A Cool Assortment
Posted August 01, 2016
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
DJ Anomally has endured quite a bit in his time especially after dealing with a horrible sickness, his wife's stressful (but ultimately joyful) pregnancy, and debt that reached $165,000. Needless to say, bleak is just one word to describe his situation, but it changed. He took a more holistic approach to help his body heal, his wife had their child and he is debt free. Releasing this Dreamteam EP has to be a sweet feeling.
The "504" (New Orleans) is well represented on the Brvndon P produced, "Power To His People." Gifted (who now calls Houston his home), Governor Reiss and Dee-1 each spit their respective bars over this beat accented by a soulful bass guitar. Governor Reiss' hook is a huge highlight as well as he expresses how God's people will conquer whatever comes our way.
"What They Thought" features 1K Phew and Kishon Furlow rapping over Alex Hitchins' trap beat. 1K Phew comes with the singing and rapping while Furlow just brings this amazing energy to the track. Hitchins produced three out of the five songs and he shows his versatility with the chilled out hip-hop track that fits nicely for the Dream Junkies on "Down for the Count." All three emcees delivered, but RUSLAN smashed his verse. This is a crew of dope emcees that always give you the thought-provoking, "wait, let me listen again," lyrics.
When you have a compilation of various rappers placements of the artists play a huge role in making sure that the songs work. So to have a song with Japhia Life, Gemstones and Eshon Burgundy was so ideal for me. I personally wanted a banger with a hard-hitting boom-bap. However, "I'm Gone" is more laid back (Dáramólá on the track), but these brothers nail it as they are all rappers who know how to paint the vivid pictures with their rhymes.
Pop ballads to be the norm on CHH albums; "Hiding Place" is just that. Benjah sings of how God encourages people to come the "place" of real peace in the midst of even the darkest moments. He sings "I'll be your peace in storms / Your hiding place far from harm / Under my wings be warm / Your hiding place, be restored." It is so great to hear Von Won bring it home with that Southern flow.
Song to Download:
"I'm Gone"
The Bottom Line:
I do not really like when artists release EPs with just a few songs. I think this release could have been even better with a few more bangers. However, the songs on the album are definitely enjoyable. DJ Anomally should definitely be proud.
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