   |
|
 The Thesis  Since then, the emcee has been busy with three Cross Movement albums and has earned a Master’s degree in Theology to boot. So he’s been grinding, and with his new letters, the title of his album take on special meaning: The Thesis.The CD is more of his ministry to the lost, a challenge to believers and also a thorough explanation why holy hip hop is so important. Things get started with the gritty "Thesis Pieces", with some synth horns to go with the nice beat. Ambassador goes on to dismantle the dark side of hip-hop and becomes a hip hop Nehemiah figure, rebuilding the genre with "building blocks" such as the innovative "Song For You". Duce (Ambassador) shows a little humor along the way, kickstarting the cut with a kid’s chorus singing a little ditty set to soft music. Of course, it quickly morphs into a dope beat, courtesy of Official. The point of the cut is to explain why he uses hip hop for ministry. Ambassador usually has at least one jam to dance to, with commercial radio appeal. This time out, he delivers with "Get You Open", even rapping in a different tone to match the sparsely-loaded percussion and beat. Ambassador spits out "bass, shake, clap", with the rhythm of those sounds, together with his lyrical agility, making for an explosive cut and creating a montage that hip-hop lovers will appreciate. It's one of the jams of the year, no doubt about it. Da TRUTH and Ambassador have had chemistry since The Cross Movement’s Human Emergency album, and with both emcees adding fire on "Feels Good", the duo continue to ignite.  "The Elements" has a hint of rock with a beat similar to Run DMC’s "Rock Box". Official even throws in some guitar samples as Ambassador challenges rap artists to use their talents to reach the hip hop culture for Christ.One of the fascinations of The Thesis, is how Ambassador adds musical dimension to his repertoire. "Oh Wretched Man", produced by Todd Bangz, uses a sample of the same name from the popular group Acappella as its chorus. Bangz adds the perfect beat to fit Acappella’s voices and Ambassador’s flow. The Saint Man produces "My Clothes, My Hair", which is straight-up infectious, with JR on vocals as Ambassador reaches out to those who struggle with self esteem. As if this one weren’t radio friendly as is, there’s even a radio edit of the cut included, making it even more likely for it to become an anthem for youth worldwide. There’s an anthem for the heads in "We Worship You". This is a simple one that encourages even the hardest dudes to reference God, elegantly splicing together chanted title as the chorus and featuring a cameo by The Tonic amidst Hammond B3 riffs. Other songs to check out are "Body Talk" (an ode to women), the bangin' "Crown Him" and "Amba-ss-ador", plus the usual array of insightful interludes. The Thesis makes for a complete and refreshing album, showcasing Ambassador’s skills and passion for ministry. Things are only getting better for this artist, and that’s good for the Kingdom and for hip hop. Keep bringin’ it!
Email This To A Friend Cross Movement Records — reviewed by Dwayne Lacy, Brenda Ingram II, Stan North —
All content in GOSPELflava © copyright 2005. No information to be reprinted or re-broadcast from this site without the expressed written consent of GOSPELflava.com. All rights reserved. |
            
|