Ultimate Rap

Description

Ultimate Rap is a multi-artist compilation released on StarSong Records in 1989. It was followed up by Ultimate Rap 2 released the following year.

It took Christians a long time to sus that hip-hop was a genre seemingly God-sent for the bold evangelical proclaimers. But now that the penny has finally hit the sidewalk there has been a veritable surge of US Christian rappers. This compilation, culled from a number of sources, is an excellent intro and though there’s nothing quite to match the rapid-mouth polemic of Public Enemy or the lugubrious wit of the Fat Boys there’s also thankfully nothing as dated and stylized as that early gospel rap pioneer Michael Peace. Hardest jams of all are by P.I.D. (otherwise known as Preachers In Disguise). These guys are tough and both «Get You A Bible» and «Don’t Bow» are street sound gospel rap as good as they come. Also surprisingly effective are the wonderfully named Rap Sure’s (surprising considering they started off as a jokey rap project for kids) conceived by DA‘s Terry Taylor and Stephen Wiley (whose raps are obvious but who has particularly funky tracks over which to let loose). You even get a couple of Rap Sure’s tracks at the end to practice your own efforts to. Check it. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, May 1990]

Ultimate – rock / metal / dance / rap

Remember the time you were watching late night TV and the K-Tel like offer came on – you know, “wouldn’t it be great to have this fabulous collection of (fill in the blank – hits, slow dance songs, classic rock) in your own home? They’re great for parties” – and you thought, “Yeah, I can have all this fabulous (remember, it’s late) music in my own home for one low price. It’d be great for parties.” Well, evidently Dan Hickling (one of the great unsung heros behind the scenes of Christian rock) has had insomnia of late, and the result are these collections of Christian music so you can have all this fabulous (fill in the blank – rock, dance, metal and rap) music in your own home. It’ll be great for parties.

Actually, inspite of some problem with the word “ultimate,” and some occasional arguments with the choices in some of the categories – Petra actually has a song on three of these collections, thank God Bob Hartman doesn’t rap; and who decided the fossilized ones and Mylon & Brokenfoot should be on a dance album?! – this turns out to be a good investment, especially if you’re a relative newcomer to Christian music, or are interested in hearing a good sampling of what’s happening in metal or rap or. . . , but don’t want to buy albums by a half dozen artists without first a look see.

The ‘Ultimate Rock’ and ‘Ultimate Metal’ collections fare best, but we’ve been intentional about both of these forms for some time. ‘Rock’ works the way Christian radio ought to, in fact, in leu of the absence of any substantial Christian rock programming keep the tape near your car stereo and be grateful no stupid dj keeps interrupting the jams. I was especially grateful to see Dave Perkins and Undercover included here, and generally the selections are perfect. It’s great that StarSong didn’t feel a need to deliver a collection from their own label, but went after strong songs, no matter who owned them. Maybe here Geoff Moore and Steve Taylor’s «Jim Morrison’s Grave» will get the exposure they deserve.

‘Metal’ features a previously unreleased track from Messiah Prophet, and here as with Neon Cross, Scarlet Red, Vengeance and Rage of Angels, the choices present these relative newcomers in there best possible selections. Someone did their homework. Consistent from start to finish, perhaps because we all know what “metal” is, but we have more trouble defining “rock,” it’s the best package of the four.

‘Rap’ and ‘Dance’ would have been all but impossible even two years ago, and thus without a broad range of material to choose from are spotty and less than focused. With ‘Rap’ it’s more an issue of quality, and thanks to P.I.D, E.T.W. and J.C. and the Boyz’ recent endeavors things here sound a lot better. It’s also nice to see Stephen Wiley’s 1985 and ’86 efforts given exposure, that was early for Christian music. On the other hand, who ever picked the tracks for ‘Dance’, probably doesn’t. While the remix of Steve Taylor’s «This Disco» works, as do tunes by Adam Again, Bebe and Cece Winans, (surprisingly) Bryan Duncan, and Tim Miner, the rest require a good remixing or elimination.

Now, shouldn’t we save the word “ultimate” for something a little classier than this? [Brian Q. Newcomb, Harvest Rock Syndicate, No. 4, 1989 (Volume 4)]

CD tracklist:

01. Rap Sures – O.T. Rap (from the album O.T. Rap, StarSong 1987)
02. DC Talk – Heavenbound (from the album DC Talk, ForeFront 1989)
03. J.C. & The Boyz – Crack (from the album Never Give Up, Broken 1989)
04. P.I.D. – Get You A Bible (from the album Here We Are, Graceland 1988)
05. Stephen Wiley – Rappin For Jesus (from the 7-inch single Rappin’ for Jesus, Brentwood 1987)
06. Rap Sures – O.T. Rap (The Track) (from the album O.T. Rap, StarSong 1987)
07. P.I.D. – Don’t Bow (from the album Here We Are, Graceland 1988)
08. Stephen Wiley – Bible Break (from the 7-inch single Bible Break, Brentwood 1985)
09. Rap Sures – Sampson And Delilah (from the album O.T. Rap, StarSong 1987)
10. J.C. & The Boyz – Never Give Up (from the album Never Give Up, Broken 1989)
11. E.T.W. – Let Love Live (from the album E.T.W., Yo! ForeFront 1989)
12. Rap Sures – Sampson And Delilah (Track) (from the album O.T. Rap, StarSong 1987)

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