LABEL: FADACY MUSIC
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 6, 2012

rganic is the second full length album from Applejaxx and it is filled with radio ready tracks that are hard not to enjoy at full volume. The album is filled to the brim with solid production, loud beats and features that always sound just as good as Applejaxx himself. The strangest part of the album, which is creative at heart, is most the lyrics revolve around food, trying to capture the idea of organic versus processed food and use it as a powerful metaphor.

The album has two potential downfalls, with many Christian Rapper’s focusing more on praise than song writing, Applejaxx approaches things from the other end of the spectrum. His music feels more secular with Jesus sprinkled throughout the album, which is not necessarily a positive or negative, but it is noteworthy. This is a Rap album first and foremost making it perfect for newcomers to Christian Rap artists or people who prefer to listen to both secular and Christian Rap. The second downfall is the album just feels too short at 36 minutes and 12 tracks, especially with two different versions of the same track offered in the album (both versions are good) the whole thing feels slightly cheap.

“Original” is a great example of the production on this project, a good mix between the current state of secular Rap (with a heavy club influence) mixed with healthy doses of some classic staples from old school beats. Applejaxx’s lyricism on the track are great on this track, being perhaps the only Rapper to even rhyme about the supermarket and mention in all seriousness things like Raisin Bran without making it a punchline. The track also serves as a good example of the Christian content of the album. It has it but these tracks aren’t Rap-Gospel but Rap with Christian elements.

“Got Jesus (featuring Odetta)” is a uptempo psyche-you-up anthem as only Rap can do and it does it well. The production on the track is just the right amount of Club without feeling busy or relying too much on a single effect and feeling repetitious. Odetta has a verse nearing the end of the track revealing a bit of her personality which is a positive given too many female singers featured on songs are reduced to being a pretty voice without much personality.

“BlueBerry Slangin’” is on the face of it a very strange track when the beat drops and it feels like something straight out of Young Money but about of all things, fruit. Still, Applejaxx’s straight forward style sells the track without making it feel the least bit silly. Thematically the track just continues the concept of the entire album, about eating clean as a metaphor, and part of the spiritual life. This track and the album tries valiantly to get the idea across with mixed success, but the track remains an enjoyable track.

Organic is an album that will raise the standards for Christian Rap albums this year. The two potential downfalls are forgivable, with the biggest, in the eyes of this reviewer, being the album is just too short. At the least Applejaxx did not load the album down with filler tracks that weren’t up to snuff of the rest of the album. Applejaxx’s style also makes this the perfect album to gift to friends who like the current state of secular Rap but are on the fence about Christian Rap. He stands as a good transitional artist for Rap fans and listeners who enjoy both genres of Rap music.