MG! The Visionary – Transparemcee

Description

Transparemcee is the solo debut album by the American hip-hop artist MG! The Visionary, released on BEC Recordings’ hip-hop imprint Uprok in 2000, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. The album was written, produced, arranged, and programmed by MG! The Visionary. Recorded at The Reign Room in Seattle, Washington, and at The Green Room in Huntington Beach, California. Mixed by Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame (tracks: 7 to 9, 12, 14) and MG! The Visionary at The Reign Room and at Front Page Studios in Costa Mesa, California.

The refreshingly frank printed information that came with this new release from MG! declares that “Many heads in this music industry don’t have a clear handle on what ministry really is.” So MG! is here to put the record straight, so to speak. What ministry isn’t about is “packing up and moving to Zimbabwe.” For him, it’s about playing Stateside to “hard core hip hop crowds as well as suburban kids”. MG! has been rapping for over 10 years in various guises in the Seattle area, having also performed live with alternative rockers Soul Food and Poor Old Lu. So, down to the album then. It’s a lively and well produced mish mash of the usual rap/hip hop sounds with a few whistles and bells thrown in for good measure. The results do not disappoint. «That Cru» is a whirly mix of staccato rhythms, thumping bass lines and samples, while «Seeds» is all about reaping what we sow and being responsible for living our lives right before God, orchestrated by a delicate flute and guitar. «Let’s Cruise» is a boy-meets-girl tale and the choice he makes in walking in purity. A Latino vibe adds an unusual touch to the punchy «Scared As» but if your taste is more quirky, the whimsical «Rukus Bringa» will be a pleaser. Those who have discovered the delights of K2S and GRITS will be tempted by MG!, but be prepared for something a little more left field and less commercially accessible than the usual commercial trappings of rap and hip hop. [Pippa Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, June 2000]

CD tracklist:

01. Intro
02. U-Trip
03. ‘Sponsible
04. That Cru (feat. Smoke)
05. Seeds
06. Let’s Cruise
07. Scared As… (feat. Pigeon John)
08. To The Light (feat. Pauly Paul)
09. Otherside
10. Interlude
11. Choose
12. Compliments Of…
13. For Real – Rock Your World
14. Intimate Rhythm (feat. Pauly Paul)
15. Rukus Bringa (feat. Page One)
16. Goodnight

Note: “Otherside” embodies portions of the composition “Bless The Lord” written by Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak while “Let’s Cruise” embodies portions of the recording “Quiet Hour” performed by Chuck Girard.