In the early stages of Hip Hop, the mission of the Disc Jockey (DJ) was to keep the crowd hype and engaged. He would scratch multiple tracks to rouse the audience's excitement. The DJ and the Master of Ceremonies (MC) worked hand in hand to keep the party going. Their sole purpose was to boast on their skills and swagger. They made a wonderful team.
Hip-hop has evolved since then and the DJ's role is not as prevalent as it once was. He is now overshadowed by the ever-charismatic Emcee. However, what happens when you reunite that once successful team of the musical aficionado and the charismatic wordsmith? You get DJ Official's EnterMission.
24 artists, 18 tracks, one DJ, one mission! The challenge is to carry out the important assignment of the Great Commission (Matt 28:19) and the Great Commandment (Luke 10:27). Build the Church, reach the lost, and exalt the King. On EnterMission, this team serves a much greater purpose than to keep a party hype or to stroke the egos of insecure artist.
After producing for over 10 years and serving as traveling deejay, Official finally has the opportunity to reveal the dynamic of his skill-set on one project. The sonic appeal will range from Hip Hop to Drum & Bass to Reggae to R&B. EnterMission features over 20 artists such as Lecrae, Flame, Trip Lee, JR, Tedashii, Sho Baraka and many others. Every single track on EnterMission is produced by DJ Official.
This album will excite the Hip Hop pundit, while also awakening a sleeping interest in all musical novices. The single "Show Off" featuring Lecrae and Flame, which encourages all believers to show off GOD's glory to the world, brings a commercial thump to an album surrounded by diversity. "Chisel Me" featuring Thisl, K-Drama, Json and Tedashii will not disappoint those desiring the Southern grime. Bringing the album full circle is the Rock/Drum&Bass track "Chaos" and reggae song, "Fallen".
DJ Official gives us all a look at what it means to be following God as a people on a mission that need to reflect his grace and love to the world.
What journey are you on? Join DJ Official and Enter the Mission.
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01.
Enter The Mission (feat. Dr. Eric Mason, DJ Official & R-Swift)
02.
Show Off (feat. Lecrae & Flame)
03.
Use Me (feat. Tedashii)
04.
Streets of New York (feat. J.A.Z. & Magellen)
05.
Get Busy (feat. Trip Lee)
06.
Go (feat. H.G.A. & Tedashii)
07.
Not My Own (feat. Stephen the Levite, Phanatik & Evangel)
08.
Love Fallen (feat. Gems, Jahaziel, Benjah & Dillavou)
09.
Nothing Without You (feat. J.R. & Lecrae)
10.
Chaos (feat. Sho Baraka)
11.
Chisel Me (feat. Thi'sl, Json, K-Drama & Tedashii)
12.
On My 116 (feat. Lecrae, Tedashii, Sho Baraka & Trip Lee)
13.
Streets of Philadelphia (feat. Mac the Doulos, Young Joshua, Ackdavis & R-Swift)
Rapzilla.com Review: DJ Official 'Entermission'| Posted March 30, 2010
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from Rapzilla.com
DJ Official is one of Holy Hip Hop’s most notable producers. Widely known for being The Cross Movement’s DJ in the late 90’s, he has been wracking up production credits for well over a decade. After the disbanding of CM, he gained new found recognition for producing songs such as “100” and “Eyes Open,” in addition to being the tour DJ for the 116 Clique. With his debut album DJ Official chooses to stay behind the boards while putting a pressing message on center stage with the help of a few friends.
Entermission is centered on the Great Commission and the practical fulfillment of it in the everyday life of believers. The album opens with Dr. Eric Mason stating “The Christian by identity is a missionary, we don’t just do missions. That’s the most important thing to understand… missions is who [we] are.” The songs that follow this intro seek to ensure listeners will never forget that essential truth. From the radio favorite “Show Off” ft. Lecrae and Flame to the break-neck rhyme patterns of “GO” with new-comers H.G.A. and Reach Records own Tedashii, each artist expresses their passion to preach the cross to the loss and hope that bones will catch ablaze with the same fuel.
This album excels musically because of its fantastic production urging each of the artists to bring forth their best offerings. Entermission presents listeners with a seemingly endless diverse blend of music, from the reggae influenced “Love Fallen” with Jahaziel to the blaring electric guitar of Sho Baraka’s “Chaos” no two songs sound the same. The sonic diversity makes this album seem like it was produced by a slew of beatsmiths instead of just one. There are also a slew of musical interludes between songs that help further shape the vibe of the cd. DJ Official even dares to show that he is not only limited to the realm of boom-bap as he voyages into the melodic “Nothing Without You” and “Forward Me,” featuring singers J.R. and Cam respectfully, with amazing results.
The problem with compilation albums is they tend to be either dull or disconnected because of too many features and a lack of conceptual cohesion. However, this is not an issue with Entermission as each and every artist surprisingly stays focused and on topic. One of the album’s most compelling songs is the previously mentioned “Forward Me” where Cam volunteers to be God’s living text message being sent to even those without cell phones. The goal of this album is clearly to inspire other to do the same. However, it is important to remember missions is not just something you go on it is who you are! We are carefully reminded of this truth by God’s Servant on the stellar “Missio Dei” that “missions aint taking a trip to nations or tracks passed out passed on the strips of pavements” instead it’s a life wholly submitted to Christ and lived out in an evangelistic fashion.
Though, Entermission is a fantastic album, it is not without a misstep or two. “Love Fallen” ft. England born Jahaziel, Gems, and Benjah is your typical blend of reggae and rap with very lackluster results. It’s not necessarily a bad song just an average song that feels out of place on an album filled with great innovative songs. Another rare low point is Trip Lee’s “Get Busy” while most of the production on the album sounds unique and fresh, this track follows the typical template for trunk rattling southern music. This song would probably be a stand out on any another album but is easily forgotten on an album with so much great music. Apart from these hiccups this is definitely an album that you will play straight through time and time again.
With Entermission DJ Official did much more than cement his legacy as a producer. Through this album he has sounded a timeless call to live out the Great Commission that will be ringing in the ears of Christians for years to come. You need to do more than just buy this album and listen to it. You MUST buy it, listen to it, and then go live it out. May God grace us with the strength to enter mission each and everyday of our lives as we seek to make Him known.
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