Imade iN Truth

Ambassador and Da T.R.U.T.H. Leaving Cross Movement Records

Though this is somewhat old news, the impact of Ambassador and Da T.R.U.T.H.’s January move to Xist Records still reverberates across the Christian Hip Hop community.  I still slave moan a little from the nostalgia I have for the Cross Movement Records I grew up with.  Da T.R.U.T.H., and especially co-founder Ambassador, physically embodied the principles of Cross Movement.  CMR wasn’t just a record label, but a movement of unapologetic Christian emcees with Ambassador at the helm.  To be honest, Amba was and is my favorite CM artist.  It amazed me that Ambassador has the wisdom of a Hip Hop theological veteran with the cultural relevance of an artist in his prime.  With Ambassador’s departure from Cross Movement, I’m confronted with the fact that I made Cross Movement the source of his identity and credibility.  In some ways, I’m grappling for the comfort of the past because I want to define Ambassador by what I’m most familiar with.  Hopefully, with this new move to Xist Records and an upcoming tour in the fall, Da T.R.U.T.H. and Ambassador can get to the core of who they are, which is hidden in Christ.  Ambassador Facebook   Ambassador Twitter   Da T.R.U.T.H. Twitter   

Sho Baraka Leaving Reach Records

Now to more recent news.  Sho Baraka made a recent announcement that he was leaving Reach Records (home to Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, and others) and starting a new music thingamajiggy called High Society.  In typical Sho Baraka fashion, he confuses some while intriguing others.  Personally for me, his departure doesn’t come as a surprise.  Sho would often differentiate himself from the ministry approaches of other Reach Record artists.  It seems that Sho wants to impact the culture through lifestyle entertainment ventures like High Society.  Leaving Reach Records could give Sho more time to direct music videos (like Bless’ED’s Run Away), work with other artists outside of the Reach umbrella (like Swoope), or do charitable efforts like A.B.N.Y. Shades to support those with autism.  Sho Baraka has a huge vision for his artistry, which is evidenced by the stellar arrangements and song concepts explored in his recent album Lions and Liars.  I’m sure that leaving Reach Records is not equivalent to some “moral failure”, but a launching pad to more creative opportunities.  Press Release  Facebook  Twitter  High Society         

KB - Who Is KB? by NewH2O

Have you ever tried to google search the letters KB? Spoiler alert, Reach Record’s new artist doesn’t pop up.  I’ve been searching for KB since I was dougying in the spirit to his acrobatic rhymes on Lecrae’s Used to Do it Too.  Though I couldn’t find much on him, I knew the marketing powerhouse that is Reach Records was up to something.  Lo and behold, after releasing KB teaser videos that introduce us to the humble and passionate 22-year old emcee, KB comes out with the Who is KB? mixtape that is absolute FLAMES.    

KB already shows signs of greatness with just a 9-track mixtape.  This man goes ADD on the track.  To my limited knowledge, outside of Tedashii, Willy Will, and Dwayne Tryumf, there’s very few Christian emcees that can match KB’s triplet machine gun flow.  It’s almost a crime against humanity that KB is not paired with Dwayne Tryumf on the Don’t Waste Your Life Remix.  That would be a collaboration of EPIC proportions, and I’m hoping it happens on KB’s future album.

The beauty of mixtapes is that it’s an appetizer for what’s to come.  KB might not have a trademark voice, but he sure has a trademark flow.  If he couples his acrobatic rhymes with a powerful album concept and well arranged songs, KB will not only be a star, but a legend in the making.  Facebook  Twitter

Favs: Head to the Heavens, Lighter Fluid, Go  

Courtesy of Rapzilla and NewH20