MARS ILL CD REVIEW
http://www.strandedinstereo.com/music_marsill.shtml
MARS ILL
Pro-Pain
Gotee Records
by Thomas D. Williams
I have to be honest, I wanted to dislike Mars Ill when I initially found out they were Christian. I feared the hypocritical message I associate with some "Christian" artists (Creed…come on.) I feared watered down hip hop as a medium for a message I don't feel. Not that the message is necessarily bad, it's just not my thing. Fortunately Mars Ill is undeniably good Hip Hop. Dust's beats are the stuff classic hip hop is made of…choice samples, strong melodies and head nodding beats. ManChild's flow, voice and lyrics are so distinctive there is no comparison to another rapper coming. As a whole they exhibit patient songwriting and interdependence; truly a group dynamicPro-Pain is their third album, or "the completion to [their] hat trick," as manChild so accurately announces. The first "single" (?!) off the album is "More." The interesting "more vs. less" theme is shared with fellow Christian hiphopper Ahmad from 4th Avenue Jones. The real treat though is the haunting, yet beautiful, vocal display by fellow Atlanta resident Anthony David. "Change Your Ways" is classic hip hop sound; a collage of scratches for an introduction and epilogue and the Vibrations "There's Love In Them There Hill's" sampled for the chorus. The strong and heartfelt songwriting continues throughout with manChild confessing to his growth as a man ("Stand Back"), a Christian ("When Heaven Scrapes") and an artist ("Sound Off"). Never overwhelming but always impressing Mars Ill make tastefully good music once again.
MARS ILL
Pro-Pain
Gotee Records
by Thomas D. Williams
I have to be honest, I wanted to dislike Mars Ill when I initially found out they were Christian. I feared the hypocritical message I associate with some "Christian" artists (Creed…come on.) I feared watered down hip hop as a medium for a message I don't feel. Not that the message is necessarily bad, it's just not my thing. Fortunately Mars Ill is undeniably good Hip Hop. Dust's beats are the stuff classic hip hop is made of…choice samples, strong melodies and head nodding beats. ManChild's flow, voice and lyrics are so distinctive there is no comparison to another rapper coming. As a whole they exhibit patient songwriting and interdependence; truly a group dynamicPro-Pain is their third album, or "the completion to [their] hat trick," as manChild so accurately announces. The first "single" (?!) off the album is "More." The interesting "more vs. less" theme is shared with fellow Christian hiphopper Ahmad from 4th Avenue Jones. The real treat though is the haunting, yet beautiful, vocal display by fellow Atlanta resident Anthony David. "Change Your Ways" is classic hip hop sound; a collage of scratches for an introduction and epilogue and the Vibrations "There's Love In Them There Hill's" sampled for the chorus. The strong and heartfelt songwriting continues throughout with manChild confessing to his growth as a man ("Stand Back"), a Christian ("When Heaven Scrapes") and an artist ("Sound Off"). Never overwhelming but always impressing Mars Ill make tastefully good music once again.
posted by AJ WOODSON at 8:26 AM
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