Reviewed by Kevin J Foulger

The West Coast rappers may have gone through a whole heap of troubles and some of their key founder rappers have departed but they still come bouncing back with a lyrical album which is a pleasure to listen to. I liked the brass section, which appeared in several places while the acoustic guitar also gave a sense of variety to the instruments used. There were some nice piano/melodic keyboard riffs in places, but I felt some of the other riffs were too short and repetitive. The lyrics were well rapped by different members of the band, giving variety to the voices. Guests on the album are DJ Rhettmatic, Murs, Jenilee Rees, Kiz Charasmatic and the hugely talented Tonex and all add to the compelling street vibe of the album. Not everything is successful, though. A spoken "Oh my God!" is used several times on one track, which I felt was out of place on a Christian album, even if the band were imitating their fans. "Grand Piano" is the stunning gem on the album. With a gritty drum loop, the effects and samples create a vivid soundscape while the raps here are world class. A cut good enough to become an acknowledged classic. Overall, 'Disappear Here' is fresh, vibrant and relevant and stands up against the very best hip-hop releases out there.

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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