'Does Anybody Know?' - Japhia Life (video)

Japhia Life - Does Anybody Know? from BangPopLA on Vimeo.

'Does Anybody Know?' is taken from Japhia Life's forthcoming album 'Nazareth'. This track is getting attention on secular blogs which is surely a good thing. This track isn't the most evangelistic thing out there but hopefully it will open doors and ears to more of Japhia's music (I seem to remember enjoying 'Fountain of Life').

The premise of the song revolves around the lyrics "On that road, looking for my promised land 7 days of the week/ Does anybody know how a person can get there?". Japhia outlines some of his struggles, both past and present (I assume), and the track forms a kind of prayer of penitence - a cry for help.

Some of the most famous verses in the bible are the answer for to question:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:1-7)

The passage clearly speaks of our promised land: heaven, God's house. It also sees Jesus making the most amazing promise - He went there to prepare places there for those who trust in Him. I am so thankful for Thomas too (who gets bad press for being 'doubting') for asking his question; without that we would not have John 14:6. How do we come to heaven, to our promised land? We come through a trust in the Lord Jesus. And, if we trust, love and know Jesus we, by default, know God also!

'Kry Out' & 'Crack Music' - Jacob Izrael (video + free downloads)

I'm really feeling Jacob Izrael's leaks from his forthcoming free-to-download album 'The Glitch' [available here on 30th March] . The two tracks that have dropped are this one ('Kry Out') and 'Crack Song' [download them for free here]. Dirty South beats and Autotune aint usually my thing but this MC really speaks out on pressing social issues. Jesus set this example in His life and ministry and the Bible echoes it over and over.

For example, James writes about social action as part of our faith:

James 1:27 (New International Version)

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

OK so, just by writing a song and addressing the issues Jacob Izrael isn't physically doing something about it but he uses his voice to raise awareness of modern-day orphans and widows and exhorts us to take action.

'From The Outside' - Deepspace5

Pure fun vibes here from megagroup Deepspace5 on their new single 'From The Outside'. The track is taken from their forthcoming LP 'The Future Aint What It Used To Be' - playful title huh? Visit their websites to find out more: http://deepspace5.com/ or http://www.megaroyalrecords.com/.

From The Outside - DeepSpace 5 by Mega Royal Records

Sphere of Hip Hop Downloads & Some Thoughts On Listening To Christian Hip Hop

Sphere of Hip Hop is one of the very best resources online for Christian Hip Hop. One of their great features is their daily download. The download can be gotten manually [by clicking here] or if you are an itunes user (and let's face it, most people are) you can schedule it to download as a podcast each day [by clicking here]. To catch up with all previous downloads there is a long list of tracks to choose from. [available by clicking here]

I think one thing that is important to mention is that as a listener you should always test what you are hearing with the Bible. Some of what pupports to be Christian/Holy/Gospel Hip Hop can be as damaging as listening to Hip Hop that only pushes sex, violence and all round immorality. If you hear something you're not sure about - look to the Bible, or someone who knows the Bible well and find out whether what the MC is saying squares with the Scriptures.

Some tracks will teach you new and exciting things about God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Christian life - so long as the artists are engaging in study of the Scriptures. Sometimes things may sound radical - but the Bible brings a radical message so don't be too quick to slam an idea - look into it. Use your musical preferences to initiate your own study and meditation.

'Grassroots Vol. 1 & 2' - Lamp Mode Recordings (free downloads)

If you haven't found anything from Lamp Mode Recordings yet then the best way to start is by downloading their free downloads. There are two volumes of Grassroots - volume 1 and volume 2, strangely enough.

Volume 1 is a much shorter affair than its predecessor at only 7 tracks long but with tracks like Timothy Brindle's 'Let's Kill Sin', Shai Linne's 'Christ Crucified' and 'World Wide Web' you get a real feel for this label's gospel centred output. [download Volume 1 by clicking here]

Volume 2 continues with the classic sounding boom bap Hip Hop with MCs like Hazakim, Stephen The Levite, Json, Evangel and Shai Linne spitting real biblical truths in the least cringe-worthy way; this is real Hip Hop with the most real message.

Stephen The Levite's 'The Choir' is a brilliantly produced track - fans of Brother Ali will be into this. His track 'What's Your Proof?' proves that his lyrics come directly from scriptural study (check the last verse); this is God's word in rhyme format - a rare thing even in the world of Christian Hip Hop. Shai Linne's 'Testify' is a great example of how powerful people's different testimonies can be when they contain elements of the gospel and apologetics. Json's 'I Do' is a heartfelt plea to his mother for her to follow Christ. [download Volume 2 by clicking here]

I haven't had a chance to check out any more of the releases from this record label but I fully intend to - this is some of the most uplifting and doctrinally sound Christian Hip Hop I've ever heard.

'No Freedom Without Sacrifice' - Homecut (review)

‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’: never has a more beautiful flower sprung up from the dirt of UK Hip Hop.

The album opens slowly over the course of three tracks and by the end of the opening trilogy the flower is in full bloom. Homecut’s debut album is one to set aside an hour for – sit back and relax… and listen. This LP is relaxing and calming in a way that only instrumental Hip Hop achieves, although there are exceptions – ‘Innovators’ is funky and ‘Night At The Fair’ has a rock edge to it. Homecut sings and raps his way through 14 tracks and is joined by many talented musicians along the way. And that’s what this album is; musical – these are proper songs.

Jazz, funk and disco all provide an influence for Homecut’s production and ‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’ is a melting pot of musical styles. Homecut (AKA Testament) is an accomplished rapper with a laidback style and introspective lyrics – prepare for your thoughts to be provoked on subjects such as mixed-race relationships, modern escapism, financial woes and crime. But don’t prepare to be depressed – that’s just not Homecut’s style – positivity is the way. Listen out for Homecut’s playful lyricism (“I breath in the analogue and breath out the digital” or “I appreciate the feedback…”).

‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’ is out now on First Word Records and is available at itunes, Amazon and First Word's shop.

Introducing: Testament

Here's the unedited version of my piece on Homecut, written for and published in HHC Digital 002:

When a friendly cuppa becomes one third of a collaboration and a case of stalking makes up the remainder, one should expect remarkable results. So it was that Homecut, the alias of MC, beatboxer and singer Testament, built his single ‘I Don’t Even Know’. The track features the vocal talents of chart topping songstress Corinne Bailey Rae who heard the track when she popped into the studio for a drink and subsequently demanded to sing on it. Then, after tracking him down and hijacking a radio interview Homecut also managed to get a sax solo and 16 bars from Birmingham jazz/rap cat Soweto Kinch.

Homecut’s debut album ‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’ boasts contributions from over fifty musicians plus a couple of rap cameos. Ty firmly stamps his approval and American MC J-Live trades bars on ‘Time Difference’, a track that covers three concepts: time zones, the day in the life of a rapper and coming to terms with growing up. Working with a hero via phone and email after supporting them at a show may be unconventional and difficult but as Testament explains, “J’s really on it… he always comes correct” – in fact the hook-up deserves full marks.

Thematically, Testament raps about reality: “Life can be tough – I think everyone can identify with that. This is my attempt at expressing this…” Don’t get it twisted though, he continues: “…but also the sense of hope and perseverance that got me through it”. Moaning and negativity have no place in the Homecut repertoire - positivity is key to the overall sound.

When Homecut isn’t roaming the country recording in all manner of places (boats, dressing rooms, churches…) he’s busy being a part of Shlomo’s Vocal Orchestra, performing with a 6 piece band and running music workshops in prisons. It’s this unique combination of factors that makes for the refreshing musical output of this London-born, Leeds-dwelling, full time musician. Carving his own groove in a 30 year old genre, Homecut is stuck in no rut and fits in no mould.

HHC, in their new tradition of giving an mp3 of a track by each featured artist put up Homecut's collaboration with J-Live, 'Time Difference', for you to listen to. The album 'No Freedom Without Sacrifice' is out on Monday 25th May.