town of about 4,000 people, but currently resides in Whitehouse, Texas. He started his mission for Christ after meeting his future wife in 2009. Heath always loved music. Because of the negative impact it had on his life, he started using the mic to impact people’s lives in a positive way. This album titled, “Free” is his debut album that combines real life experiences with urban/underground music. The album features collabs with Manchild (of Mars ill and DeepSpace 5), Johnny Bishop, Redd Lettaz, and Rapture. The Producers on this record are Johnny Bishop, Anno Domini, & The Unbeatables.

Now let’s get into the album. It opens with the “Free” intro that sounds like a well known ministry’s commercial off of The Word Network. I like the quote off the intro “You can’t testify off the stuff you heard, you can only testify off of what you know!”

Longevity Music – “Exposure Compilation”
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Joshua Dwight
Rating: 7.01 (Out of 10)

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Buy: iTunes | Amazon

expose |ikˈspōz|
verb [ trans. ] (often be exposed)
make (something) visible, typically by uncovering it

Exposure has a theme of exposing people to Christ, Truth, and Real Life Issues like the consequences of selling drugs, etc.

The Compilation project from Longevity Music (founded by Corey Hicks) features artists: Joint Heirz, Moon Man Clique, and Corey Hicks himself. The production is enough to make anyone want to jump to preview the album. The Production is from: Marv4mobeats, Tee Wyla, Chrysbeats, Levester Whte, Higher Innerprice, Esso, Corey Hicks, B. Wright, and Jaleel.

First things first, if you are a Corey Hicks fan… You are delivered the same music you came to love in the first place. Corey Hicks flipped his style of music that most fans are used to (and love), and that’s that grimy, bumping, southern style New Orleans rap.

The tracks that stuck out the most to me on this compilation were: Exposure, Whole 9, The Game, Bold, and My Everything. However I did think that the entire album was fairly decent and noteworthy.

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

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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.

D4C – “Unite”
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Joshua Dwight
Rating: 6.13 (Out of 10)

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A rapper from “Down Under” better known as D4C (Disciple 4 Christ) puts an Australian touch on Christian Hip-Hop bringing a positive message of peace, hope, and love with the release of this project: “Unite”.

Unite is a clear presentation of “The Gospel” and D4C shows how his boast is in the Gospel. It might not be the best album, or album of the year, but it definitely reflects the heart of D4C and paints a picture of who he is, who he wants to be, and his love for God. I was surprised when I found out that all the profits from the album were being given to Diamond Pregnancy Support for awareness and to help women going through pregnancy and thoughts of abortion.

The features on this album are: Sevin, Mark Ant, Genesiz, Tim Turner, Purified, KamBINO, Disciple, Prolifik, R-Swift, Praze, thagoodshepherd, Silaz, Zion, Limerick, and Anneleise Meywes.

Knowing Sevin, KamBINO, and R-Swift were on the album definitely sparked my interest, but when I heard Zion tearing it up on the song “Repent” I had to say that this song probably was one of the ones that stick out the most on this project.

Timmy P – “The Prologue
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Joshua Dwight
Rating: 6.86 (Out of 10)

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Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Timmy P linked up with Hells Most Wanted Records out of Southwest, Florida in 2009. Now in 2011 he releases “The Prologue”.”The Prologue” is the EP to an upcoming album coming in February entitled “A New Chapter.” This project covers a lot of who Timmy P is, what he represents, where he’s from, what he has been through, and how he was able to overcome a lot of various circumstances. Overall this project tells a story of a man that turns to God for guidance to make it through life.

This album has a pop-rap sound which lately has been an ever-growing genre. Timmy P has a sound and style similar to B. Reith, but yet he has his own unique sound as well which happens to be one of the qualities he strives for. The album is about average, but has one part in which in my opinion places it below average due to a lower appeal.

In the song “Soaring” at about 1:19 he states “Wonder If I Change, How many will I P*** Off”, and even though he may be raised up in an environment where that isn’t considered a swear word there are parents who may be offended by this usage, and may not want their children listening to this. So speaking to the parents: In this song Timmy P uses the “P-Word”. As for stating “Below Average”. I speak on this because out of 20-40 average albums I don’t find content like this.

Divenomous – “The Soulstice”
Released: 11/05/2011
Reviewed by: WyldBill “The Khalifa”
Rating:  6.5 (Out of 10)

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Divenomous has been in hip-hop for over the last 15 years. While in college, the Lord hooked Divenomous up with Navigator to form the group “PF Allstars.” Navigator was raised in East Baltimore, where he has been able to shed light on Christ through hip hop and relating to people in life. Divenomous and Navigator have had the opportunity to minister throughout the east coast, and have shared the stage with artists such as Tye Tribbett, The Cross Movement, Lisa McClendon, The Yunion, and Ramiyah. They have also had the privilege to co-labor with local artists in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Now let’s get into “The Soulstice” project, the album is loosely composed to be like a film (I think) with Divenomous as “the star” and fellow “PF Allstars” member Navigator as “the guest/co-star.”  “The Soulstice” gives up 17 tracks with music production from Ansane, Beats 4 Legends, TRU-LIFE (The Cross Movement), MuzeONE (Scribbling Idiots/Redeemed Thought), Btate, & Revive Sounds. Some of the artists featured are: Landis, JayeRell, Sistah Dee, God’s Elect, Remedy, &Chauncey. This album follows the method of artists like Phanatik of CMR, Stephen the Levite, early Everyday Process (aka The Process), & Idol King.

Real Lyfe – “Culture Clash: World vs Word”
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Ed Welch
Rating: 5.5 (Out of 10)

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For an album that’s titled Culture Clash, I would expect a “bigger” introduction to hit me and bring that clash to reality from a listener’s prospective.  Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean loud or fast, but something musically that pulls me in emotionally.  I didn’t get that.  Real Lyfe starts out this project with the title track and I must admit that I have a personal preference that a title track should be off the chain.  In my opinion, the title track of an album should be one of the best songs on the album.  I mean, it’s supposed to be the epitome of what the entire album is about.  In short, I was disappointed.  Ok, ok I’ll move on.

“Live Like Him” has a nice/catchy hook that can get you singing along and the track is “OK”, but the main thing lacking is a quality delivery of the lyrics.  Real Lyfe doesn’t give much variation in how he says his lyrics, so the increasing number of people with ADD-like (Attention Deficit Disorder) tendencies will be caught day-dreaming during the verses or just skipping this song altogether.