Reviewed by David Faulkner

What is it Benjah doesn't do on the contemporary Christian R& B scene? He has appeared on recordings by Lecrae and Tedashii; he writes songs and produces; he has Grammy nominations and Dove Awards under his arm. This 2011 album is an exhilarating collection of commercial R&B with hip-hop flavours, and even reggae-lite and rock guitar on "Orphan". The grooves are tight, driving and insistent. Occasionally you can feel battered by the relentlessness, and the necessary light and shade only come near the end. However, that is a minor quibble. The melodies are fit for mainstream daytime radio. The lyrics vary from being explicit about faith to implicit, and the themes range from personal spirituality to social concerns and relationships. Guests abound: Rachel Lampa on the chart-worthy "Not Alone", St Matthew and Dillavou on the conscious "3rd World Fam", his former outfit Group 1 Crew on "My Angel" and Andy C-Lite Mineo and Ron Kenoly Jr on "Read Me". This is music of an extremely high standard, worthy in this reviewer's opinion of the major label treatment. If this is a musical style you love, you will not want to miss Benjah.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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