The Lone Reviewer Interview - Big R

The Lone Reviewer: How did you come up with the album's "Rated R" theme?

Big R: Rated R came to me as a result of a revelation from my name “Big R.” I had been going through a lot of personal rejection and restriction from close friends, and family because of my relationship with Jesus. In addition to that, I noticed that Christian music as a whole was being restricted from pop culture and radio. Particularly, gospel hip-hop/rap was at the top of the restricted list. I already knew that Christians generally experienced persecution; but, when I began to get it at the rate and height that I did, at the time, I was getting it, I received a thorough understanding of what it meant to really be a follower of Christ.

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TLR: What are you trying to accomplish with Rated R?

Big R: What I’m trying to accomplish with "Rated R” is believers who wouldn’t turn from God, even if their life depended on it. This is my first and foremost passion. Because of this, I try to make my music relevant to what the world listens to, while at the same time, sharing the message that Jesus saves, and is the best thing that ever happened to us. Too many times, believers forget that we are here to reach a dying world for Christ. I’ve learned over the years that the best sermon I can give to people is a sermon about my own life and experiences as a Christian. I have purposed to be transparent, so that people can know my ups, downs, failures, and victories, in hopes that they will say to themselves that if God saved “Big R,” surely he can save me. Another goal for “Rated R” is to elevate believers to a place of maturation to a personal/intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Being a Pastor, my heart desire is to see people not just born again, but grow after the fact salvation . We didn’t get born again to stay the same or even become religiously programmed, but , to change and progressively know Christ better and better every single day. Thus. knowing Him, in this way, will be evident in our love, patience, kindness, meekness, goodness and all the other fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22.

TLR: Why did you decide to team up with GodChaserz Entertainment on this release?

Big R: I believed that God was leading me to work with God Chaserz because of their nonjudgmental approach and proven success at simply trusting God. While relating to the world music has to strike that right balance if we are to win souls. I needed to work with people who understood God’s Word and my ministry. My music is very edgy, but it’s real, and it’s not preachy, yet it still is potent and full of Jesus. I needed someone who was mature enough to understand that. I thank God for providing a label with unyielding faith and strength for this season of my life and that simply understands.

When the Father sent Jesus to complete the work of the Gospel a lot of people didn’t understand him being the only “ son of God.” Just as many people hated him for making such claims as did loved him. Some of us were shocked to find that He gave his life for the very ones that crucified him because he made such claims and did such works. It seemed to me that Brinson and the God Chaserz Family understand what I want to accomplish with my music and they believe that big things can happen through me. They believe it enough to help me do what I’m commissioned to do! This is why I chose to work with them for this season.

TLR: Any interesting stories from during the recording/production process of the album?

Big R: Some interesting things that happened during the recording of this album was that we came up with so many songs its ridiculous. I had these joints called “Na, Na, Na, Bo, Bo”, “Wildin Out”, “Coming Back”, “Clean Rich”, “I’ve Become a Monsta”, and more. They were all hot joints but not a good fit for the album. I will probably use those later for free downloads or future albums.

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TLR: What is your favorite song on the album?

Big R: I love the song, “I Wanna Win” because it’s just that song that you know God gave directly to you. I mean, He gave me all the other concepts and songs, but, this one, was just special for me, because I knew God had been whispering it in my spiritual ear since a very young age.

TLR: How did you come up with "Big R"?

Big R: I came up with the name “Big R” because I know my God is a “big” God. There is absolutely nothing we can not do, and nothing we can’t have, with him in our lives. The Greater One lives in me so I decided to call myself “Big R”. The” R” stands for Richard which is my first name. “R” is Big because the Greater One lives in me!

TLR: What else do you do besides music?

Big R: Well, I am also a Pastor. I Pastor Faith That Works Christian Church, located in Lexington NC. I’ve been a Pastor for about seven years. In addition, I own a business called CRYS Inc. which provides services to “at-risk” children. My most important ministry however, is my family, I have a wonderful wife, and two beautiful children ages 3 and 10. I am so thankful to God for my family!

TLR: If you had to do any other genre of music other than hip-hop, what would it be, and why?

Big R: If I had to do any other genre of music, it would have to be rhythm and praise because I love the genre of music and listen to it often. I also sing some myself, and have been told by some that I’m not too bad at it. Check me out on “I Tried,” and “Love Me Better”.

TLR: What Christian Hip-Hop artist are you enjoying listening to the most recently?

Big R: Lately, bro, I’ve been bangin dat cajo your boy Canton Jones, and I don’t want it sound like I’m promoting God Chaserz or anything but, don’t sleep on “Solar Powered” by Brinson. I’ve been bangin that a lot lately too.

TLR: Any closing words?

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Big R: Brother, I just want to thank you for having me! I’m sorry it took me a while to get up with you I’ve been extremely busy between my Pastoring, and promoting the “Rated R” project. Make sure you check out the new “Big R” website and MySpace page. We changed the look slightly since “Let’em Go.” We will have a lot of important events and recent news about the video premier of “Go Off,” on these sites, so keep it locked. Blessins on ya! Thanks again, bro, for the interview. I’ll Holla atcha!

TLR: Thanks for finally getting back to me, haha. But seriously, I know how it can be. I've been extremely busy myself recently. It was a pleasure to do the interview. I'm looking forward to that new video you have coming out, I'll definitly post it up on the blog.

God bless you man. You did a great job with Rated R and your doing great things for the kingdom. Keep up the good work and keep cranking out those joints. I've got to here this "Na,Na,Na,Bo,Bo" track! Haha!

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Be sure to check out the review of Rated R further down the page!

http://www.myspace.com/bigbigr

http://www.godchaserz.com/

XROSS - Tell 'em Tha Truth (2009)

01. Tell 'em tha Truth
02. Y U Runnin'
03. Tear It Up
04. Crunk n da Club
05. Look 4 Me
06. No Water
07. Still With Me
08. Verse 1
09. Change a Thug
10. Who's Ya Daddy (Remix)
11. Let It Burn
12. Verse 2
13. Red Letters
14. Kingdom
15. Soul Search 'em

REVIEW:

In the world of secular Hip-Hop many people believe that its mainstream golden age is long gone. That, as time goes on, the quality of lyricism, content, and even production is slowly degrading. Even one of the most popular and highly-praised secular emcees of all time, Nas, coined the now famous phrase "Hip-Hop is dead."

What is ironic is that the opposite is happening with Christian Hip-Hop. Listeners, the artists and even secular critics will tell you that the golden age of Christian Hip-Hop is now. Year after year since the conception of the genre, it has slowly improved to the point that most Christian rap albums being released can easily compete with the secular mainstream, and often transcend it. Where most old mainstream Christian rap was usually cheesy in every way, now production is tighter and of higher quality, lyricism is strong and promotion and distribution is more professional and relevant. Last year was great proof that Christian Hip-Hop is at the top of its game with most releases deserving of a 4/5 rating at least. From GRITS, Braille, DJ Morphiziz, Frontlynaz, Lecrae, Trip Lee, etc., album after album has been of outstanding excellence. And 2009 is looking good already.

Or it was, until XROSS came along.

XROSS (pronounced "cross") has been nominated for a grammy, and has had two of his songs top the billboard charts. He recently signed with major label CC Entertainment/Koch Distrubition which will allow millions to access his music. However, if this album is anything to go by, it's hard to see why XROSS is so highly praised. Despite the majority of Christian rap moving forward in quality, Tell 'em tha Truth feels like one big step back to the cheesy raps of old.

First off there is XROSS' delivery. In the majority of the songs it is quite frankly a pain to listen to. It sounds as if he is unsure of himself. At other times it sounds emotionless. As if he is simply reading off a sheet and nothing else. Even in some of the more emotional songs like Still With Me and Change A Thug the flow is next to lifeless. Whether you rap or sing the goal is always for the listener to feel what you are saying. To be able to fully relate. No one will listen to your music much less take in your message if the artist himself feels detached from his own purpose and work. Although the delivery does pick up a bit in the last fifth of the album it's really too little too late.

Not only is the delivery severly lacking, lyrcism is quite atrocious as well. This is especially evident in the first four tracks. There is repeated use of cliches, particulary in the form of cheesy "in da club" style rhymes. Tear It Up goes down the horrendous "holy clubbing" route with lines like "Pull up in the parking lot, ima tear the club up. Open up the door baby, ima tear the club up. Put me on stage man, ima tear the club up... " followed by "Ayo, bet you didn't know that this was gospel. Ayo, ayo, I'm so hood in my gospel. Ayo, you misunderstood his gospel. Ayo, ayo, now it's too late 'cause we done got you." The lyrics speak for themselves. They are not only lacking in creativity and are horrendously cheesy, but at times they don't even make sense!

And the horror won't even let up for a second. The very next song is entitled Crunk n da Club. Most rap fans nowadays would be put off imediately just at the site of the title. It's basically a rehash of the previous song with different wrapping. This time XROSS trades in the gung-ho crunk flow for a lower, more sultry tone, that sounds like his attempt to be the Christian version of Snoop Dogg. This sounds as cheap and as embarrassing as it reads. By the time i heard "Do that dance girl, do it like you're saved." repeated five times I was ready to rip my earphones out.

The R&B inclusions throughout some of the songs help to alleviate the cliche ridden verses, but only very slightly. Particularly in No Water and Still With Me, the R&B choruses are reasonbly solid and enjoyable. They do a much better job of conveying the messages of each of the songs than XROSS does himself.

Unfortunately the production complements the disappointing delivery. Apparently XROSS himself was the executive producer, but the album would probably have been better off had he hired someone else to do it. From the get go you're slapped upside the head with Tell 'em Tha Truth, the title track, complete with low-quality cliche crunk chants, horrible midi guitar and topped off for some reason with haunting, yes haunting, r&b vocals. And that just about sums up the rest of the production, with only a few exceptions, of which those exceptions are mediocre at best anyway. The beats are as paltry as the lyrcism and delivery, and that's not suprising.

While there may be some biblical truths being told, those truths are often watered down. The lack of effort put into the delivery, the lyrcism and the production almost makes a mockery of the word of God Tell 'em Tha Truth tries to convey. As representatives of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords there should be a striving for excellence in all of us, in all we do. Sadly XROSS performance is far from excellent. Tell 'em Tha Truth feels like a step back into the trashy period of Christian rap which we all hoped was long dead.

DJ X & KJ-52 - This Is The Remix Mixtape (2009) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

01. Pump That Remix - KJ 52, R Swift, Mac the Doulos, M.O.C.
02. Almost Got Shot Remix - KJ 52, Jubilee
03. Push Up Remix - KJ 52, Blaze
04. Still Come Back Remix - KJ 52, Jubilee, Brownstudy
05. Do Yo Thang Remix - KJ 52, George Moss, Craig Nice
06. Twitter Timeout
07. Pump That Remix - Cash Hollistah/Midi
08. Got It, Got It Remix - Dre Murray, Pettidee, Mike Vargas, KJ 52, ATP
09. I Wont Ever Stop Remix - Goldinchild, KJ 52

A mixtape containing winning submissions from KJ-52's Remix the Remix Contest.