Microphone Theology

Description

Microphone Theology, sub-titled 16 hard tracks from today’s most important indie street artists, is a multi-artist hip-hop compilation released on Metro One Recordings in 1994.

If you keep up with the burgeoning Gospel rap underground, you know the majority of ‘Microphone Theology’ comes from the previous ‘From Tha Ghetto To Tha Cross’ compilation released through D.J. Rubadub’s Grapetree Records. Metro One’s new intern-run subsidiary, Indie Empire, picked up the concept, renamed it, messed with the selection some, and here ya go (‘From Tha Ghetto To Tha Cross’ is still being marketed independently through Grapetree).

Amidst the demon-slaying, cautionary tales and conversion scenarios, unsigned and previously signed M.C.s and D.J.s are developing along creative lines equal in stylistic breadth to those of their counterparts in the rest of the world.

Some highlights: Nobody excells at underground gangsta-ism quite like King Shon and The S.S. M.O.B. (Soul Saving Ministers On Board), reminisent of N.W.A. in their smoother moments. Coming from a less abrasive angle is the Trinidad-by-way-of Texas drawl of D.J. Rubadub. If SFC’s Super C still finds KRS-One such a musical hero, maybe he belongs among the gangstas with his selection, but technically doesn’t belong here.

Former Word artists E-Roc gets it on with a couple of Dynamic Twins-produced tracks. D.D.C. have testosterone enough to sample DC Talk and make moderately skankin’ joints. Most plaintive of the featured whiteguys is the actively touring and talented Fros’T. The other Caucasian, King J-Mack, re-recorded a harder core vocal for this version, which doesn’t quite fit as well with the alterna-rap feel (read: Me Phi Me, Dream Wariors) like it did on the original ‘From Tha Ghetto …’ version.

Some of the material from ‘From’ is missed, especially the Heavenly Hip-House Tribe stuff. Between the original cassette and the updated ‘Theology’, a vibrant, varied scene expressing Gospel truth is well documented. [Jamie Lee Rake, Syndicate # 41, 1994 (Vol. 9)]

CD tracklist:

01. S.S. Mob (S.S.M.O.B.) – We Mobbin’
02. D.D.C. – Back To The Basics
03. S.F.C. – It’s Me
04. D.J. Rubadub – Jesus Freak
05. Fros’t – Oh Homie
06. E-Roc – Funke Christian
07. Joyful Noiz – Lyrical
08. Geno V. – Este Vato
09. D.J. Rubadub – I Used Ta Be Loc
10. S.S. Mob – Down Wit Da Mob
11. D.D.C. – Funky Style
12. E-Roc – I Got The G.O.D.
13. King J-Mack – I Don’t
14. Joyful Noiz – Bam!
15. Strength Of Three – Young Blood
16. Thee Evangelist M.C. – Black Plague

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD.