Impacting a Generation
Posted September 02, 2013
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Drugs, peer pressure, popularity, social media and relationships are just some of the things that teenagers face. Then there are the young TV stars and music artists who face the pressure of growing up and trying to find an identity. We have seen countless numbers of them fall into the abyss of hard living and addictions. These are only some of the reasons why having a rapper like 16-year old KIDD release a quality debut is so important. I knew that Rapzilla would not put so much stock into signing him if he was not something special. His album Murder My Flesh definitely validates their decision.
Tyshane, an 18 year-old producer/beat maker, provides the heat for the title track. This song is needed by Christians and such an anti-culture song. I am not going to keep hammering the point of how impressive it is for a 16-year old rapper who is a Christian to release a dope debut album. He is totally going against the grain of an "anything goes" party age with this song.
KIDD enlists the help of Je'kob (one of my personal favorites) to weave his distorted vocals on the hook of "Welcome to the Jungle." The piano loop, guitar track and subtle drum beat by JGRAMM goes well with KIDD's bars and the hook. The only problem is that this track was used on a Yaves song.
Hip hop heads, prepare to nod your head and enjoy the storytelling on "Too Cool." This anecdotal banger has KIDD rapping about a girl and a guy (two different scenarios) who lived a "fun" life that left them in horrible fates. The girl ended up in jail and the guy was killed. He ends by admonishing the listeners to follow God and not the lies of fast living.
"Jezebel" is a personified look at KIDD's journey with his Jezebel: hip hop. Wit's production is a breath of fresh air, because some of his tracks can sound the same. The key word is "some".
KIDD puts on his producer's hat and lays a dope beat for "Identity Theft." If that's not enough, he paints a vivid picture of a young man who struggles with the person that he should be and ends up making a bad decision. The young man gives his life to Christ, and he realizes that the person whom he was trying to be was stealing his identity in Christ.
I am a firm believer that a great song can be enhanced by a great hook or chorus. Sometimes that hook can also take away from the song. KIDD scores more points for the hooks on this album. Check out "Effigy" featuring JR and "Radical" featuring Skrip. Both features kill their respective hooks!
Bars, bars, bars are spit with a modern day telling of the Tower of Babel on "Royal Lies." Derek Minor starts it off and hands the baton to KIDD who then gives it to Gemstones. Gemstones brings it home like a true "anchor leg" does. Strong finish.
Closing Thoughts:
It's not just impressive. It's well produced and well executed. It could have been mixed a little better and they could have added a little more bass into the songs. KIDD sounds like a veteran, but he never comes off as a know-it-all. Murder My Flesh is not just a bunch of songs thrown on an album. Songs can stand alone, but as a whole, this album is a powerful gift to deliver to a generation of youth who need something concrete to stand on. He offers Christ while keeping it 100% strong throughout. Yes he does have that young sound in his voice, but I will not hold it against him.
Song to Download Now:
"Identity Theft" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By DwayneLacy_NRT | View DwayneLacy_NRT's Profile
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