Carman

Item: Yo Kidz! The Hitz
Author: Teresa Lockhart

Yo Kidz! The Hitz

Reviewed by Teresa Lockhart

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Label Everland EntertainmentThe LighthouseNovember 1997

ccm hip hop pop

This ain't your typical Barney sing-along.

In fact, Carman's Yo! Kidz - The Hitz may be just the perfect graduation for children ages 5 to pre-adolescent, who are no longer interested in cutesy kiddy-tunes, but who are not quite ready for more mature artists such as dc Talk, Jars of Clay, Audio Adrenaline, and the like.

Ever the chameleon, Carman has once again put together a project that spans the generations. Parents can appreciate the Motown sound on several of the cuts, and younger children-more likely to express themselves through movement than words-will enjoy the hip-hop beats. "Tell Tale Signs," for example, has a smooth rap beat and lyric to match, bringing a message about maintaining a Christian attitude every day of the week. This song and others afford parents an opportunity to talk with their children about what it means to "walk the walk" of a Christian.

Other notable songs include "Sling, Bang, Boom (David)," which is a clever account of David's battle with Goliath, "Radically Saved," "Memorize The 66 Books (Testimony)," and "The Golden Rule." Also worth mentioning is "Sunday School Medley." Children (and adults) won't have trouble singing along to a line-up of familiar tunes linked together with a funky new sound.

Most of the songs on this project are upbeat and the choruses catchy, but a few are slow-moving and may lose the attention of younger children. "Somewhere Within The Heart" and "Meant For The Moment" have been placed (perhaps strategically) as the final tracks on each side of the cassette version of this album, and would be best suited for down times or just before bedtime.

Parents who buy this project expecting to find Carman's vocals featured on every song may be disappointed, but only temporarily. Carman is joined by several talented singers who manage to hold their own. Overall, this is a fun album that parents and their children can enjoy together. I kid-tested this product on my own five-year-old son, and it met with a non-stop, jump-up-and-down, two-thumbs-up approval.