Description
Threat to Society is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Michael Peace, released on StarSong Records in November 1991, distributed by Word. The album was recorded by Jeff Riedmiller and Steve Forney at Dajhelon Studios in Rochester, New York; and was produced by Philip “Fat Daddy Farouq” Thorne. Arranged by Michael Peace and Thorne.
Who’da thought? Pioneering Christian rapper Michael Peace showed marked improvement in his delivery from his first three studio albums to 1990’s live ‘Loud-N-Clear‘, but at this year’s ‘Threat to Society’, Peace firms up his rhyme skills some and re-invents his aesthetic persona into something fairly innovative.
Thank newly-recruited producer Phillip “Fat Daddy Farouq” Thorne for the about-face. Where former producer Tom Hemby could only push Peace into artistically middling terrain, Thorne succeeds in edging his charge into an emotive range and phrasings no one could have predicted from listening to ‘RRRRock It Right‘, even if the rhymes themselves seldom stray from old-school simplicity. Peace and Thorne take a jazz thang to pleasing extremes in «My Manifesto» and «Peace in a Time of Chaos» (hands down the best title of a Peace jam yet). Blank verse poetry ala’ early Last Poets and Gil-Scott Heron are mined as ripe influences over funky loop splices and cool jazz backing.
Elsewhere, the presence of beaucoup bubbling bass lines, Hammond organ and smooth sax elevate numbers like the title track, «Think It Over», «J.D.’s Jam» and Peace’s best “issue rap” to date, «They Call Me Crack» to the musical hipness quotient of acts like Dream Warriors and Gangstarr. Even the seductive house flavor of «In a Minute» is in place among the hardcore flavor.
All Our Man Mike has to work on now is keeping his facts straight or telling us whence they came. On a couple tracks he compares the troubles of high school students of 50 years ago and today. Cite the stats please, Peace. On another cut he says it’s illegal to talk about Jesus on the radio, and on one of two pieces with scratching, he says he doesn’t need a DJ!
These and his infrequently less awkward rhyme style are minor quibbles amidst Peace’s upping of his artistic ante on ‘Threat’. Here’s a hope that the next album will be even more dangerous. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, March 1992]
Now here’s a guy who knows how to mix it. Album presentation of songs is vital; you don’t want to be listening to exactly the same old style on every track. Michael recognises this and provides us with one of the most diverse albums of rap material which we will hear. Michael attacks drugs, violence, any indiscretion going, in this vital collection of which should challenge anyone within earshot. «Plain and Simple» has an acoustic guitar intro leading into straight talking action. MP shifts up a gear for «They Call Me Crack«» telling us, I’ve destroyed athletes and many a hero/ I’ve decreased bank accounts from millions to zero/ I make shooting and stabbing a common affair/ Once I take charge, you won’t have a prayer”. Forget Grange Hill’s «Just Say No» of a few years back (yes I know you have!) this is the anthem for war against drugs, play it and play it loud. «Think It Over» and «Peace In A Time Of Chaos» are Michael’s pleas for society’s future. There will be few more hard hitting albums this year. [Chris Berry, Cross Rhythms, October 1992]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/threat-to-society/716599361)
CD tracklist:
01. J.D.’s Jam – 3:17
02. Time Bomb Posse In Effect – 3:53
03. Plain and Simple – 3:13
04. They Call Me Crack – 4:07
05. My Manifesto – 3:02
06. Get the Power / Do The Right Thing (to be continued…) (Instrumental) – 1:51
07. Threat to Society – 3:06
08. I’m Man Enough – 3:33
09. Think It Over – 3:54
10. Peace In a Time of Chaos – 3:38
11. In a Minute – 3:59
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by StarSong Records.
An advertisement for Michael Peace’s Threat to Society was featured in the December 1991 issue of CCM Magazine.
[youtube_sc url=”” playlist=”0s9vwfamsRM,F59vZGO73ZE,6uWMozwI7bs,pirZudH2FI0,6zfyBJvApqA,I3F667Cp7VA,4kc4v-YXHA8,VH6WVkkR6Mc,EEsPJKwiL1s,UVjaZfmb6xk,LnfUSDGPVoI” title=”Michael Peace, Threat to Society – J.D.’s Jam + Time Bomb Posse In Effect + Plain and Simple + They Call Me Crack + My Manifesto + Get the Power+Do the Righ + Threat to Society + I’m Man Enough + Think It Over + Peace In a Time of Chaos + In a Minute” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
[youtube_sc url=”bLc3UVAXBhE” title=”Michael Peace – J.D.’s Jam (Video)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
[youtube_sc url=”fSfxbZsceJU” title=”Michael Peace – Man Enough (Video)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.