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Bring on Da' T.R.U.T.H. | Posted January 28, 2013
I have to start off by saying that it is important for a review, listener, etc. to give albums and songs a few listens to understand the message. It's like watching a movie like Inception or even The Hobbit. You get something different each listen. I am one who love artists are out of the box with their approach to ministry such as: Je'kob, Sho Baraka, High Society, Family Force 5, Theory Hazit, Capital Kings, etc. However, I am grateful that rap veteran, Da' T.R.U.T.H. released Love, Hope, War, his second release on Xist Records. He brings a healthy balance of each part of the album title.
So he comes out the corner swinging with "D.O.S. (Death of Silence)", produced by Andre Atkinson, Maurice Tonia and Mark Mims. He pulls no punches (wait is that a contradictory statement?) as he challenges fellow believers to step up and be a vocal witness for Christ. This is amidst to efforts to keep Christians quiet in this day and hour. He also urges Christians not to be ashamed to preach what the Word of God is against in "Table Talk."
Before anyone criticizes him for preaching at them, T.R.U.T.H. gets introspective and honest on "Where Was I” produced by Joseph Love. He expresses his regret for not showing the love of Christ to his now deceased cousin and his vow to really be evangelistic even when he is not on the stage. This song brings great conviction to me.
The movie The Hunger Games and the book of the same name created quite a huge buzz in the last several years for teens and adults alike. So when T.R.U.T.H. hits us with his first single using the same title ("Hunger Games"), the interest was definitely peaked. Alternative soul artist/producer J.R. shows us that he can drop the hardest of trap beats. The beat starts, and I'm wondering if he is going to reference Katniss and Peeta. No deal. This "hunger” that he talks about is lust and gluttony and how this massive battle can be won through self-denial and reliance on Christ's means.
"The City" is another part of the hope portion of the album as B. Reith sings, "Everything is O.K. / still looking forward to that day / when I'm not a stranger / in the City of Hope.” Although the trap beats are nice, the album has enough of them so that is why producer GROC deserves props for bringing a different element. It still flows well with the album. "Hope" screams banger from the bars of T.R.U.T.H., Flame (he is killing all of his features), Trip Lee to the hook provided by This'l to the head nodding beat courtesy of Alex Medina and Geeda. The message needs no explanation.
It is no surprise that GROC serves as the producer for the song where T.R.U.T.H sings on. "Real Love" is a song where he shares his earnest intent to love people deeper in Christ and not the surface-type of love. It actually would have been cool to hear him sing the whole song and the autotune on his voice sounds really good. Yes, the autotune is an added touch. Ahh, the boom bip, smooth chorus and candid lyrics add to create that jam "Ugly Love." This is an ode to his loving wife, family, etc that loves in the worst times which proves how beautiful it really is.
Closing Thoughts:
The trap beats were a little excessive, but the album is wonderfully written. It is convicting, but not condemning. It's introspective, but yet serves as an encouragement and an admonishment for believers. This is not the same Da' T.R.U.T.H. from four or five years ago. He preaches love and hope just as much as he urges fellow believers to go to war.
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