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| Release: | The exodus |
|  | | MyHHHdb | |
| Released: | 2002 [ Listen to HHH from this era on Spotify ] |
| Recordlabel: | Camp 8 Records |
| Info: | The album got nominated in the category Rap/Hip Hop album of
the year for a Dove award in 2004.
1. Gangsta'd up
2. Troubles don't last
3. A-O
4. Caught up
5. Heaven awaits us
6. Change
7. Come bounce with us
8. My lessons
9. Watch, pray, live, holy
10. Gangstaz don't dance
featuring Bootsy Collins
11. Bad company
12. Scream |
| Rating: | Our users rated this release: 10 out of 10
(Number of votes: 2) Sign up or login to submit your vote |
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| | Review: | After a three-year layoff, The Gospel Gangstaz are back on
the scene with a powerful new album that is bound to keep
your head bobbin' for a long time to come.
The Exodus marks only the fourth album in the group's
twelve year existence; this one proves to be well worth the
wait. This album jointly releases on Camp 8 Records (their
own new record label) and Native Records, and features 15
tracks of innovative, thought-provoking music that was
birthed, in Tik Tokk's words, out of "creative
freedom".
CD Just as the children of Israel walked through unchartered
territory in their exodus, the Gangstaz do the same in this
project as they kick it off with a collaboration with funk
legend Bootsy Collins. Collins teams with the Gangstaz on
the funky "Gangstaz Don't Dance" and educates us to the
fact that "gangstas don't dance but they boogie". The
extremely infectious hook along with the West Coast funk
sets the tone for a very funky ride.
However, just when you think you have the double Gz figured
out, Tik Tokk, Mr. Solo and Chille Baby change the game on
you. The Gangstaz introduce live instruments to this
project, with almost half of the album taking on this
welcome element. It lends itself to a vibe that is
comparable to that of The Roots and The Fugees, and gives
the Gangstaz a distinctive edge in the holy hip hop arena.
The vibe is smooth and reflects the Gangstaz maturity.
On "Watch, Pray, Live Holy", Bobby Ross Avila makes a
welcome guest appearance adding his awesome vocal stylistics
to the song. With hot lyrical flow from Camp 8's Apostle
(from the Sonz of Prophets), this track is yet another hit
to add to the Gangstaz growing list.
"Trouble Don't Last" finds the Gangstaz rhyming over
another smooth instrumental groove while partnering with
Ahriah who sings powerful ad libs on the track. Ahriah's
vocals are also featured on "A-O" and "Change" which
advises listeners to embrace change if it's the right type
of change. Her skills will definitely warrant repeated spins
on your CD player.
Be sure to check out "Heaven Awaits Us", featuring hot
rhymes from new Camp 8 artists, City Mac and Elway, with
Gangsta member Tik Tokk singing the hook.
Proving that they can't be put into a box, the double Gz
hit us with some serious funk on "Scream". This
in-your-face track features labelmates Elway, City Mac and
Mike B. It also features some serious reggae flava from
TorneMan who represents the islands like nobody's business.
If you love reggae funk, you've got to play this track.
The Gangstaz also show us their humorous side with two
interludes designed to poke fun at some familiar stereotyped
characters frequently found in the church. Imitating ‘phony
ministers’, the Gangstaz act out a church service that
highlights many of the stereotypes that can accompany
ministry. The over-the-top nature of the interludes express
the Gangstaz high level of comfort with their unique gift
while showing the world how comical people can be when they
attempt to inaccurately classify God's representatives.
Though there are a number of collaborations on this project,
it is the strength of the Gangstaz flow that will keep this
one on your top 10 playlist. Without question, The Exodus
marks a new beginning for the West Coast trio. Though
there's a new sound and a new label, it's that same Gospel
Gangsta creativity and lyrical flow that we've come to know
and love.
This project will definitely satisfy existing fans while
creating a platform for a new audience. The Gangstaz are
back and craftily share their Exodus experience with us. | | source: Gospelflava.com, added: Jul 11, 2006 |  |
| Review: | For sanctified hip-hoppers the Gospel Gangstaz, hip-hop is
not just music, it’s a way of life. These three are true G’s
who represent the streets of Los Angeles to the fullest,
while paving the way for the hip hop community to experience
an undeniable spiritual journey.
Hailed for their irreproachable rhymes, wit, and G-Funk
production, Gospel Gangstaz successfully fuses hip-hop with
Godly principles. Gospel Gangstaz are not new kids on the
block, they’ve been putting it down with three critically
acclaimed albums to credit including 1999’s Grammy-nominated
I Can See Clearly Now, furnishing testimony as to why they
have gained respect from hip hop peers such as E-40, DJ
Quick and Snoop Dogg as well as contemporary gospel artists
such as Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond.
The Exodus, Gospel Gangstaz 4th album displays their
proficiency in remaining true to the streets of LA while
being true servants of God. With funky tracks such ass
“Gangstaz Don’t Dance” featuring Bootsy Collins; the
inspirational anthem “Watch, Pray, Live Holy;” and the
soon-to-be West Coast classic “Gangsta’d Up”, The Exodus
offers hip hoppers everywhere redemption through 12 bangin’
tracks.
With music today obtaining so much power, yet shedding
minimal light, you can rest assured that Gospel Gangstaz
won’t let the sun set on the hip-hop horizon.
The Exodus is the 1st release on Gospel Gangstaz own Camp 8
Records, a joint venture with Native records.
Allhiphop.com: How did growing up in LA draw you closer to
God to the point where you wanted to dedicate your heart,
souls and music to him?
Gospel Gangstaz: Well we’re from Compton, Watts and South
Central known for gangs. I (Tik-Tokk) was a Blood, Chill’E
Baby was a Crip, and Da Coach was also a Crip, so we were
real bangers. We’ve done a lot and seen a lot. There came a
point and time in all of our lives where we had to choose a
better life for ourselves. We were sick and tired of being
sick and tired. In and out of jail, addicted to drugs, gang
wars, pimpin’. We‘ve done it all. We grew up on hip-hop.
We’ve always been into hop-hop. We just want to make music.
We’ve been doing this for 12 years.
AHH: So what’s so different about y’all that will make some
of the truest hip-hop heads give you your props?
GG: Well , we’re not looking for respect we just want to get
the message out that God has given us. We speak the truth.
We’re not running around pointing fingers at anyone, because
we’re human we’re not perfect, we just want people to know
that you can love hip-hop and love God at the same time.
AHH: Was it difficult to get MC’s like Snoop, E-40, and DJ
Quik to show their support?
GG: Nah, we grew up with DJ Quik and brothas know us from
around our way. They knew what we were and they see they
people that we have become because of God. You can’t help
but respect that.
AHH: In the music industry it would’ve been so easy to sell
out, what made you stick by your principles, and not get
sucked in?
GG: We had to separate ourselves. You have to be strong and
remain focused on what you’re called to do. There are a lot
of people that speak about God in their records, but in the
same breath are talking about bling-blinging, hoes, this
that. True we are children of God and we’re not supposed to
want for nothing. There’s nothing wrong with wanting or
having material things. Just because I’m a Christian doesn’t
mean that I have to have less or that I can’t have fun.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but you have to be
consistent, you can’t serve two Gods. You can have nice
things, but you have to acknowledge who blessed you with
what you have. We had offers from major labels like Death
Row and Priority, but we chose to stick with a smaller
Christian label.
AHH: How did it feel working with a legend like Boosty
Collins?
GG: Man, Bootsy is cool. He’s like our Uncle. We call him
Uncle Boot. He showed us nothing but love.
AHH: Who comes up with all the concepts?
GG: We all work together. God is involved so things just
fall into place. Most of our music appeals to the younger
crowd. We like to dance. The biggest misconception is that
Christians can’t dance or that they can’t listen to anything
besides Gospel music. God created us as dancing creatures,
so just because we believe in God and serve him doesn’t mean
that we can’t dance. It just depends on who or what you’re
dancing for.
AHH: What’s your outlook on the music that’s out there
today?
GG: Rev Run said it when he said “ Music is supposed to
inspire, so why we aint getting no higher?”
AHH: Speaking of Run, what did you think when you heard of
the murder of Jam Master Jay?
Solo: I just thought, ‘this can’t be real’…what could be
going through a person’s head to make them shoot a living
legend…Jam Master Jay was the first deejay to hold down the
spot for a group, I mean to where that group couldn’t show
up, wouldn’t show up, without him…
Chille: This thing, it really hurt my feelings. Jam Master
Jay was an icon, I just want to know who would even think of
pulling the trigger on an icon…What could Jam Master Jay do
to someone to make them want to shoot him. He was a cool
guy, you never even heard anything bad about Jam Master Jay,
about him having beef with somebody, nothing.
Solo: He was also a businessman and that makes me respect
him that much more. We need more people like Jam Master Jay
in hip hop, he breathed life into hip hop instead of sucking
life out of hip hop like so many people in it are doing now.
And the media immediately tried to say that this was part of
an East Coast/West Coast beef, but the devil is a liar, that
ain’t what my West Coast is about. As people in hip hop, we
need to stop letting the media dictate what we are about.
Hip hop is a way of life, and for those of us in it, hip hop
IS life. If you love hip hop, you love life. If you don’t
respect life and you out there killing people and bringing a
violent element to hip hop, you really don’t respect
hip-hop.
AHH: Can hip-hop heal itself and is God the only way?
Solo: God is love and love will heal and is what is needed
to heal hip hop. It’s not about religion, which is manmade
and can be divisive, it’s about loving each other as your
brother and having a respect for life. In this world, it’s
every man for himself but God for us all. We have to start
letting love guide us, instead of being led by hate. And
that’s what see happening, people are operating from hatred
and envy.
AHH: So how can the healing begin?
Chille: It starts with us as artists, we’re on the front
lines and a lot of us are spewing hate. Artists should set
better examples. Artists should respect each other, respect
themselves, and stop beefin. Gangstas do what they want to
do, suckas do what they can. If you Gangsta, you can do
something positive and people will pay just as close
attention to that. We Gangsta, and we choose to serve the
father with our lives and our music.
Solo: Everybody already know how to curse, how to hate;
everybody already got a gun and know how to kill, as
artists, let’s start showing ‘em how to live. The president
of the united states is showing us how to kill, there’s
enough bullets going around, we gotta live. There’s always
gone be fools out there, the devil was in the garden, but we
got to have our hate repellant on and not fall into the
traps.
With JMJ’s death is this an open door for your words and
message to be heard?
Solo: This will pull a lot of people and make them think, a
lot of people will be introspective and reflective, but
everyone has their own course. With everything that’s going
on today, people are going to wonder when will it all stop.
This is going to make people understand how precious life
is. The Word was there in the beginning, it will be there in
the end. Right now, people just need to stop and pay
attention to it.
AHH: Do yall consider yourselves role models?
GG: What type of brother or sister wouldn’t wanna be a role
model? There are a lot of people out there who are selfish
and would rather sacrifice the whole community for their own
personal gain. They are lovers of themselves. We can’t be
selfish. We have to sacrifice our lives just as Christ
sacrificed his life for us.
AHH: Was it difficult getting support from the “church”
because of your backgrounds and the fact that yall are
hip-hop artists?
GG: Well at first we received a lot of criticism. We were
told that rap music is of the devil. We just had to stick to
what we believed in and Trust in God. Now those same people
want us to come and perform at their church, because younger
people can relate to our music and what we’re saying.
AHH: What would you say to artists out there who straddle
the fence of good and evil, artists who truly live for God
and want to incorporate that in their music?
GG: You have to use the gift God gave you, and send our a
positive message instead of a negative one. Music is an
instrument. Use it!
| | source: allhiphop.com, added: Jul 11, 2006 | |
| Review: | The Exodus makes the first album on their own label, Camp 8
Records, in partnership with Native Records. The CD features
a sure hit in "Gangstaz Don't Dance," a track with funk
luminary Bootsy Collins and the group's introductory
release with another major recording artist. The Exodus also
spotlights the promising protégé acts that will soon bow on
the Camp 8 label.
"We approached this album with freedom, freedom of spirit,
freedom of mind; creative freedom, financial freedom," Tik
Tokk says of the album theme that is symbolized with broken
chains in the cover art.
Gospel Gangstaz' last album, I Can See Clearly Now, was
released in 1999 on B-Rite Records. Nominated for a Grammy,
the album included well-received songs such as the
Trackmasters produced single "I'll Be Good," and the
introspective "Questions."
The Exodus boasts even more musical triumphs. The group's
rhyme styles and lyrics have elevated, and the production
competes with any other hip-hop record on the streets.
One song sure to gain praise is "Gangstaz Don't Dance"
the rumbling, bass-driven effort with Collins. Gospel
Gangstaz met Collins while in his hometown of Cincinnati,
Ohio during a Healing Convention with Dr. Creflo Dollar.
After meeting Collins in person, Gospel Gangstaz learned
that Collins was a fan of their music, and they were soon at
Collins' home studio working on tracks.
"We were like, 'Praise God, the legendary funksta is
feeling us,'" Tik Tokk says, still excited. "He had some
ideas. We had some ideas. We all came together and made some
beautiful music."
From the anthemic "Watch, Pray, Live Holy'" the throbbing
"Scream," the funked-out "Gangstaz Don't Dance,"
featuring Bootsy Collins; the introspective "Caught Up;"
the West Coast classic "Gangsta'd Up," and the harmonic
"Trouble Don't Last." The Exodus delivers 12 solid tracks
to make you think and make you bounce at the same time. The
soothing "Heaven Awaits Us," featuring protégés Young City
Mac and Elway, sends encouragement to those grappling to
keep the faith. Elway rhymes about the importance of staying
in prayer: "That's why you got to stay in tuned with him/
Alone in a room with him/ Trouble can't find you/ 'Cause
you with him."
Gospel Gangstaz manage to address such serious topics
without self-righteous or preachy over tones. "The Gospel
Gangstaz and Camp 8, we just show everybody the flipside of
the coin," Chille' says. "Other people don't tell you
that if you shoot him you might get 25, and that's not
good. If you sell dope to her she might get hooked on crack,
and you might destroy her own whole family."
Camp 8 is a nod to the significance of the number eight in
the Bible. "The eight represents the new beginning, the
seven days of completion," Mr. Solo says. "When the Father
destroyed the whole world, he only spared eight: Noah, his
wife, three sons, and their wives. David was the eighth son.
He killed Goliath and set Israel free."
| | source: gospelgangstazmusic.com, added: Sep 14, 2006 | |
| Review: | 1 | | source: -1', added: Apr 26, 2015 | |
| Review: | -1' | | source: 1, added: May 16, 2015 | |
| Review: | 1 | | source: -1', added: May 16, 2015 | |
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