Going Hard
Posted October 13, 2014
By MarkRyan_NRT, Staff Reviewer
There has been a recent shift in the world of Christian Hip Hop. All of a sudden it seems that each release builds on the strength of the last. It is no doubt that it is a close community of artists who maintain allegiance to the same team and will frequently proclaim that they represent the one one six. Reflection Music Group artist Canon has quickly become a fixture in the discussion. His third album, Loose Canon Vol. 2, is strong from start to finish, and although not industry changing like Lecrae's Anomaly, it delivers in quality of production, style and lyricism.
The album starts with the hard hitting "Go Off." In typical Canon fashion, he goes off hard with his unique rapid fire style and a beat that hits you deep in your soul. Rapid fire lyrics show a mastery of one's tongue and lyrics, but can be polarizing to the listener as it can be difficult to understand the words. For this particular reviewer, it makes me listen more closely to what is being said.
Next up is "Motivation (feat. Social Club)." Whenever Marty and Fern show up on a track, it is reason to get excited. Combine Canon's hard hitting style with that of Social Club, and you are given a recipe for face melting. The beat is subdued in the track, allowing the lyrical prowess of the artists to take the forefront. Canon also produced this track, which shows off another level of his talent.
"Trippen" shows yet another side of Canon's versatility. In this track producer Eighty 7 skillfully incorporates multiple samples into the track, and Canon slows down the flow to deliver his message. "Point of View" features vocals by Tragic Hero and gospel new comer Adia. Canon is back to his rapid fire ways, and Cardec delivers a hard hitting beat. The song is smooth. And speaking of smooth, rapid fire over a smooth beat is what is delivered on "Common Sense."
The album ends powerfully with "Put Me On" and "Dreams." This is the epitomy of hard hitting hip hop music: a powerful message delivered with powerful lyrics and a hard hitting, soul crunching beat.
Closing Thoughts:
Canon delivers, as always. He goes off hard on this latest offering. Each song on the EP offers us a unique side of Canon, and we also get a taste of his production skills. He is a well-rounded artist and producer, and with this project, he proves he is much more than a gimmick driven, one trick pony.
Song to Download Now:
"Motivation (feat. Social Club)" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By MarkRyan_NRT | View MarkRyan_NRT's Profile
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