Bringing the Heat and Keeping it Real| Posted March 28, 2016
Dream Junkies are the eclectic group of rappers who represent the West Coast geographically while striving to represent Christ with their lifestyle. They also speak for the everyday, Monday through Sunday Christian. All these things collide to form their new album, Good Religion.
To me it is both refreshing and frustrating that the Dream Junkies do not fit in certain boxes. It's only frustrating because some people can't connect with them because of their complex subject matter and lack of enough trap beats and songs to "turn up to." Before you listen to this album, you have to understand the rappers that form the collective: Beleaf, Ruslan and John Givez. All three individuals have owned up to their own shortcomings and even vices, but their pursuit of seeking God's best for their lives is something that separates them from others. The resulting realness can leave them in limbo between Christian and mainstream acceptance, but they just stay in their lane. Producers Anthony Cruz and JRuckers laid down the tracks to fit the mood and subject matter.
The trio support each other well on "Answer Your Call" featuring Carlene Crawford, and they get retrospective while embracing what is in front of them in "Take Me Back." These road warriors give a bird's eye view of the realities of tour life on the percussion heavy banger "Show Biz." Each one hilariously giving their take on some of the funniest and most frustrating experiences from the road.
Murs guests on "Left Coast" to help deliver an ode to the West Coast. The slowed beat goes well with Givez's harmonizing background vocals (which are topped by the low octave serving as the melody). There is no doubt that "I Got the Juice" is garnering the most attention because of the energy of the beat, the flow of each rapper and the accompanying music video.
The Bottom Line: Dream Junkies are blazing their own trail, and you should follow them. Yes, they will at times have you wondering "did they really say that?", but these guys are the real deal.
Song to Download Now:
"I Got The Juice" (Get it on iTunes here.)
to add lyrics if not listed.
