Reviewed by Stephen Adams Since most Christian labels aren't selling platinum status, I assume this compilation from Christsyde Records run by flagship group, Christsyde, is attempting to present us with material worthy of a platinum plaque. So the question is, does it fulfill it's objective? Well, the production, done solely by Coo-B, half of Christsyde, certainly comes close at times, but is severely let down by unoriginal rappers with concepts that we've all really heard before. Artists such as C-Luv, Christsyde, Prescilla, and Coo-B himself are given beats that ooze with very West Coast funkiness and despite a few missteps, such as the song "I'm A Ryder" by Coo-B's fellow Christsyde member, Flo, which manages to sound like a carbon-copy of Dr Dre's work on Xzibit's ‘Restless’ album, or the A.G.E. tracks which are very mediocre, Coo-B brings quite strong beats to the table. Even Coo-B's track "Get Up" has a beat that could be easily spun by DJs alongside the latest Missy Elliot or Busta Rhymes single. However, an example of the rappers bringing down the production comes on the C-Luv track "Testimony" which is the best beat on here, just bouncing like a perfect West Coast lowrider anthem, yet C-Luv manages to sound like a second-rate DMX or Tupac, while other concepts range from getting one up on “dem demons” or trying to ward away the haters who don't believe that the rappers are real to the streets. Territory like this has already been covered years ago by better rhymers like Gospel Gangstaz and T-Bone, and even then it got tired quickly. I was fairly impressed with some of the beatmaking, but for someone who rates dope lyrics as being almost, if not equally as important as a good beat, then I can't really give this as good a mark as I would have wanted. It won't be selling platinum anytime soon, 'coz the hip-hop mainstream seems to like mediocre, unoriginal rhymers, but is less tolerant when those rhymers are Christians.
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