Hiphopinfinity's review
Lazeric Fridwell Freeman | hiphopinfinity | 03/14/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Over the last year or so, Christian hip-hop artists have provided us with several dope albums-- not just "dope for Christian artists," but truly dope by secular standards. Regardless of your particular religious affiliation, who could deny that the excellence of albums like Raw Material or Lifefirst: Half the Battle? Leading the way for quality Christian hip-hop these days is Syntax Records, who recently put out the Fashion Expo compilation. On the heels of that release is Coleon's project, Tha Seed. Though unabashedly Christian in his subject matter, Coleon thankfully manages to keep from being preachy. Most intelligent hip-hop listeners don't really like being told how to live their lives, and Coleon walks that fine line without crossing over it. On top of this, he's an above average writer with a practically flawless delivery. Coleon's topics get a bit repetitive at times, but while his lyrics don't really cover any new ground, his flow usually makes up for the lack of topical creativity."Squanderin'" begins the record perfectly. Coleon rides Brother J's incredibly tight beat with a top-notch delivery, and with dope, meaningful lyrics, this one's a winner. "Relax Ya Soul" is equally as good, but with a more relaxed vibe. The hook is unspectacular, but Coleon's lyrics and flow are on point once again, and Weasel's beat provides a nice, soothing backdrop. "If I" is another solid effort. Brother J provides more superb production for Coleon's smooth delivery. The hook is rather simple, but well done nonetheless. His lyrics are conscious and positive, but not the least bit corny. "Pass You By" comes off the same way, though the beat isn't quite as good."Looking For Direction" is a great example of why tone deaf rappers need to realize when the person they have singing on the hook is awful, as the horrendous crooning ruins any chance this song had of being a good song. Granted, the beat is only average, but Coleon's lyrics are well written, and it could have been one of the better songs on the LP. By the time "Wondering Why" comes on, some of his lines are becoming a bit contrived, i.e "knocking nigs out like Tyson in the last bout." Luckily for him, with the dopeness of his flow, he can afford to slip lyrically every now and then and get away with it."Who Is God" is probably the only decidedly corny joint on the album. He addresses who and what God means to him. Now, there may be nothing wrong with that, per se. Nevertheless, he pretty much covers what God means to him on the other songs. There really wasn't a dire need to dedicate another whole song to the topic.Though most of the cuts here are very good, there are a couple that are below average. "Stuff Be On" is the pseudo double-time joint, and although Coleon is more than capable of keeping up with the beat, the production is mediocre. Plus, the whole style has been done to death by people who don't typically use this flow. The beat for "CREAM" is a real dud, which is surprising considering that Brother J's other beats on Tha Seed are quite nice. Perhaps the best aspect of the album, however, is that there are no guest rappers. Coleon holds down the mic for the duration, which is a rare and impressive feat these days. Overall, despite a couple bad songs, Tha Seed offers plenty of good music, and is further evidence that Christian rappers deserve respect as credible hip-hop artists.Best Cut: "Squanderin'""
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1