a first for christian music?
Though still in its nascent stages, hip-hop within the realm of gospel music has its share of cross-country personalities, from hard-edged East Coast representatives (The Cross Movement) to idiosyncratic, party-loving West Coast ambassadors (L.A. Symphony, Tunnel Rats). Other parts of the union aren’t far behind, with underground innovators Mars ILL representing for the ATL and Tennessee maestros GRITS making a noise of their own, both commercially and otherwise.
What Christian hip-hop has lacked for the longest time is a true-to-form Dirty South persona—someone with the guts and grillz (read: gold-plated teeth) to keep things trill, much like shouters Lil Jon, Petey Pablo and David Banner have in the mainstream. All of that is bound to change with Thug Love, the Beatmart debut by hip-hop veteran Pettidee.
Once content with standing in the shadow of GRITS and others—either as a producer or guest emcee—Pettidee comes out strong in this anomaly of a hip-hop album, one so crunk and aggressive it’s hard to reconcile you’re listening to Christian rap. Unlike faith-driven emcees who would rather keep things neat and inoffensive, Pettidee is unashamed to growl and yell in a fashion that’s comparable to his deep-fried contemporaries, all the while gliding atop insane beats that seem custom-made for the club circuit.
But that’s not to say everything on the album lacks subtlety. Even in the midst of this newfound no-nonsense ferocity, Pettidee takes a break from hurling heavy doses of truth in our faces and occasionally returns to his more staid beginnings. Pensive slow-burners “Can’t Make It Without You” and “Learn to Let Go” are examples of such detours, which come as a breath of fresh air amid the relentless crunk anthems.
In the end, it’s this balance that makes Thug Love a fine hip-hop album—perhaps not the Southern masterpiece Pettidee wants it to be, but, otherwise, a stepping stone in a genre that still has some way to go.
ANDREE FARIAS
Review Provided by CCMmagazine.com
