Reviewed by Steve Hayes

The thoughtful and creative Sho Baraka has synthesised a challenging and quality project, where hip-hop meets thinking meets the Bible meets the street. Sho was brought up in South California where he met hip-hop at a young age and found redemption in education and Jesus from the streets at college. The life of faith is given musical expression on different levels through the album - from the album info ("We are the boombox of heaven") - through to the lyrics. In the rolling and challenging "Music Of Life" Sho encourages us that "we live by different beat" - loving God and loving our brother. "Overrated" is a brilliant, powerful insight and check on US priorities and how things have been messed up, "the youngest can quote 50 Cent but can't count to 50 cents" with Sho demonstrating considerable wit. In "Great Day II Die", Baraka verbalises the need to die daily and die to self - with a ragga styled hook bringing some variation. An uplifting and creative track is "Slow It Down" which needs to be heard to be appreciated, as with the "Oh My Lord" - which both demonstrate why hip-hop is an essential music and voice in society. An inspiring project with top-quality lyricism, beats and production.

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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