A True MC!!!!

I have been a hip hop head since I can remember,1988 is the date that comes to mind, although I’m sure it dates back further.

Remembering guys like Slick Rick, N.W.A., LL COOL J before he went to prison, Ganstar, Kool Mo D, Big Daddy Cane, Ton Loc, Black Moon, Artifacts, Hieroglyphics, Das efex, common when he was common sense, Public Enemy, Wu tang clan, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, EPMD, Digable Planets, K-Solo, Tribe Called Quest, Leaders of the New School, Naughty by Nature, Mystical, Master P, Snoop when he was “snoop eastwood”, Redman, Tupac before he was Tupac, Chi Ali, Big L, Eminem when he was a positive rapper, AZ, Nas, Outkast when Andre dressed in fitteds and jerseys and the list goes on and on into the current guys of Mos Def, Jay-z, Drake, Kanye etc.

The list above, for the most part, other than nostalgia makes me think of guys and women who took the craft seriously, their mission, to come hard on every track through lyrical composition, representation of their plight and story. One of the things that is highly offensive to an artist and orator such as myself is when you can tell guys are winging their 16 bars or speeches. This communicates, “this guy thinks he’s too good to give us his best and on his worst day he thinks he’s good enough for listener”. So what does this have to do with Amisho Lewis aka “Sho Baraka”?

EVERYTHING!!! After reviewing “LionsandLiars”, on MC-ing alone I would rate it a 4.5 out of 5 red rev stars and stripes, sorry Sho every artist has room to grow. I would put Sho on a short list of Christ centered MCs that take the craft as serious as they takes the message of Christ. The knock on Christ centered MCs is that they sacrifice the method for the message. They feel since they have the message of Christ and the “Spirit” then their art doesn’t have to be as good. But shouldn’t the Holy Spirit actually make you better?

The album which is slated to drop on the 30th, which is about time and long overdue, is an album that represents what being a true MC is about. From his lyrical juxtaposing of metaphors and verbs, to his transparency and his diverse artistry on each track. Sho displays that he’s as serious about the method as he is the message. There will be many write ups in reference to the content and how it glorifies the Lord. My hope is that the true hip hop fans will grab this album as well as those who are learning to appreciate the culture itself. At the end of the day Sho Baraka displays that he is “A True MC”!!! On this album you can discern, this brother took his time, he did not put any fill tracks on the project, and he actually gave us his best, which says to the listener, “you are worth my best”. I believe this will raise the bar like you have never seen in this sub-culture, challenging rappers, especially Christ centered ones, to be a true MC.