Jahaziel; The Still Livin' Mixtape

I should have reviewed this mixtape when I first heard it.

I'll put it this way; sometimes the best hip-hop comes from outside of the norm. That doesn't necessarily mean that it should come from underground, but it might have to come from Britain, France, or even South Africa; whatever, wherever.

I don't know where Jahaziel hails from, probably the UK, but he has a British accent, a sound that is entirely different than anything you hear in Christian hip-hop, and a new, fresh energy that is needed in the game.

I played the fifth track off of this mixtape, Back Now, entirely too many times to count.

This isn't dubstep, or the latest mainstream production gimmick. This is true hip-hop. I don't know who his producers are, but they need to work on 90% of the Christian hip-hop artists records in the game.

Coming up with a new sound is difficult in this game. There are a few talented musicians in hip-hop. I haven't heard, for example, a Christian Kanye West, though many producers try, and many come close, but few are as consistent as he is.

If you know a jaded music listener that doesn't like Christian hip-hop because he needs that eargasm, you might want to recommend this album to him.

I am also feeling Pocketless Souls by Je'Kob, Kidd Class in Session (even though it is Christian Swag), and even 7vnseal Keep My Boots Madd Muddy (even though it is rehashed Raekwon). You do not have to reinvent the wheel, but it is nice when someone does.

I am looking forward to another mixtape by Jahaziel; he hasn't flooded the market with mixtapes, and this release is one that makes you want to buy the album. Number 3; What I Do, is also pretty nice, but I am still listening to number 5.