Grits

    Grits

    Nashville, Tennessee7 reviews across 5 releases

    hip hoprap
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    Grits was a Nashville Christian hip-hop duo formed in 1995 by Teron Carter and Stacy Jones, who had met in DC Talk's dance troupe. The name expanded to Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit, and the group's early records placed tightly packed, faith-centered rhymes over drum loops and keyboards. Factors of the Seven moved from personal testimony toward criticism of church hypocrisy and racism, with Joy Dannielle Kimmey's melodic vocals adding contrast. By The Art of Translation in 2002, the production had turned sunnier and more accessible, using organic samples and pop elements without displacing the verses. Its unusual balance was clearest in "Be Mine," which treated courtship and marriage as material for a rap song. Dichotomy A then moved toward a harder, more direct hip-hop attack.

    In 2007, Carter and Jones left Gotee and launched Revolution Art, shifting from the label that had housed their rise to an independent operation. The move did not end the duo's recording career. They continued through Reiterate and Quarantine, while "Ooh Aah" reached a wider audience through television and film placements. Grits also continued touring and operating its label during the late 2000s. The chronology afterward became intermittent rather than ending with a clearly announced breakup, and the duo returned in 2017 with Saints & Sinners.

    5 releases reviewed