The Syllabus

Description

The Syllabus is the debut album by the American hip-hop artist Knowdaverbs (a.k.a. Michael Boyer II, later known simply as Verbs), released on Gotee Records ‎in 1999, distributed by Chordant Distribution. The album was produced and arranged by Ric “Form” Robbins (tracks 2 to 13), Todd Collins (tracks 2 to 7 and 9 to 13), and Otto Price (tracks 8 and 12). Mixed by F. Reid Shippen and Todd, assisted by John Saylor.

“You are now entered for a semester of lifelong education, and if you’re not careful, by the end of the tape you might learn something.’ Knowdaverbs, a long-time GRITS collaborator, launches out on his own with a collection of raps which prove the guy certainly knows his verbs. And his nouns. Adjectives, too. Rap groups being the extended families they usually are, Knowdaverbs isn’t entirely on his own; in fact, in places this sounds more like a GRITS album, as both Bonafide and Coffee make guest appearances. Also on the guest list, there’s Temple Yard’s Marky Rage, Lisa Kimmey (Out Of Eden) and a host of other rappers too numerous to mention. Some of the song titles («Call Of The Dung Beetle», «Giant Slayers», «Iguanas In The Midst») sound like something off the Discovery Channel. «Roam» gives ‘Verbs a chance to show some musical versatility, as he alternates between hip hop’s different regional variations (West Coast rap, East Coast rap, Midwest and Down South). Elsewhere, he demonstrates a clever ability to play around with words – like «Strange Dreams», where he tries to chat to some young lady, but is overcome with ‘merbal valfunction’! As with most of GRITS’ work, this is not a superficially ‘Christian’ album, but certainly has a lot to say. There’s no ‘miseducation’ taking place here – that’s for sure. [George Luke, Cross Rhythms, October 1999]

Since the rest of the pop music world seems puzzled by Master P’s gangsta reruns, DMX’s dogs and Ms. Hill’s Miseducation, it’s nice to hear new artist Knowdaverbs sharing Christ through clear, hip-hop parables. Combining the progressive Southern rap style of his crew, GRITS, with the old school stance of Run-DMC in its heyday, The Syllabus presents Knowdaverbs as a b-boy teacher calling listeners to intelligent lessons and actions based on Scripture.

Class begins with the fierce title cut, complete with block-rocking guitars, to set off a whole CD of eclectic beats and styles from all over the map. Whether rhyming about faith in the face of struggle on «Good Measure» (“Pressed down, shaken together, running over/ All supplied by Jehovah Jirah, the Supernatural Supervisor/ Surprise! Watch Supplies rise”) or setting off a party (check out the mad fun remake of the classic «I’ve Got It Made»), it’s obvious that Knowdaverbs is equally focused on making truth accessible and getting a crowd to throw its hands in the air and wave them. [Anthony Jeffrey, CCM, April 1999]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-syllabus/1533119747)

CD tracklist:

01. Orientation – 0:41
02. The Syllabus (feat. Lisa Kimmey of Out Of Eden) – 4:03
03. Call Of The Dung Beetle (feat. Bonafide, Coffee, and Pigeon John) – 3:51
04. Equeena (feat. Jason Eskridge) – 4:04
05. Strange Dames (feat. Count Bass D) – 5:36
06. To Whom It May Concern – 4:08
07. Giant Slayers – (feat. Coffee and Marky Rage) – 4:32
08. Roam (feat. Bonafide, Coffee, and Lisa Kimmey) – 4:07
09. Iguanas In The Midst (feat. 1/2 Breed, Soul Snatchas, and Advocates) (Crowd vocals: Durk Brown, Michael “Majik” Allen, Mike McGlaflin, Otto Price, Rayna Stewart, Stacy Jones, and Teron Carter) – 4:40
10. Good Measure (feat. Toby McKeehan and Bonafide) – 4:37
11. Whatever Brings The Sheep – 2:53
12. Fifth Elemen – 4:44
13. I Got It Made – 4:41 (Crowd vocals: Becca Moorhead, Eddy Boer, Hedi Tuttle, James Gottry, Jason King, Jeff Jackson, Kerri McKeehan Stuart, and Wanda Mizzell)

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

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