After the Music Stops - Dark Publications

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5 out of 5 stars

Lecrae dodges the sophmore curse, turns in an excellent follow up August 24, 2006
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

I have been following Lecrae since his first album. He is perhaps my favorite Cross Movement artist, and he continues the trend on his new album "After the Music Stops."

Let me begin by saying that so much of Christian rap has a disconnect of emotions and earnestness that exists in the best secular rap (old DMX, Tupac, BIGGIE, even Eminem). They either have good convicting lyrics and half done beats, or great beats with watered down lyrics. Cross Movement and Lecrae are exceptions to this rule and are a blessing to Christians who love rap.

In Lecrae's work you can hear a man who just as easily could be playing on the other side, so to speak. The man is in touch
with his carnal side, in that he is aware of his weakness and his need of Christ. Many times he illustrates this by
contrasting a life in the streets with a life of a Christian and it's challenges. He also has music that pulls a powerful convicting witness.

On his previous album the song "Take Me As I Am" was one such tune. On his new album Lecrae brings the heat of conviction in the songs "Prayin' For You," "Death Story," and "Nobody." These songs are powerful and are part of a take no prisoners ministry that the man presents.

For those who are unfamiliar with Lecrae his musical style is probably closest to a Dirty South style including Houston and
Memphis. The only weakness, in fact, of this album is that while the beats are good (with CMRs stable of producers) there is not necessarily a consistancy of style that runs through the album as you might find with a Dr. Dre album for example. The
CMR producers do not seem to have a definative style that is recognizable. This is not bad, just an observation, and really
it's nit-picking considering the quality of this record.

Now for a quick rundown of each song (NOTE: any song comparisons aren't meant to imply that the beats are copped or the music is derivative, only to give an idea of the mood):

1. After the Music Stops - A good beat with distorted guitars (think Eminem's "Lose Yourself") as the man raps about our level of commitment of Chritians to go beyond listening to teaching. Very strong. "Will you open your bible's / After the music stops?" BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 4/5

2. Jesus Muzik - Real shades of 3-6-Mafia on the beat. A "day in the life" type song about listening to music that glorifies God. Real head bobbing. "Riding with my top down / Listenin to this Jesus Music." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5

3. I Did It For You - This beat sounds very similar to something off of a GAME album, specifically "Hate it Or Love it." The beat has that classic soul/Shaft feel. A testimony song. It focuses on the fact that we are all sinners and in need of God's redemption. "I wish someone had told me then / what it meant to know Christ and be born again." Powerful. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5

4. The Truth - Beat is similar to another Crae song "Into Silence" from his first album. The Gospel set to a hip beat. All about representing Jesus in our lives. "Every breath we breath outside of heaven is a blessing ya'll." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5

5. Run - This beat is one of those dancehall beats that make its way into a rap album every now and again. The beat is good. The sound is similar to No Doubt's "Hey Baby" and the song is about "running the good race" from Corinthians. It's great with one exception. The hook is done by someone who is trying to do that "rude bwoy" accent and it sounds HORRIBLE. Makes me want to stab my ears. If you take out the hook of this song it's another solid track about working for God and not the world. I'm torn on this one. BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 4/5 -1 for that irritating guy on the hook.

6. Send Me - another great beat, one of the best on the album. The song is about the need for missions and witness in the world and whether or not we're willing to leave our comfort zones to minister to those who haven't had the opportunity to hear of Jesus, especially in places where it might be dangerous (like China). Great club/call response hook "Send Me, I'll Go, lemme go, lemme go" BEAT: 5/5 LYRICS: 5/5

7. It's Your World - Could be a NAS/Jay-Z style beat. Praising Jesus as creator and ruler of the world and riffing on the awesome nature of creation. "It's Your World, It belongs to you, Christ Jesus" BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5

8. Grateful - Not really a frame of reference comes to mind here, but it's slick on the beat. A beautiful song of thanksgiving. "I'm thankful for all that you are to me." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5

9. King Intro - An acapella rap about Christ's kingship in world and spirit. Under a minute but a tight little riff. "I know some of you dudes may cruise a 4Runner / but Christ had a dude to use as a Forerunner" BEAT: N/A LYRICS: 5/5

10. King - Jay-Z type, kind of a hammering beat. This ditty is about how Christ is the only king and everyone else claiming to be king of anything is just a pretender to the throne. Features FLAME. "Like kids playing in their daddy's clothes while he's gone / But the clothes don't fit and daddy's coming home." BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 4/5

11. Invisible - Another East Coast style beat. A song about touching something beyond the self when worshipping God and living a life like Christ until it's him that people see and not us. It's not filler, but I wasn't really feeling it. BEAT: 3/5 LYRICS: 3/5

12. Get Low - Similar to Flame's beat from "Sola Scriptura" with a bit of guitar in it. A great song about humility. "Get low, this aint one of those nasty flows/ I'm talking about humbling yourself before the Lord." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 5/5

13. Praying For You - Kanye wishes he had this beat ;). A song about praying for someone with their daily struggles to live a Godly life. Sometimes people can have the best of circumstances and live an outwardly Godly life, but still struggle internally. Beautiful song about the struggle. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS 6/5

14. Nobody - This beat feels a bit Wu-Tang (Iron Flag era). The song is about all the things that people try to substitute for a
relationship with God. "You can't run no more / Feel like something wrong in your soul." A soul cousin to "Take Me As I Am." Good but not great. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5

15. Death Story - Ouch. This is a great hard narrative about a man on his death bed struggling with a decision for Christ. Great discussion starter. This song is on a level with Ice Cube's "Dead On Arrival" and DMX's "Damien." A song about an
internal struggle and the inevitability of death. Absolutely chilling, the atmosphere is claustrophobic. Possibly the best track on the CD. The power to convict is deep. BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 6/5

16. Unashamed - Another club beat, makes you want to bob your head, kind of a Lil Jon vibe. About being honest and unashamed of living for the Gospel of Christ. Powerful song about representing the kingdom. AMEN. "All they rhyme is about is guns, money, sex and drugs / 80% of these dudes is fictional thugs." BEAT: 4/5 LYRICS: 4/5

17. El Shaddai - Not a rap tune. The tune is artist CAM singing with an acoustic guitar. He waxes about many of the names of God. El Shaddai, and many I can't spell come in here. Beautiful little praise song "Father, I worship you." BEAT: N/A LYRICS: 5/5

The strength of Lecrae's album, along with all his CMR alumni, is and has always been their willingness to express their
feelings about Christ without the need to water down the message. These guys don't have to hide behind clever wordplay and multiple meanings in their lyrics. These are Christian artists with an unashamed Christian message. The power of Christ crucified is on display and the beauty and power of the message is made apparent on every track. That's why the
inconsistant beats aren't a problem. These guys could slap the back of a phone book and the message would carry on.

If you love Christ and love rap, there is no reason not to get this album. The beats are diverse, the lyrics are alltogether top notch and on the level with anything in the secular (not to mention the Christian) world.

If you have non-christian friends who like rap, Crae can be a great introductory and evangelistic tool. The message is
powerful and straightforward and Lecrae jumps above his already spectacular solo debut. If he continues like this he will
easily become my favorite rapper (Christian or otherwise).

God Bless,

B.C.

4 out of 5 stars

Good, but a bit rushed August 31, 2006
8 out of 12 found this review helpful

I hate being the only guy with negative viewpoints.

FIRST OF ALL I LOVE LECRAE. But This album seemed rushed. I feel that CMR hurried this album out after signing Lecrae to their label. Now out of the 17 songs (including the bonus track, and not the intro for "King") I would say only 9 are actually "Good." 5 are "Listenable." and 3 I skip every time. Again, I LOVE LECRAE and what he's doing, but I'm reviewing as not only a christian MC, but a music fanatic and DJ. You have to appeal to a secular crowd if you are trying to evangelize with music. You have to make music that is good in their "eyes" so they will actually listen to it. For example, the last track "El Shaddai" wasn't rap. Heck, it wasn't even Lecrae. It was Cam singing over an acustic guitar. The reason why I felt this album was rushed was the little effort in the hooks. It seemed like Lecrae didn't think about them and just repeated the same thing over and over. Like in "Unashamed" (Good song by the way) Tedashii just kept saying... well, "Unashamed" over and over. Or in "King" (another goodie) "Who da king? He da King." (x3). Sometimes it seemed like he forgot how to rhyme like in "Get Low." The song is good until the hook, then I cringe and skip it. In "Death Story" he dosn't even have a hook, he just talks like a scripted actor, which ruins the song for me. I can't even listen to "Praying for You." The beat makes me mad and I skip it. The song "Run" is okay if you can stand the guy yelling like a maniac during the chorus. I guess some people like that. "It's Your World" is a good song, but again, ruined for me because of a weird voice singing the title. Too bad, Redeemed Thought and Sho both bless the track, but I can't listen long enough to hear them rap. Even during the Bonus Track, the hook kills it (in a bad way). The song starts out promising with a thumping bass, then he starts singing. Ouch. It's something about the word "Yall" that I find played out.

But this cd still has 9 solid down south bangers. The single "After the Music Stops" is an intense rap/rock song that has a guitar riff that sounds almost too much like 311's "Beautiful Disaster." But being a 311 fan as well, it made the song even more enjoyable. "Jesus Muzik" is down right raw, love it. The whole purpose to bump it loud so peeps will overhear that Christians can rhyme too. "The Truth," now that sounds like Lecrae. If you liked Trip Lee's "Cash or Christ" (feat. Lecrae) you'll love "Send Me." Track 10, titled "King" is off the chain with Flame spittin on it. I swear, Lecrae and Flame are a match made in heaven. They should start a group together. "Invisible" is clean, especially with Tru-life of CM behind the boards producing. and of course there is "Greatful." Now I'm not the biggest R&B fan, but whatever J.R. touches turns to gold.

I grade hard, but that dosn't mean I don't bump this cd in my car. I have a huge collection of "gospel" rap, and in comparison to his first release "Real Talk" when he was still with Reach Records, or his compilation album with 116 Clique, I wouldn't say this is necessarily a better album. But still dope, and I recommend buying it. It's just that people are making this album sound like the greatest in Gospel Rap. and all I'm saying is don't get too excited.

And one other thing. I read a review on here, and a guy said he recommended this cd for "Every Christian." Why not non-Christians? CMR's whole reason for exsistance is to reach out to the lost in urban/hip hop settings. This cd is a good tool to communicate to people that may look down on "Christian Rappers," but of course what is a Christian rapper but a rapper who is also a Christian.

God Bless <><

5 out of 5 stars

Unashamed August 16, 2006
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

WOW!!!!!!!! Lecrae has done it again he brings the south's bass pounding beats and use it for Christ Jesus. When I was of the world I did not care for the southern rap too much. I think it was because the music I listen to was the music in to which how I was living. But man when I heard crae's first album man it changed my view on the southern flow. This album is off the Hinges fo sho. His lyrics are true to God's word and man is he preaching on this album. If You want to ride4CHRIST, I suggest you get this album and represent Christ.

Thank You Jesus

5 out of 5 stars

Another great CD from Cross Movement February 22, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This CD ministers to my soul. I shared it with a non-Christian and his response was that this was as good as Ludacris but without the swearing and bad message.

4 out of 5 stars

A top 3 of 2006 for sure! August 17, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I've been anticipating "After The Music Stops" for a good while now. And since "Real Talk" was off the hook, I knew Crae would bring it this time. Crae remains on top of his rap game, bringin Crunk, and heat on almost every track. I love his convicting rhymes, and they really make you think about the LORD.

Overall, It is worth your buy. It is mostly crunk, and it has that south style. If thats your type, then you will easily enjoy the album. If your not up for crunk, you will still love it!

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