Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

For his latest album, Florida-based rapper StefanOtto has employed the services of a revolving door of producers and guest artists which makes for an immensely varied and thrilling release. Of course, it's Otto's supreme wordsmithery and delivery - underpinned by an expertly communicated representation of the man's Christian faith - which shines through with producers such as Tone Jonez, Soundnami and Theory Hazit providing a delightfully organic beat backdrop to allow this album to continually shapeshift in shimmering fashion. Whilst the title track opener finds the Martinique-born rapper looking heavenward, much of the remainder of this release sees Otto tackling thorny earthly subjects with the likes of "Queens" and "Scarlett's Letter" dealing with domestic abuse and the story of an HIV-infected teenage pregnancy respectively with breathtaking clarity whilst the self-explanatory "Idols Die" calls out false gods such as porn, pills and weed with authority but without sensation. Elsewhere, "Upside Down" is a candid journal of how difficult it is to be a Christian in today's world - both in and out of church - whilst the previously released single and this album's undoubted highlight "Body Bag" is a sublime piece of gangsta rap which expounds the concept of crucifying the old self and living in Christ better than a hundred sermons on the same subject. Cameos from the likes of Selah The Corner, Jered Sanders, Datin and Jes Norris are welcome but the stage on this occasion really belongs to our man StefanOtto on this his highly accomplished Menace Movement debut.

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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