It’s been a minute since I’ve listened to a Tonex album. After being an adamant fan and having two of his songs in my wedding, I made the decision, almost two years ago now, to stop listening to him and toss all of his albums in the trash, along with many others (read the spill here). It was shortly after I made the decision to drop Tonex from my collection that the whole drama with the “Naked Truth” song came about. To this date, I still haven’t heard the song, nor do I wish to. I did call the brother on the phone after hitting him up on MySpace to discuss the matter, and ended the call feeling quite a bit uncomfortable, to which point I decided to pretty much write dude off, ala the man of incest in 1 Corinthians. Since that time, the only time I’d heard Tonex was on the rare guest feature on albums that I happened to be reviewing for various websites.
That brings me to today. After keeping in touch with my friend AppleJaxx and recently reviewing his mixtape, he brought up Tonex. He had mentioned how much he had grown since the whole Naked Truth ordeal and that he’d been working on some new music reminiscent of the Pronounced Toe-Nay days. Still leery about the whole situation and wanting to stick to my guns as far as my reasons for not listening to him, I agreed to contact Tonex and attempt to review his latest release Unspoken, swallowing any crow that I needed to in the process. I didn’t get a response, but AppleJaxx hit me up with the album anyway, so, here’s my review of Tonex’s latest release Unspoken.
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LaRosa Johnson Music album review, grace, humility, Tonex, Unspoken
So I made it out to the SXSW event that DaSouth was hosting today. It was a packed house and pretty interesting show, especially from a spiritual standpoint as far as I’m concerned. We got there early (11:30am) and stayed until about 3pm, just before the Much Luvv set with Tre9, Cy, SOM and others. For me, the highlight was getting to see longtime friends/acquaintances Braille and Kaboose rock the mic. Both of them have great stage presence and ripped their sets. I even got to chat with Kab for a minute on my way out. After Much Luvv, Lecrae was gonna perform but I opted to head home instead of sticking for that and the afterparty.
As far as what I did see, I noticed that there is a big difference between being just a rapper and being a true emcee who can get the crowd motivated. Just the crowd interaction alone speaks volumes over someone who justs gets on the stage and raps. But the main thing I noticed is how heavy the prosperity theology is influencing this region; most of the local acts are heavy into it and it shows in their rhymes and presentation. It grieves my heart. I even got a flier about a church that has hip-hop Sundays, and on the flip side talking about the actual ministry, they were talking about coming and growing in “wisdom, health, and prosperity.” I really wish that people would quit ripping verses and passages out of context and using them for their own purposes, even under the guise of ministry.
That aside, it was good to meet online buddies I’ve known for years, including Sketch the Journalist. Glad to see Syntax represent, and just have a good outing with the entire family.
Fyi, word on the street is that we’re confirmed again for next year, but with a bigger venue because we had so many people show.
LaRosa Johnson Holy Hip-Hop, Life, Music concerts, hip hop, rants
10. Dry Bonez Live – Love & Loss
Very fresh debut album from a solid group on an upstart label. I absolutely love the Midwest mainstream sound and the passion they bring.
9. Excelsius – Liberation
One of the most powerful albums of the year with a focus on reaching the lost. Probably Excelsius’ best work to date.
8. Young Joshua – Back to Reality
After dropping a solid mixtape, Young Joshua proves that he’s a solid emcee that listeners need to take notice of. Teddy P rocked the beats!
7. Brinson – Escaping Me
I admittedly slept on this album, but I’m so glad I purchased it. The preacha showed that he’s got the beats on lock and that he’s got rhymes for days. This stays in heavy rotation.
6. k-Drama – BoomBaptism
Back to his grind as an independent artist, k-Drama is back on top of his game, showing lots of growth as an artist and offering many nod worthy jams. Albums like this are why I love k-Drama; this is 14 2 Life taken to another level.
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LaRosa Johnson Holy Hip-Hop, Music
In the world of the Internet, it’s common knowledge that content is king. If all a website has is a flashy design, but no substance, then there is nothing that is going to keep you going back to that website. Conversely, a website can not have the greatest design in the world, but if it has worthy content, then it is one that becomes frequently visited and popular. I believe this is a concept that translates into other fields as well, for example Bible study software. In this entry, I want to take a look at the concept of “content is king” in the world of Bible study software.
As most already know, I’m currently a WORDsearch employee (I don’t know why I feel obligated to say that, but it’s a worthy disclaimer for these types of posts). But even before I became an employee of theirs, I was first a user of their software, when I originally bought a copy of WORDsearch 5 back in the spring/summer of 2000. I then got an upgrade to version 7 (thanks to the company looking favorably upon my review). When I bought the application, I didn’t buy one of their cheaper packages, but I ended up buying one that normally retails for about $300, so it came with a pretty hefty library of information, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, Christian literature, and so on. Since the purchase, I have made great use of the software and it has been very beneficial to my spiritual growth and aiding in the spiritual growth of others, as I have an entire theological library at my fingertips.
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LaRosa Johnson Ministry, Software Reviews, Tech Stuff
10. Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – Open Book
Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s best work to date with lots of transparency and challenging rhymes.
9. MIA3 – Renewal 101
Great sophomore release that is chock full of the Word; a great teaching album.
8. Urban D – Un.orthodox
Once again, Urban D shows why he is a world renowned holy hip-hop emcee while also serving as a full-time pastor. Be sure to check the bonus DVD and pick up the accompanying book of the same title.
7. Cross Movement – HIStory: Our Place in His Story
Supposedly Cross Movement’s final album; they put together a stellar piece of work that tied together their previous works while showing they still have a few tricks left in their bag.
6. Flame – Our World Fallen
Part one of a two-part release; Flame shed the light on how this world is fallen into sin and shines the Light of Christ as the solution.
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LaRosa Johnson Holy Hip-Hop, Music
I really dig this hymn. It was the hymn of the month at church a couple months ago and I thought I would share it with you. It was written by James George Deck & composed by Rowland H. Prichard.
Son of God! You Now Are Seated
Son of God! You now are seated
High upon Your Father’s throne,
All Your gracious work completed,
All Your mighty vict’ry won.
Ev’ry knee in heav’n is bending
To the Lamb for sinners slain;
Ev’ry voice and heart is swelling,
“Worthy is the Lamb to reign.”
Lord, in all Your pow’r and glory
Still Your thoughts and eyes are here;
Watching o’er Your ransomed people
To Your gracious heart so dear.
You for us are interceding
Everlasting is Your love;
And a blessed rest preparing
In our Father’s house above
Jesus Lord! Your faithful promise
Says, “Behold I quickly come”;
And our heart to Your responsive,
Cry, “Come, Lord and take us home.”
Oh! the rapture that awaits us
When we meet You in the air
And with You ascend in triumph,
All Your deepest joys to share
Lamb of God! When You in glory
Shall to this sad earth return,
All Your foes shall quake before You,
All who now despise You mourn.
Then shall we at Your appearing
With You in Your kingdom reign,
Yours the praise and Your the glory,
Lamb of God, for sinners slain.
LaRosa Johnson Faith, Music
Here’s a cool idea I snagged from Jesse:
If your life was a movie, what would your soundtrack be?
Here’s how it works:
1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie.
OPENING CREDITS: Reintroduce Myself by J Johnson (hi, i’m LaRosa)
WAKING UP: Love Life by Cross Movement (i love life, so why not)
FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL: Afghan Borders & Bloodstained Banners by Gibraan (was a military brat, so how fitting)
FALLING IN LOVE: These Eyes by Knine
FIGHT SONG: Chain Reaction by LPG
BREAKING UP: Strugglin’ by k-Drama (that is too funny)
PROM: Da Pointman by Sev Statik (cuz i was supafly)
LIFE: Lake Plastic by Pettidee
MENTAL BREAKDOWN: Organic by Othello
DRIVING: You by LA Symphony
FLASHBACK: Breathe by Boney James
WEDDING: Let’s Stay in Love by Tonex (how fitting)
BIRTH OF A CHILD: The Line by Lecrae
FINAL BATTLE: Right This Moment by Braille
DEATH SCENE: Outro by HolyCultureRadio.com (again, how fitting)
FUNERAL SONG: Throw C.L. Up by C.L. Ryderz (C.L. stands for Christlike for those who are wondering)
END CREDIT: Real With U by Tonex (I guess this would work for the credits)
Very interesting… for the most part, many of these songs are very fitting for the situation, at least their titles are. A few had me scratching my head, but hey that’s life, right? Be sure to leave a comment when you post yours! And sorry to those who aren’t into Christian rap or holy hip-hop, that’s what takes up the majority of space on my Zune; was rather surprised a sermon didn’t pop up.
Maybe I’ll come back later and link as many of these as I can so you can hear them.
LaRosa Johnson LaRosa, Music, Stuff on the Web
Okay, so I gave you my top 10 list for holy hip-hop & Christian rap, but my love for music doesn’t stop there. I’ve enjoyed some tunes in other genres as well, and here is a taste of what I’ve enjoyed and fell in love with this year.
1. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
2. Deitrick Haddon – 7 Days
3. Dave Hollister – The Book of David Vol. 1: The Transition
4. Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore – Uncovered/Covered
5. Matisyahu – Youth
6. Boney James – Shine
7. Micah Stampley – A Fresh Wind
8. Kierra “KiKi” Sheard – This Is Me
9. Sean Simmonds – True Story
10. Liquid – Tales from the Badlands
That’s a taste of what I enjoyed outside of HHH this year. A lot of the albums I was really really feeling were released in 2005, so I couldn’t count them (i.e. Floetry, Dwele & Kindred the Family Soul).
LaRosa Johnson Music
I did it last year, and I think I’ll do it again this year. I’ll give you my top 10 holy hip-hop & Christian rap CDs of 2006. Without further delay, here’s my list, along with honorable mentions.
1. Sivion – Spring of the Songbird
2. Surreal & DJ Balance – Future Classic
3. Procussions – 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents
4. Stephen the Levite – …To Die is Gain
5. Viktory – Believe It Now
6. Rob Hodge – Born King
7. Lecrae – After the Music Stops
8. TRUCE – The Refuge
9. Bar Wars – Legends of the Ecclessia
10. Whyte Fyre Boyz – Worldwide Warriaz
Honorable mention: Braille (Box of Rhymes… only cuz I haven’t heard it yet), Zee (Livin’ Proof), R-Swift (Revolutionary Theme Muzik), REdNOTE (Da Last Boy Scout), La Familia Muzik (The Hei$t), Pettidee (Thug Love), Excelsius (Final Evolution), Gospel Gangstaz (Flood), k-Drama (Behind the Glory), and JustMe (One Man’s Trash)
That’s my top 10 and a sampling of others that I felt this year. HipHop IS Music definitely reigned supreme this year.
LaRosa Johnson Holy Hip-Hop, Music
As you already know, I write album reviews, which is something that I have been doing for the past 5 or 6 years now. In that span of time I’ve written for several different websites and magazines. In a pretty short amount of time I’ve become a well seasoned veteran reviewer and have come to take joy in doing it (even though sometimes it can be a chore).
In that span of time, I’ve always looked at my writing as both ministry and service. For me, it is ministry because I have the opportunity to let people know about what’s hot & what’s not in the realm of Christian hip-hop, which in turns allows me to minister to people in a way that I would otherwise not have. I’ve gotten many non-believers to at least listen to a message of Jesus by giving them some quality Christian hip-hop music. Secondly, I look at it as a service because I am giving the artist some solid and honest feedback on their album so that they can go back to the lab and make their next album that much better. Seriously, like I said in my other blog entry on review ratings, I pride myself on giving honest reviews and not letting an artist get a big head, unless they honestly deserve it.
Anyway, I had something happen the other day that really got me thinking about the service portion of my reviews. Recently I had an artist (again who will remain nameless) send me a copy of his album via YouSendIt so that I could review it for Trailblazin Ministries. I told him no problem and that reviewing it shouldn’t be an issue. Now he had offered to let me get the songs beforehand, but I told him to wait until he had mastered copies since he had been constantly changing things. So that’s what he did; after I got it, I was even courteous enough to give him a date for when the review would be finished, since he was anticipating getting some feedback. So, I deliver my review right on time and let the “world” know about it. He was very pleased with the review but then asked me to take it down because he had changed some things on the album.
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LaRosa Johnson Holy Hip-Hop, Music, Ramblings
