It’s been a long time…..I shouldn’t have left you…without some dope music to review!!!!!! What’s good with you family?! It’s your O.G. neophytemuziq with another music review of some of the latest releases. This week is special because not only do I have an album review….but also….wait for it….a BONUS review of an upcoming project, scheduled for release in September of this year. Let’s jump right into it!!!!!!

Coming straight out of the T.O. a.k.a. Toronto, Canada, comes Derek Jordan, better known as DIE-REK. For all my heads who long for the days of the boom-bap, search no further than DIE-REK’s latest project, The Year Of Redemption. I gotta be honest with you folks. Being an O.G. who lived through the Golden Age of secular hip hop with artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and KRS-ONE, this project took me back to those days musically. Also, to have it coming from the Great White North, let’s me know that hip hop is alive and well ALL OVER THE WORLD. Combine that with lyrics that lift up our Lord and Savoir, using life experience to show just how great God is……PRICELESS!!!!!

Standout tracks include DIDDY DUM DIDDY DO, which speaks of standing firm in the faith and exercising the muscle of discipline. We have MICROWAAAVE featuring Dj Versatile, which brings a return of the Dj/emcee combination getting equal shine on the track, which by the way, is futuristic en Fuego!!!!!! We have ACROSS THE ROOM featuring RKHTY, which is an ode to wives who not only support ministry in words of encouragement but also in action. Shout out to my wife, Tiya Thompson. There is also an interlude that sums up the DIE-REK approach to music ministry from an emcee you’ve probably heard of before (trust me, it will surprise you…) and the head banga of the project and lead single, WHEEL BACK, COME AGAIN in which DIE-REK talks about growth in Jesus Christ, delivered in a laid back smooth fashion.

Production is on point all the way through and will translate extremely well in your ride this summer. This project gets the newly formed tag, SLOW ROLLA, which means to bang this wherever you go but make sure you “slow roll” that jawn and let the block feel it.

This project gets a GREEN LIGHT from ya boy, so make sure you go and show support by purchasing this project, available on Bandcamp, and follow him on all social media platforms. As always, make sure when DIE-REK and other artists reviewed on Holy Culture come through your town that you go and check them out!!!!!!

And now for the BONUS HEAD NOD coming from a fellow O.G. in this space, we know and love as CHH. He goes by the name of James Hardy, but you may know him as DJ LostNFound. His latest is called CAESURA II. What makes this project different is the number of artists on the project. Not 10….not 20….not 30…..we are talking 50…..50!!!!!! 

Artists ranging from A.I. The Anomaly, Aaron Cole, Battz, Stevio Rizo, and Datin make appearances in this historic effort. From the singles I’ve heard, you have everything from that boom-bap (FOOLISH) to the R&B flavored devotional (RIDE FOR YOU), to the hard-hitting track with just straight bars (AVENUE), to even what I would consider the “shoot your shot” anthem for church dudes (What’s The Move). With Dj LostNFound’s track record, I have full confidence that this project will only solidify him as the undisputed “Dj Khaled of CHH.”

If you have questions, comments, feedback, or just wanna say, “What’s poppin!!!!” you can hit me up at neophytemuziq@gmail.com and follow me on Instagram @neophytmuziq_amor. This is your O.G. saying thank you for your love and support. I appreciate it. 

Until next time, remember……LOVE IS what LOVE DOES!!!

Grace and Peace