theBREAX - When theBREAX Sold Out! (2008)

1. Ready To $ell Out
2. BREAX Is Everywhere
3. Wake Up (Ft. Rufat)
4. Get Ignorant
5. It's West Coast (Ft. Kinfolk & Roc Rok)
6. Swing
7. Two Miles An Hour
8. I Got It (Ft. Yung Tage & Proverb The Poet)
9. More
10. Bang Bang
11. Baby I'm Gone (Ft. Truthbtold & Afaar)
12. Wanna Love
13. Bumper Sticker

PURCHASE

REVIEW:

theBREAX - remember that name, because I have no doubt they are going to make it big. At least if this latest release is anything to go by.

The first thing you need to understand about this album is that it is full with sarcasm and satire. Almost every track mocks the dumbed-down mainstream aspect of hip hop. Thankfully theBREAX does this so amazingly well. Every line in every song is jammed with clever and hard-hitting lyrics that will linger in your mind long after it ends. Some are powerful and some are downright controversial, with bold lines such as "forgive me, I ain't throw away my secular CDs - honestly I did that in 2003, then i bought 'em all again. Your rituals are pitiful, to me it's not a sin. Again, don't hold me to your standards, and your personal convictions, my vision is to make all these non-Christians listen.".

Also theBREAX makes use of the words "nigger" and "damn" once, and the phrase "what the hell" twice. Now personally I don't agree that a Christian artist should use those words in their songs (and makes the rating .5 away from a 5/5), but take it how you want. For me that is the only real letdown on the album.

The two clips of spoken word included on the record (at the end of Wanna Love and at the end of Bumper Sticker) are just amazing. Not only are they at times hilarious, but they also pack a hard punch because they are so powerful and lyrically-smart.

Music wise, the record does not fail. The beats produced by Nathan Soultrain, MotionPlus, Rocwilder, Soleternity, Steve Stanz, Ruslan, and Name Brand, not only are very well done, but in some cases compliment the album's theme. To me even some of the beats sounded satirical! They seem similar to many secular mainstream releases these days. Which, as I said before, really fits in well. But don't get me wrong. This album is unique. You have most likely heard nothing like and probably never will hear anything like it again. And if it doesn't slap you hard in the face, I don't know what will.

Putting together a satirical, yet hard-hitting and powerful album and managing to do that with such talent, shows the creative genius of theBREAX. You can see why Rawkus Records has labeled theBREAX one of the "next 50 important Hip-Hop acts".