Makin’ It Happen

Description

Makin’ It Happen is the sophomore album by the American hip-hop group Transformation Crusade, released on Benson in 1991. The album was produced by Fred Hammond and co-produced by Max Frank for K&F productions and Frax Machine.

More studio time, production money and a better grip on a higher level of what’s happening in hip-hop is about to make Transformation Crusade’s sophomore effort a triumph of solid street-oriented artistry and doctrinal soundness.

Thank producer Fred Hammond for some of the success. The Commissioned man pushes the four T.C. M.C.’s to a deeper vocal grit level behind an array of acoustic and synthesized instrumentation that sounds like it includes real drums (!).

Those skins and cymbals sound pounded to a pulp in the opening «God’s Makin’ It Happen», where swingbeat and go-go rhythms collide in a percussion maelstrom, and «The Statement». Over the latter’s thumbnail exegesis of every Bible book is the thickest fog of funk Christendom has witnessed for a long while.

Clearer and more astute are the Crusader’s admonitions against the excesses of teen pressures. Where cuts like «To Be Down» and «Costs to be Cool» from the first album were shrouded in stoicism, «What Will They Say?» and «Street Lies» exhibit true humor and more realistic scenarios of concern… and better bass lines.

Most slinky of the low ends here is for the Black Islam and apartheid diss of «Race Thing», but they succed at bubbling up calypso fusion for «Life-Style», pan drums and all. Going from one club dynamic to another, the hip-house of «It’s Good to Sing Praises» throbs with fierce beat break downs and reels with Virtuous M.C.’s take on icy u-ground diva ethereality (if only the guys would utilize her more…)

In my interview with them last year, Crusader Chris William rhetorically asked me why Christian rap couldn’t get the same level of airplay many Five Percent Nation rhymers receive. On musical terms, T.C.’s debut gave me reason to wonder why he should ask. No more. ‘Makin’ It Happen’ is in there. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, April 1991]

CD tracklist:

01. God’s Makin’ It Happen – 5:02
02. Keep On Pressin’ – 5:21
03. Give Your Love – 4:48
04. Coffee Break 1 – 0:34
05. What Will They Say? – 4:29
06. Black And White – 0:06
07. Race Thang – 4:37
08. There’s More To Life – 4:49
09. Sireel Life – 4:00
10. The Siatement – 5:16
11. Life-Stile – 4:19
12. Cooffee Break 2 – 0:15
13. It’s Good To Sing Praises – 3:56
14. What Cha Gonna Do With The Cross? – 2:43

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Benson.