Fresh Fish

Description

Fresh Fish is the debut album by the American hip-hop group Say What?, released on StarSong Records in 1990, distributed by Sparrow/StarSong.

Some folks think white people can’t rap. Say what? The dubious Beastie Boys and the more-moral 3rd Bass prove they can. That a Christian label group, and a “superstar mystery goup” at that, could even come close to the quality of those artists is as surprising as the falling of the Berlin Wall, if not as revolutionary. Say What? says plenty, on their Star Song album ‘Fresh Fish’.

But first you’ll have to forgive them for the overly cute «I Can Sing Higher (Than Sandi)», a falsetto-and-tape-manipulation parody too close to the wrong side of idiocy, and «VG Veggie», an anti-video games rant that wastes a fine-lazy EPMD-like groove on a tired topic. «Fresh Fish» and «Brother-Brother» are both sanctified boasting for the power of the Big Guy and loving unity. The former is distinguished by a Miami bass style (2 Live Crew, Gucci Crew II) and a Larry Norman (!) sample, while the latter features the rap-and-singing characteristic that has worked for everyone from the Fat Boys to D.C. Talk.

Neither are these guys reluctant to criticize their secular counterparts in a tough way. «Step Off (the Stage)» sounds more lyrically directed to the metal scene, but the riff taken from Steve Miller’s «Jet Airline» will give it an acceptance among hip-hoppers and headbangers alike.

«Back in a Big Way» retells the tale of Jospeh and his brothers in a hipper fashion than similar Biblicisms from the Rap’sures and the long-forgotten Reverend Rhyme. «Say What?» is likely the first Christian attempt at a sample-and-beat dance cut, similar to secular ditties from Simon Harris and M/A/R/R/S. With the proper extended remix, this oddity, cramming everyone from Eddie Murphy and Steven Martin to Gene Autry and a drag race announcer (?) into the jam, could work in honest-to-goodness dance clubs, not just Christian music night roller-rink parties.

The same holds true for the most adventurous downtempo cut here, «Johnny Fencerider». It might have taken a bit of legal finagling to aquire sampling right to the Doors’ «Riders on the Storm», but it works to rhyme the woeful tale of a young’un whose spirituality is in compromise. It’s only marred by an unintentionally racist cowboys-Indians/saints-sinners analogy. C’mon Say What?, you should know better!

That, «Higher» and «Veggies» aside, this would sound just as natural blasting from the back of your car or the front of your boombox as much of what you can see on Yo! MTV Raps. In the quest for credible Christian rap, Say What? has closed the gap a few inches. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, June 1990]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. Fresh Fish
02. Back In A Big Way
03. Step Off (The Stage)
04. Say What?
05. Brother-Brother
06. I Can Sing Higher
07. VG Veggies
08. We’re Stupid
09. Johnny Fencerider

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

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