Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The CCM industry is still reeling from the phenomenal changes that has overcome it. Not only has much of the market for songs about God intended as encouragement for believers disappeared, and modern worship replaced it in producing the hits; not only has illegal copying devastated record sales, but gospel hip-hop now dominates. In terms of the quantity of releases, it's bigger than rock and pop combined. 'Southern Lights: Overexposed' is another excellent example of what the Christian hip-hop world is now regularly delivering - tracks and flows which powerfully pinpoint the compromise and excess which has enveloped America. "Wake Up" exposes the racism and violence which still runs deep in US society and features Ohio-based rapper Swoope while another gifted emcee, Houston's Reconcile, lashes a mainstream music industry so locked into the veneration of "Money". 30 years previously Motown Records had their first big hit with a song called "Money" (later covered by the Beatles) but on that number it was an expression of unbridled greed. Here Faith, Murray and Reconcile lash today's money obsession with biting flows over a tinkling keyboard riff as they rap about the 5-star hotels and drug deals. Its hook is particularly telling: "All I ever hear is 'we just do it for the money'." Another top cut is the confessional "City Of Nightmares" where Ada-L's denouncement of the folly of glorifying street life cleverly makes its point. Collison Records have released some fine hip-hop albums and this earthy, hard-hitting missive is amongst their best.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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