Ever since the rap duo comprised of Coffee and Bonafide (a.k.a. Stacey Jones and Teron Carter, respectively) hit the underground hip-hop scene in 1995 with its little debut album Mental Releases, GRITS has been turning the heads of everybody who stumbles upon their music. The Art of Translation is no exception.
As with past projects, Translation finds these Tennessee natives penning SAT-caliber rhymes that, unlike their Top 40 counterparts, eschew tired allusions to flamboyant lifestyles and favor reflections on faith, human struggle, relationships and the sometimes decadent nature of pop culture. And even though those topics are pretty meaty in their own right, the boys still know how to gracefully balance the mundane and the transcendental, the fun and the serious. From the lighthearted, head-bobbing, Latin-infused lead single "Here We Go" (a fun party tune that celebrates new beginnings and creativity) to the rock undertones and gritty samples found in "Seriously" (a song that articulately describes the duo's mission statement and the reason why rocking the mic is no laughing matter), the guys in GRITS are confident and at ease in their delivery, without resorting to unnecessary pedantry and making full use of their linguistic capabilities.
Rhythmically, this effort takes a sunnier, more mainstream approach. Whereas previous albums placed their flows in front of jazzier, more laid-back hooks, the beats this time around are adorned by interesting organic touches-- such as guitar and piano samples-- and uncanny pop elements, without sounding mechanical or déjà vu-ish, and leaving enough room for the rhymes and the message to take center stage. Also worth noting is the inclusion of soulful ("Lovechild," "Believe") and quirky ("Tennessee Bwoys") cameo vocals, which for the most part accentuate the lyrical tone of the songs, whether solemn or silly.
Not everything is perfect, however. Despite the noble motives behind the song "Be Mine,"-- a song describing Bone and Cof's sentiments towards their significant others-- the chorus gets repetitive and borders on corny. Continued iterations of the lines, "Slow down, hold up/ I want you to be mine/ We can hook up/ We can hook up / We can get married," are not that romantic, if you ask me. Also, the female vocals on the hook of the otherwise fine track "Get It" can become a little irritating.
But other than that, this new offering from the Tennessee boys of rap is a more than welcome addition to any hip-hop fan's collection. Will the playa-haters shut up upon listening to The Art of Translation? Most definitely. The beats are hot, the hooks are fresh, and it just sounds good. But more importantly, it finds GRITS in top lyrical shape. Just don't dare call it gospel rap.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Ken MuellerThe rap duo known as GRITS is back with an album that is sure to get notice in the mainstream press and on mainstream urban radio. Thematically this disc treads familiar CCM ground, but this is done through the use of original lyrics and great vocal presentation. The disc starts out extremely strong with "Here We Go" and "Oooh Aaah" but then slows down a bit. Other outstanding tracks on the disc…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Mike RimmerIt took quite a while for Christian Hip Hop to catch up with the mainstream and the market still hasn't managed to match the success of Hip Hop in the general market. There are suspicions about the gangsta lifestyle and images being incompatible with a Christian image and possibly the mainly white market balks in the face of such a powerful black phenomenon. Yet elements of Hip Hop are now…Similar sounding releases
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