“If Hip Hop Was a Sport, then J.A.Z.’s, WALK would be considered a “hat trick”  it hits the mark & scores consecutively in the areas of lyrical content, solid production & lyrical delivery/flow!”

Some emcees have that swagger, that attitude that says that they are no joke, that says they really do know what they are talking about. On the other hand some emcees have a knack for teaching or delivering deep theological messages that will have you scratching your head and brushing the dust off of your Strong’s Concordance (what, you don’t know what a Strong’s Concordance is…see me after the review), these types of emcee’s spend time in their Word and it shows in their lyricism. Yet again you also have the type of emcee who can ride a beat like a bowlegged cowboy at the rodeo, movin in and out with each break, beat and cut without fallin off. This type of emcee knows when to punch in or pause for emphasis, and when they are at their best they can hit you several times and walk away  as your mind begins to explode. It’s rare that you find an emcee who embodies all three types, but such is the case with J.A.Z., and his sophomore project, Walk, is proof of it.  J.A.Z. which is an acronym for Justified and Zealous proves to be both an accurate name and description of this Harlem emcee.

First Impression

Lately I have been on a good music streak!  When I got my hands on a copy of J.A.Z.’s  Walk, I had no doubts that the streak would continue.  A few months back, while on a road trip I stumbled across the J.A.Z. Classics and Throwbacks Compilations, and I was impressed with what I heard.  It didn’t hold the weight of a full album, but it was just enough to keep me distracted while I was stuck in traffic on a freeway in the middle of nowhere.

A quick glimpse at the CD insert picturing J.A.Z. strolling down the street, had me wondering if I needed to stretch first before I pushed play.  Throwing caution to the wind I pushed play and began the journey.  Only a few bars in and I was feelin better already.  The first track [We Got It] set the tone and pace for the rest of the album and had me bouncin with fist raised celebrating what we have found in Christ.  As the CD continued to play I was taken on a Walk, along side of an emcee who has the heart of an evangelist, whose passionate delivery is sure to captivate and engage the ears and hearts of all who take the time to listen.

From start to finish this CD had me listening and double taking.  “Walk, had plenty of heat, reawakening my love for that rugged East Coast attitude and sound. I stated in a recent review, that there really are two major distinctions when it comes to music, it is either anointed or not-anointed, J.A.Z.’z Walk is the Former, and it is poised to change lives and make a difference for believers and non-believers alike.

As I came to the end of the first listen I couldn’t wait to start the process all over again.  I discovered that I could put “Walk” on repeat continually and listen and not only would I not get tired of hearing it, I believe I would get something new out of it with each and every new listen.

A Closer Look

It’s not uncommon to hear terms like, meat or meaty when it comes to ministry or delivering the Gospel message, signifying that the message contains a healthy dose or serving of the Word.  When it comes to the content of “Walk” it’s not just meaty, it’s beefier than an Porter House Steak and it is seasoned with the Salt/flavor that comes from walking out the Christian Life. [Matt 5:13]   Building on the premise of  growing in the faith through challenging our walk, this CD reveals that everything a person could ever need is found in Christ [We Got It] and that by developing a Love relationship with Him [In Love] there is security.

Tracks like [Highest] invite the listener to join in on a Hip Hop Praise session, I enjoyed the way the sample of someone singing hallelujah (the Highest praise) was utilized/arranged.  Other tracks like [We Got It] celebrates life in Christ, and [Who You With] declares it’s not just who you know but who you are walking with, the entire track encourages complete trust and reliance on Christ. I like how he begins by acknowledging that he is nothing on his own “Listen me… I’m just a bag of bones I drag alone/but I have it all when I’m in the Master’s Arms.  ” and it gets better from there, check the hook;

Who you with/Christ, Who you with?/Christ! Who you with?/Christ! You see the Power in the Name yo!

Who you with?/Christ!, Who you with?/Christ!, Who you with?/Christ! When I said It the Chains came off!

Who you with?/Christ!, Who you with?/Christ!, Who you with?/Christ! He’s My Savior King and Lord!

[Who You With] also offers some advice to those in the Christian Hip hop game to do more than just “rap” all the time, and that growth and learning are not guaranteed just because the audience has memorized your verses. (real talk!)   After listening several times, it’s clear that a lot of planning and attention to detail went into the writing and production of this CD.  J.A.Z. does an excellent job of beginning with himself, and then challenging the listener in each song.  He also moves from one track to then next building and leading up to the final track, [In Love] which is one of my favorites on this project!  I found myself singing along with this one and declaring my Love for Christ along with J.A.Z., the beautiful part of the song was,  that J.A.Z., took the time to offer an invitation to those who have not yet discovered the Love of Christ.  Even the humorous interlude [Jazz-r-Class] which precedes the track [Jazz-r-Size] reveals that each and every track serves a purpose.  The interlude was hilarious and sets the stage for a not so funny topic, of maintaining our temples to be better effective for the Kingdom.

Da Breakdown

The one downside was that Walk seemed like it was over too fast, especially by the time the last note played on the last track I just wanted to linger there with the track still playing…(thankfully there is a rewind/replay button)  “Walk” features 13 tracks (12 songs 1 interlude) here’s the full track list:

1.   We Got It

2.   A.O.C. (Agents Of Change)

3.   Who You With?

4.   Living For (feat Magellan)

5.   I Want Christ

6.   The Grain

7.   Walk

8.   What Yall Want?

9.   Another Chance

10.  The Highest

11.  Jazz-r-Class

12.  Jazz-r-Size

13.  In Love (feat Michael David)

The title track [Walk] is beastly, in more ways than one.  It uses a bangin energetic track to reinforce the concept that this Christian Walk, is just that a Walk, something that we must walk out daily, not just speak about.  I particularly enjoyed the way J.A.Z. cleverly interjects Biblical support/verses into the lyrics for the concept of Walk-in it out, from Romans 8:1 to Gal 5:16, to Col 4:5, Eph 5:2 and the list goes on J.A.Z. uses the Word to admonish encourage and explain the need to walk this thing out.

Among my favorites were [Another Chance] which is a gentle caring reminder of the awesomeness of God’s Grace and forgiveness and how we should also me moving in a similar pattern toward each other.  This track also reinforces the concept of completely relying and trusting in God and following the footsteps of Christ.  His lyrical delivery and word play made me chuckle a few times as I got the point…

...now I guess it’s just the nature of man/that’s steady takin a stand/they wanna be a Bad Boy/but  aint Makin The Band.  Prada still puffy & big (get it) braggin and boastin over what we invent.  I don’t care if you’re the Einstein of fine rhyme/no matter if you da Martin Luther of sparkin trutha…  …it could be gone in day with one wave. J.A.Z.  - Another Chance

From start to finish Walk delivers the goods. Here is a snapshot of the content found on Walk:

• We Got It: Love, joy, peace, freedom…all of these can be found in Christ, along with any thing else you will ever need.  Celebrating what we have in Christ.

• A.O.C. (Agents of Change) Hott track encouraging the Body to step up and begin to Walk in Love and address some of the everyday issues facing the people in our communities.  A Servants of Christ we are destined to do Greater Works and be the Agents of Change in the areas God has placed us

• Who You With? It’s not who you know it’s who you are walking and fellow-shipping with.  Who you hang around will influence how you behave and live…make sure it Christ!

• Living For (feat Magellan) A lot of people are chasing material things, and those things are often confused with success, but even if you get those things what do you have?  This life is a Gift and to make the most of it you need to follow the lead of the Giver of it.

• I Want Christ: You can have the money and the fame gimme Christ!  Everything else pales in comparison.  There is blessing and security in Seeking Christ first.  A call for those pursuing and free in Christ to Stand Up and let it be known.

• The Grain: The true believers theme song!  This sizzling burner sums up our Walk as believers…living according to the Word is like going against the grain…while everyone else is trying to fit in we go against the grain…on purpose…for a purpose!

• Walk: The title track, encourages the listener to do more than just read or quote the Scriptures but to walk them out in our everyday lives.

• What Yall Want: Another track encourage everyone to step it up, stop wrong and move right along (get it)  Get in position and fulfill the call on our lives.

• Another Chance: A reflection of God’s Awesome Love and Grace toward us, capitalizing on the second chance He has given us and doing it right this time.  Avoiding the traps we fell for before and being wise to the devils divisive tricks.

• The Highest: A call to Praise, making Praise an everyday part of your lifestyle.

• Jazz-r-Size: (Don’t Sleep on this!!) Real talk about our need to pay attention to our health and monitor our everyday lifestyles including what we eat and partake of.  “We  feelin all depressed and defeated…could it be the mess that we eatin?”

• In Love: If this one doesn’t move ya you, you my friend have a heart of stone!  A Love song expressing that outside of Christ we are nothing!  Sharing the Love of God with others.  The smooth melody and the hook sung by Michael David will have you singing right along with it!

Final Thoughts

If Hip Hop Was a Sport, then J.A.Z.’s, WALK would be considered a “hat trick”  it hits the mark & scores consecutively in the areas of lyrical content, solid production and lyrical delivery/flow!   From start to finish I was blessed by this CD!

I enjoy listening to Christian music that knocks, and I enjoy listening to music that challenges and encourages me to step it up or grow, J.A.Z.’s Walk does both!  You can’t go wrong with this CD, it will make you move, reflect but most of all it will motivate you to start “Walk-in it out!

You can find out more about J.A.Z. or purchase Walk by visiting any of the following links:

J.A.Z.’s Website

J.A.Z. on myspace

Purchase Walk from Holy Culture Download

Purchase Walk from The Bus Shop