Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Slowly but surely a trickle of female rappers have emerged to demonstrate that, like the vast torrent of male holy hip-hop exponents, ladies too have the verbal ingenuity and Spirit anointing to join the company of prophets proclaiming Jesus of Nazareth as the King of Kings. And equally slowly, Kim Ruiz (rap name G. L. O - God's Love Only) has risen from the obscurity of Texas local church ministry from which this MC would literally sell her first album on a street corner, to become an admired hip-hop artist who has performed across the USA and this year played her first UK gig. This album's title has a prophetic resonance because, released in 2010, it was recorded under all manner of difficulties and disappointments has, slowly but surely, proven to be an album that five years on sounds exhilaratingly fresh and vital as the day it was made. Tracks like "Name above All Names", "Unpopular" and "Dust" are all about to receive Cross Rhythms airplay. As well as wrapping G. L. O is no mean singer and provides most of the sung hooks, apart from Tiffany Nicole on "You're The One" and Maurice Irons on "Seven Days". This also male rapper Tha Christologist guesting on "Shshine". But it's G. L. O with her thrilling, Scripture-packed flows which dominate with "Name Above All Names" a courageous riposte against all the many-paths-to-God mush of the liberal mindset. A dazzling album that hip-hop connoisseurs are still discovering.

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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