theBREAX: Restocked

It used to be that when a rapper said his music had a message, it was assumed to be a positive, socially conscious message. Along the way, other rappers picked up on this and said their music had messages too, be it hustling white or recounting the crime stories they’ve seen, did, or heard about. Unfortunately, in the era of dumbed-down lyrics, a message can be as simple as a rapper telling you to watch them “hit their birdwalk.” Southern California products theBREAX (comprised of emcee Ruslan, DJ/emcee Beleaf, drummer/producer Mic B, and producer Name Brand) are a throwback to the original meaning of having a message. Mixing Christian ideas with uplifting lyrics and sharp production, theBREAX are a guaranteed departure from your regularly scheduled program.

Their latest offering, Restocked, is an album of feel-good music. To sit and give it a casual listen is a very easy thing to do because the production is pretty darn good. The lush horns on “Pumpin on Your Gas” and “For What” draw you into the album. “Obedient” is a head-nodder of a beat, which is surprising considering the circus music-like sample. “Are You a Beleafa” makes great use of the soul classic, “People Make the World Go Round,” by The Stylistics, and Beleaf delivers during his time to shine. Ruslan, who does most of the rapping on the album, is a very impressive MC with a rapid-fire delivery, great flow, and is very easy to understand. “The Greatest” serves as an example of his humor and thought-provoking lyricism, as he debates the validity of Lil’ Wayne’s “greatest rapper alive” claims. He’s so good on the track enraptured listeners may be tempted to nominate him instead of Weezy.

As theBREAX deliver a positive message to their listeners, they seem to lick off warning shots to rappers currently in the game. The aforementioned, “The Greatest,” takes jabs at Lil’ Wayne and Jim Jones (amongst other mainstream artists), and the hyphy movement. “The game is at a crisis if Lil’ Wayne’s the nicest,” raps Ruslan. The song is funny and insightful, and even raises great points on how fans will compare one rapper to another, why they are quick to label someone as the G.O.A.T., and how all white rappers get compared to Eminem. theBREAX also take a swipe at the overuse of the word “swagger.” But for all the positive things being said throughout the album, it’s disappointing that theBREAX would go out of their way to negatively call out the hyphy movement. And comparing devout Lil’ Wayne fans to sheep might not go over too well with a mainstream fan base.

Luckily, the mainstream doesn’t seem to be their target demographic, primarily because rap that has overtly Christian themes doesn’t seem to get much, if any, radio play. Even with their increased exposure due to their acclaimed Eye Am Gangster remix of Jay-Z’s American Gangster and the great talent in the group, they’ll still be labeled a “Christian rap group,” which could automatically turn off some listeners. While they don’t overtly preach and demand for their listeners to repent, the themes and references to Jesus and God are prevalent. Hip-hop heads who are scared off by the group’s religion are doing themselves an injustice. Good hip-hop is good hip-hop, no matter what genre it falls under. The album’s production is top notch, Ruslan is nice on the mic, and you‘d be hard-pressed to find filler. Chuuch!

82/100

Standout tracks:

“Are You a Beleafa”

“Obedient”

“Pumpin on Your Gas”

*Restocked comes packaged in the new DVD release, Broken Television, along with live footage of theBREAX as well as their two previous albums When theBREAX Sold Out and theBREAX debut album. Order yours below…