Cross Movement Records has been a tremendous source for top-notch Christian Hip-Hop for 10 years. In 2007, with the debut release of Everyday Process, their album Everyday Process: The Process of Illumination and Eliminationis a welcome addition to the Christian Hip-Hop community.
EP, Iz-Real and Mac the Doulos, comes with a gritty, unabashed approach to their music. Their shared passion adds to the enjoyment of their album. EP’s tenacious delivery definitely works to their benefit, because after the beat drops for their opening song, aptly titled, “Straight to the Point,” you feel that if this momentum maintains throughout the album you will be in for a great listen. Fortunately, this is exactly what EP has for us, an extremely enjoyable listen.
The album begins with five consecutive head bangers, which include “Build Up,” “Resist the System,” “Give ‘em the Gospel”, and the definite stand out track, “Grace.”
The latter is one of those songs in which the concept, beat, and lyrics come together almost perfectly. It would have been nice if EP had provided more songs with Iz and Mac together. Their chemistry is what added to the effectiveness of “Grace.” After these five rugged tracks, EP takes the time to slow it down a bit with, “All I Need,” featuring La’Tia and Karen. Mac drops a notable verse:
Lord, it’s You I need
Without You, I couldn’t breathe…blind to the truth…couldn’t see
And I wouldn’t be
In a state to appreciate what You did on that wooden “t”
And I shouldn’t be complacent
When considering how amazin’ Your grace is
Lord, You’ve got my undivided attention
I don’t see how people just rely on religion
That’s an empty existence amidst this sin sick humanity
Where all is vanity
We need You sometimes we don’t act like we do
With their debut, EP, sought to, in compliance with the title, illuminate the Word of God and His love to the non-believer while also trying to help eliminate any thing that causes people to be separated from God and His love. There is no pretense with them and executing their mission is a top priority for them and shows throughout the album. On a poignant track directed toward believers, “As Real as it Gets,” Iz-Real drops this:
Have mercy oh Lord I feel the heat
Although the spirit is willing the physique is weak
Please fill the void and restore my faith
Bring back the joy of me seeking your face
I purposed in my heart to love and trust you
Walk upright live truth obey you
But the more I try the more it seems the harder I fall
In a race of endurance man I tend to stall
Christian this is as real as it gets
ya faith is strengthened daily so daily strive to carry
out the plan God ordained for us
before the world was framed He arranged for us
to go thru knowing the outcome
so as you go thru out comes everything that’s unlike him
Not only does EP deliver the lyrics, but their beat selection is on point as well. Thanks to Mac the Doulos, DJ Official, So Hot Productions, and others, EP was blessed with soundtracks to drop some superior music. This they undoubtedly do. This great album should be getting much play in CD players and portable MP3 players for some time. Purchase this album, sit back, and enjoy.
Highlights: Build Up, Resist the System Give ‘em the Gospel, Grace, Real as it Gets |
