Stop! The Wild Hype

Description

Stop! The Wild Hype is the sophomore album by the American hip-hop group E.T.W. (a.k.a. End Time Warriors), released on Yo! ForeFont Records in 1991. The album was produced, arranged, and recorded by Mark (Otto-M) McCurdy. Mixed by Bret Teegarden.

Sounds like End Time Warriors M.C. Free, Johnnie Jam and M.C. L. King, have absorbed some of the club culture they dissed on the debut album, as this music is the most consciously danceable rap collection released on a Christian label yet.

Along with the new & improved grooves, E.T.W. has thankfully backed off in the Christianese and judgmentalism that marred its first set. Thankfully, its sense of humor is healthy as ever, with what sounds like a gospel chorale singing an Osmonds snippet for the watch-the-fruit warning of «One Bad Apple» and the Job-ishness of «God Is» (He knows when you burn your chicken wings!), backed with a bottom-heavy retro-breakdance feel.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this outing is the trio’s willingness to experiment with house music. «This Is the Life» is the brightest (and only?) urban crossover piece since Candi Stanton & Source’s original «You Got the Love». A cover of DeGarmo & Key’s «Destined to Win» is souped up as synth/blip-crazed high-house (but please drop the coda from the original on a remix, guys).

Neither are they slouches elsewhere. «The Balm» is Latin freestyle good enough for Mic Mac Records, and «Paper Money» updates the O’Jays and the early ’70s sophisticated soul sound with panache. Though they got me wondering what German reunification and Margaret Thatcher resigning as British Prime Minister have to do with the “one world government” prophecy, can’t help but oblige the rhythmic solidity of «This is What Time it Is» and the title cut.

With the busy beatbox guffaws of «Yo Mouth» alongside the rest, E.T.W. has improved its rapping and made wide steps musically from a tentative permiere, making for the Christian hip-hop album to scream out “put me on R&B radio” loudest this year yet. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, July 1991]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/stop-the-wild-hype/715552525)

CD tracklist:

01. This Is What Time It Is (Revelation Generation) – 3:38
02. Stop! The Wild Hype – 3:23
03. One Bad Apple – 2:52
04. God Is – 5:06
05. This Is The Life – 3:42
06. Destined To Win – 4:03
07. La Guerra (War) – 2:50
08. Yo Mouth (Isyomouf) – 3:34
09. Paper Money – 3:37
10. The Balm – 3:21

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by ForeFront Records.

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