Admit it: Christian hip-hop has not always had the finest reputation. Clumsy vocal delivery, cliched lyrics, and the cheap production are just a few common problems. The latter in particular can be a serious obstacle for groups who cannot afford the royalties that can come with sampling other artists. That means a fledgling act can either assemble a live band (which can be costly) or program its own beats and hooks (which can sound contrived).
Sackcloth Fashion does a little of both, and the result is a fine debut. Something for Everyone to Hate sometimes finds itself propelled by live drumming, such as on "Spoon Fed Gospel." Other times guitar (and Jewish harp!) accentuate the rhymes, as on "Dang." Solid programmed beats aid MCs Steve Trudeau, Tim Trudeau, and Luke Geraty on "Rising Sons" and "The Guest List." Both those songs also feature the obligatory guest artists, such as E-Roc, B-Twice (of Brainwash Projects), and Ahmad. Spreading one's resources this broadly could indicate a lack of focus, but for Sackcloth Fashion everything works towards a healthy musical variety full of lightning fast rapping.
The most serious-minded tracks, however, sometimes lead these guys astray. "We've Only Just Begun" sets out to address romantic relationships but winds up sounding silly. "Family Ties," a lyrically powerful take on domestic abuse, does exactly what more Christian hip-hop should do: address the world's concerns from a Christ-centered perspective. Although compelling as a whole, the song is too long and is bogged down by Lisa Kolbo's chorus. Kolbo's voice is put to much better use on "Sibling Rivalry," a haunting pro-life tale with three narrators: Geraty and Steve Trudeau as twin fetuses with Kolbo as the mother who aborts them. It is a risky tune, one that needs as wide an audience as possible.
In all, Something for Everyone to Hate has a rather misleading title. Sackcloth Fashion has so much going on that there really is something for everyone to like. This is darn good hip-hop from a group not afraid to take risks.
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