LABEL: GOD OVER MONEY
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 21, 2011

hristian rapper Bizzle exploded onto the scene last January with the song “Explaining to Do,” a dis song aimed at the rapper Jay-Z.  Like many, I quickly went to You Tube to listen to this track and gain some insight into this artist’s views and the reasoning behind such a song.  The buzz around that track has followed Bizzle to his debut album Tough Love & Parables. The album has both highs and lows but demonstrates Bizzle’s lyricism throughout.

“Tough Love Intro” starts the album off with an acapella verse from Bizzle that also doubles as a prayer.  Bizzle asks God to help him not to be too harsh as he begins the album.  It is obvious from this first track that Bizzle will be showing some ‘tough love.’  He raps, “So now I come along speaking truth to them, but they so used to the lies that the truths new to them.”

“15 Seconds” is a song that has a good message.  The theme of the song is that your life can change in a matter of just a few seconds so you should make good decisions. Bizzle uses examples like a woman getting pregnant, someone contracting AIDS and making a good impression on a job interview (a great example in my opinion).  I personally took issue with the use of the ‘N’ word in the song.  To me it felt unnecessary and I hope that it does not turn listeners off to this song.

“Long Time Comin” is probably my favorite track on the album.  The Sam Cooke sample combined with a nice laid-back southern beat make this a solid track.  Bizzle shows he can relate to the common man when he spits “I work a nine to five, I feel your pain if any.”  On another line he says “In it for the money? Dummy I ain’t made a penny.”   Biz continues by encouraging the listener to walk uprightly and be an example for their kids.

“Just Sayin” finds Bizzle chastising secular artists about what they talk about in their rhymes and the example they present for young people.  I felt like Bizzle had some thought provoking lines on this song.  On one line he rhymes “They say the government gave us guns, knives, liquor and crack, but last time I checked your dealer was black.”  The song also includes an insightful clip from a Tupac interview.

“God Over Money” is another track that goes hard!  The track has great word play and Bizzle shares the truth straight from his heart.  “It’s evident we need Him but the question is, will you serve a living God or a dead president?”

Tough Love & Parables has some solid moments, but there are a few things that take away from the overall project.  Nineteen tracks felt like a little too much.  A number of the songs felt like fillers and as a person who never heard a Bizzle album it made listening to the project a little challenging.  Furthermore, being honest, I felt at times Bizzle came across as angry.  This anger seems to be aimed at a variety of people but mainly at people in the music industry and with how they handle their platform.  While his thoughts may be accurate, this repeated theme also made completing the album difficult.  If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to listen to Bizzle, I suggest checking out the album. It will hit with some and miss with others.