I have to say I was skeptical. I am probably one of Kris' biggest fans but when I heard that he was coming out with a gospel tinged album I really didn't think he could pull it off. I've never been happier to be wrong. First off, for those that question this turn remember KRS has always stated that Jesus was an African, and to embody Christ's ideals. Heck, Kris is an admitted theologian and even his name comes from being a Hare Krishna when he was young. Nevertheless, my own feelings surrounding God have always closely reflected the 1990 KRS that said "God is self". Well that message really hasn't changed on this his 10th album. Let me let him say it for himself for those still with doubts, "I know what y'all thinking, KRS-ONE, doing gospel rap, say word son, word sonny, we don't spit verbs for money, some of these churches be absurd and funny, everything I said in the past I still spit that, songs like The Truth, Higher Level and Why is That, I give back quick facts, but when I say God created Hip Hop many churches won't admit that" This album is almost one 70 minute hip hop quotable so I'm going to be hard pressed to keep this review short. Another thing to say at the outset is that this is really the album that Kris was talking about when he said he wanted to make music for adults. Production wise and lyric wise it's a soothing experience, albeit mixed with the boom bap. This may truly be one of KRS' most consistent albums from start to finish. It's just too bad that it is by far his most quiet release in terms of publicity. Here's a track by track review. Lord Live Within My Heart - This starts with a choir singing and then the old boom bap hits for what Kris has dubbed urban inspirational music. In essence it's really a braggadocia rhyme as Kris stakes his territory out once again in the hip hop game. "I'm not really concerned how the Benz just turn, round the corner for our sons and daughters to yearn, stand firm, if you looking at these hooks you becoming a man-worm, dangling from the pole of the fisher, the corporate fisher, the talent scout, and no doubt ready to get you". Take your Tyme - This one goes out to the women. Telling them to slow down sexually. "There's no such thing as make love, it's really make life". This one has a female choir on the chorus. I think he goes a little far with this one and says a few things I don't agree with but overall it's a good message of self respect. Take it to God - A slinky, funky beat to this one. "Rappers tired of me saying where hip hoppers at, cuz they know they unoriginal copycats...tv is wack, they want to show us beating Iraq, when the question is where Chandra Levy at?" Good Bye - A beautiful track, featuring a long forgotten instrument in hip hop, the saxophone. This is a dedication to all those who have passed away. "There was a time when hip hop was on our mind, it wasn't about no crime, just reality rhymes, if you battled me fine, but in the end we'd recline, with a bottle of wine, MC's, the original kind" South Bronx 2002 - Basically the same chorus as the classic. "Do what you gotta do, but while you waving flags, remember Am-a-dou, Diallo, here's what we gotta do, follow, I'll put hip hop in you if you hollow, those that already filled still take swallows" More quotables, "you know the radio's late, you know they play what you hate, that's why you got that Kay Slay tape trying to skate" One of my favourites is this, "you can spend your money on drugs and still be stressed, look around for conscious rappers yo there ain't none left, I'm holding it down, better yet I'm holding it up, waiting for some young buck to come and sip from the cup, and continue with the menu putting new knowledge in you" Amen, hopefully it won't be a long wait. Never Give Up - A hip hop first I think. This song produced by Domingo samples a Cantonese chant on the chorus which is translated in the liners. It sounds fresh. Tears - Dedicated to 9/11. This could be a great single if this album will even have one. Amazing lyrics and fitting somber, yet hopeful production. Quotes for days and days. "Sadness comes from a lack of knowing, not knowing, where the one that you love is going, we're all going to reap what we all are sowing, there is no death just constant growing, we can't stay here forever, we all gotta go to a place we believe is better, so why be sad, why be mad, now you can see it ain't about the cheddar, it's all about the time that we spend together, not the rhyme, or the crime or the Gucci sweater, the house that's built on a rock can stand the weather, faith can stand the weather, but is your house upon the rock, or is it on sand and about to drop? here is the question that you've got to ask, do I live for today or do I live for the past?" And that's just part of the first verse. I can't stop quoting or I'll feel like I'm doing you a disservice. "But the Republicans put themselves up above again, looking for blood again, hate, no love again, got them soldiers running in, with a gun again, with a ton of sin, in a holy war how we gonna win, I think it's time for KRS-ONE again". The Struggle Continues - Featuring T-Bone. This starts off with some Spanish rapping. "Rhyme is about the only way I'm heard, and that's absurd in a democracy, that's why these cops be stopping me, it's hypocrisy, the whole society is corrupt and greedy, we give to the rich and lock up the needy". The unbelievable lyricism just won't quit. "Let me take you back to 1-9-7-0, 1970, Vietnam War yo, heroin all in the streets, Cointelpro, did anybody really care about us, hell no, the original plan was for us to just die, or get incarcerated well the rest of us just stay high, let me tell you about rejection in the worst of ways, in the 70's we were treated worse than slaves, 1974, there was no law, it was mass genocide for the blacks and the poor, all we had was a dream to be free, and a strategy called hip hop, I'll battle you, you battle me, no cash, no cheques, we battle for free, and when we battle for free people rally to see, and through that charity we got to charge them a fee, now you on MTV, counting up G's" The Conscious Rapper - KRS is the conscious rapper personified and he uses this track to discuss just how hard that is. "Can you rock for the love of the art, can you drop hit after hit after hit and still don't chart, can you really stay loyal to God when you're life is full of strife, plus it always seems so hard, can you handle the criticism, people holding you up to higher standards but they don't live em, can you hear these kiddy flows and laugh at them, but when you spit they calling you arrogant, you better think about that before you rock to this, sometimes it's easier to pop the Cris" Trust - Smooth beat. Fast flow. More dope lyrics. "Trust in the inner, the outer is for the sinners, in fact this whole rap is for beginners, those that have talked and walked upon the path, know that they get what they want before they ask, so why rush, if your respect is due, whatever you don't have is protecting you, it's what you do have that be bringing the drama, ask and it shall be given, with a comma" He's saying to trust your god, whoever she or he may be. One interesting line for KRS the scholar is the following, "So if you think your life is shrinking, it may because you keep thinking, not that intellect is wrong, it's just the beginning, it might be time to move on" Come to the Temple - This song came out a few years ago and features Smooth B. Rampage, Rah Goddess and Fat Joe. I think it's a remixed beat but it still doesn't really fit the feel of this album very well. Still some gems. Ain't Ready - Wow, this starts off with some phat guitars and then some heavy scratching, done by Kris himself. Here KRS makes his position on spiritually more clear with these lines, "greedy, I'm not that, you needy for that shock rap, slangin' on the block rap, duckin' where the cops at, I don't knock that, but Jesus done topped that, not that man on the cross, it ain't like that, you must ACT like the son of God, that's where the lights at, stop reading only and start being, show me" "You got gospel artists still trying to chase that loot, here the truth now, I come to enhance the light, they women of God singing while they pants is tight, they not hot, really they reg-ular, they clothes, they flows, all that se-cular, what's the difference, I could stay in the world and wild, if these church girls wear more makeup than Destiny's Child, keep it real Christians, some of y'all listening ain't liking, this is the difference between a Christian and a Christ-ian" God is Spirit - Feat BB Jay. No word of a lie, this could be a club banger. It's almost Neptunes-ish. "Many say they would like to see a better day, but when the conscious album drops they all jet away" Tine-Tim ends the track off with a great little turntabilism display. Know Thy Self - Another Domingo cut. Again the chorus sums up the spiritual theme, "Know thyself, and thou shalt know, the universe and God, wo-o-oh" Kris outlines why God is self and how you know when you've achieved that state. "To all my true hip hoppas, who pay bills and live proper, never allow a negative thought to stop ya, correct your posture, stand upright, not uptight, don't be scared of the light, just be prepared for the fight, we say criminal minded because our thoughts are illegal, we represent the very thinking of inner city people, real people, people that take care of themself, they need health, love, awareness and wealth, not to mention, knowledge of God, not college, then job, then dead, if you agree, nod your head" Nuff said. Dayz Ahead - Very funky beat here, with staggered keys. This deals with society in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Check this out, "we all in the same gang, it's that World Bank gang that got struck with two planes, but we, yes the people, are struck with true pain, cuz the world bank will do the same under a new name" That's conscious rap. Power - This is what I feared this whole album would be like. It's a gospel singer crooning for three minutes and a twenty second rap at the end. Thankfully it's the only one of its type. So what can I say. This album definitely has a spiritual/gospel focus but it also is so much more than that as you can hopefully see. With the new independent KRS you know what to expect, incredible rhymes, self produced tracks and new and captivating ways to express complex ideas simply. In addition to that, unlike the Sneak Attack which was more boom bap oriented, this one is smoother and more introspective. If anyone can prove the power of the word it is KRS-ONE. Spiritual Minded is not for everyone but if you've read this far I think it's for you. Patrick