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Even the skits [Which there are plenty of] are all funny and very revealing. The production is of course shoddy, Which can usually ruin a rap album, But here that just enhances it. The best part is is that the guys don't try to sound like they're better than everyone else and they don't sound prideful with their faith in Jesus which makes for an even more enjoyable listen. I have yet to find a gospel rap album that's better than this one. Much gospel rap before about 1997 was horrible [with the exceptions of these guys, Grits, And T-Bone], But this is actually one of the very few earlier gospel rap albums that's worth having today.
I bet if one were to blast ''Mobbin'' anywhere in california, I bet all the old school west coast rap fans there would get down instantly. The song, Which is a Mr. From the gritty ''Before Redemption'' to the deep ''Testimony'' to the party-ready ''Gospel Gangsta Voyage'', This album has it all. In fact, This album is just as gangsta as the Death Row records albums that were coming out at the time.
1 of my friends ordered this album off of here for my birthday [Bless his soul] and this cd hasn't come out of my cd player since. Once the album starts, You can't help but bob ya head [And maybe even get hype] to the cuts on this album. If a few of these beats to these songs sound familiar, It's because a few of these beats were used by other west coast rappers [The beat to ''One Time'' was actually used by Ice Cube for ''How To Survive In South Central'', The beat to ''Vengeance Is Mine'' was used by Spice 1 for ''F'ed In The Game'', And the beat to ''Before Redemption'' was later slowed down and used by Snoop for a little-known song called ''Too Black'', Which appeared on the outtakes cd ''Dead Man Walkin''], But these are all still hot songs today. Tik Tokk, Chille Chill, Mr. Although many might not agree with the use of the n-word and the sometimes violent content of this album, The Gospel Gangstaz surely came correct on this classic 1994 debut.
Solo-only track, is very Public Enemy-like in terms of lyrics and is very realistic and it's a wonder the lyrics to this song was never considered a hip-hop quotable by The Source [''I got the mind, like the kind of Benjamin Bannicker/Still i'm only good enough to be a janitor/My pocket is void so i'm paranoid/I fed off thousands of that, Still i'm unemployed'']. Is this the most spiritual gospel rap album out there. If you love Ice Cube, MC Eiht, N.W.A, Eazy-E, Early Snoop Dogg, Above The Law, Or pretty much any west coast rap pre-1996, You are gonna be in for a treat when your ears hear the stuff that comes from this album. With its extremely catchy reggae hook, ''Tears Of A Black Man'' Reminds one of early conscious rap like KRS-ONE, Public Enemy, Brand Nubian, And X-Clan. No.
Just about everything on this album is perfectly done. This is the rawest sounding gospel rap album ever released and with good reason. For once, This is a gospel rap album that's actually a major force to be reckoned with and i would actually even take it a step further to say this is one of the best rap albums of the 1990's. No doubt in my mind that if this cd wasn't about finding Jesus, This cd would be honored alongside other west coast classics like The Chronic, Doggystyle, Straight Outta Compton, And Life Is Too Short. These songs should've made some old school hip-hop compilations by now. I could see ''Before Redemption'' or even ''Y Can't Da Homiez Hear Me.'' being on the soundtrack to a movie like ''Menace II Society'' and that's surely something i will probably only say about this album.
Once you own this cd, You don't really need any other gospel rap cd's. If it's a godly message mixed with tight funky old school G-funk beats that you're looking for, Buy this album. The Gospel Gangstaz were never better on any of their other albums that followed this one.
But if it's deep theology and lyrical bible studies you want, Go buy something from The Cross Movement. The guys are former gang members from la and they got saved only maybe 1 or 2 years before the release of this album and this is actually a gospel rap album that has the capability to appeal to christians and non-christians alike. While this is not really the first hardcore gospel rap album [That honor belongs to T-Bone's 1993 debut ''The Life Of A Hoodlum''], It's definitely the greatest all-around gospel rap album to ever be released.
''Tears of A Black Man'' dares to go where much gospel rap albums wouldn't even dare go into: Racial issues. Solo, And DJ Dove [Formerly of SFC] all bring nothing but heat on this very edgy and very street christian album. The even more fascinating thing about this album is that this album could've easily been profane and extremely violent like the west coast rap that was coming out at the same time period, But this album is relatively clean [Unless you are offended by the n-word] and very fun as well as gangsta.
Now. Definitely the rawest and arguably the best Christian rap album ever. Buy it.
A MUST HAVE. This is a rare CD now-a-days, but it is worth the investment. This is far the best Christian Rap Album that has been produced to this day. Every one of these songs are excellent.
A bit of warning, the phrase 'nigga' is used often. I thank God for this CD and all the way to the latest, The Flood, GG's have not lost the heartbeat of reaching the Gangtaz. If you love Rap and Jesus, this CD is a most have. This CD will go down in HISTORY as one of the greatest Christian Rap Albums. It's ghetto style Rap, better get used to it. If you came from the ghetto, barrio, hood, or whatever you call it, and Jesus saved you, this is what you were listening to. In fact, even T-Bone no disrespect, had nothing on the GG's in early 1990's. If you were a Chronic fanatic, this is what kept you in church and you know it.
I had to keep reading the lyrics just to see if these guys were really Christian. Their other albums are definite must have's for your collection, but "Gang Affiliated" is a classic, a collectors item. So when these guys came out, I was completely blown away. those guys hate each other, but only God can change the lives of two rival gang members and put them in the same group. Yes this is very much early 90's old school gangsta rap, but it will always be a classic.
so be warned, but be blessed. havin sex so much, I'm losin weight" on a Christian album before. Amazing. And I don't think I've ever heard the phrase, ". These guys paved the way for Christian rap/Hip hop today. which is why track #2 "Before Redemption", knocks you to the floor. Not only did these guys have serious skillz on the mic, but these guys were not afraid to be in your face about God, life, where they came from, etc. And yes this album is VERY TOUGH on the ears, but remember at that time, these guys had just barely gotten saved and had only known the ways of these streets there in Compton before this album.
I grew up in church so I was not allowed to listen to the secular stuff, so I was always disappointed with what Christian rap was producing in those days. So grab it and keep it in your collection. Cuz if God can change their lives, there is hope for you. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised. And to think that these guys were former gang bangers- "Bloods" and "Crips" is unbelievable.
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