LABEL: REACH RECORDS 
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 20, 2007

he problem with albums from Reach Records is that with each new one, the previous album seems to pale in comparison. In the grand scheme of music production, that’s not such a bad problem to be accused of having. The 116 Clique’s The Compilation Album was absolutely amazing. Then came Lecrae. That didn’t last long, though. Trip Lee came along and knocked Lecrae out of the rotation. Then Tedashii dropped Kingdom People and Trip Lee was a distant memory. The 116 Clique followed up The Compilation Album with 13 Letters and Tedashii ended up taking a backseat. Now, Sho Baraka has released Turn My Life Up. And it’s not that the albums suck. Not by any means. I just can’t figure out how they keep releasing albums this good. Normally, one would think they’d sold their soul to Satan. But, given that each album sounds like an M. Div. rapped over beats, that figure of speech doesn’t seem to fit.

Thusfar, Sho Baraka has only made a few guest appearances on other Reach Record artist albums, with a few solo tracks on the two 116 Clique albums. So, this is the first chance listeners have been able to hear him stand on his own for a full-length album. Listeners will not be disappointed.

While the entire album is worth purchasing, ‘Overrated,’ ‘Maranatha,’ ‘Catch Me at the Brook,’ and ‘Slow It Down’ are by far the album’s highlights. ‘Overrated’ turns a critical eye on many of the things “normal” people clamor for in this world, yet reminds listeners that those things are often over-hyped and overrated. Sho’s witty insight is both hilarious and poignant through such lyrics as,

The youngest quote 50 Cent
But can’t count to fifty cent
We promote ignorance
They’re so illiterate
My man’s lovin’ that money to death
Really to death
He’ll kill himself to get him a check
Oh! But he weeped about Virginia Tech
But he sells glocks and techs
Please help me understand his intellect
–‘Overrated’

‘Maranatha’ guests Tedashii and Json and is literally a cry for God to come and take his children home. The theme of the song draws its inspiration from the Aramaic phrase ‘maranatha’ (either ???? ??; maranâ’ thâ’ or ??? ???; maran ‘athâ’) which occurs only one time in the New Testament (1 Cor. 16:22) as a farewell and is translated in the NIV as “Come, O Lord.” ‘Catch Me at the Brook’ compares the water that does not satisfy with the living water found only in Christ. ‘Slow It Down’ features Trip Lee and is a call for Christians to slow things down and simplify our lives. Other songs tackle such subjects as the attributes of God (‘God is Like/Who Is Like God?’), loving Jesus (‘Higher Love’), the church helping the community rather than itself (Rebuild the City’), and experiencing an abundant life in Christ (title track ‘Turn My Life Up’).

The production of this album is slick and fast and the lyrics relevant. Sho doesn’t necessarily break any new ground as an emcee, but Reach Records seems to have an “If-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it” mentality when it comes to the product they put out. Unless you put grinding guitars in the back and some drum loops (ala Linkin Park/Jay-Z’s Collision Course), there’s not much anyone is going to do to change the rap genre. That being said, Sho Baraka’s album is a welcome addition to the Reach Records repertoire and could easily stand alongside any rap album in the secular market. The fact that he packs so much theology into 17 tracks is a testament to the fact that, though this is his debut album, Sho Baraka is a seasoned veteran with a bright future ahead of him. This album will be in heavy rotation until the next Reach Records album drops in 2008. Enjoy your time at the top of the playlist, Sho.

–C. E’Jon Moore