Sev Statik, JustMe, Theory Hazit, and Wonder Brown, The Falling Tsar Project

written by mmog37

Album overview

When you combine hip hop super heroes like Sev Statik and Theory Hazit you can’t go wrong. Add to that already powerful dynamic duo the likes of JustMe and Wonder Brown and an explosive lyrical beat down on evil and the kingdom of darkness is bound to happen. As if this Fantastic Foursome wasn’t enough fellow hip hop heroes Mouf Warren(Argue Believe), Lefty Grove (Fools Gold) and Cas Metah (Table of Contents) show up to share in the mic wrangling. In addition to flexxin his lyrical muscle Theory Hazit puts in some time in the producers seat producing 8 of the 10 tracks on The Falling Tsar Project, the other two tracks feature the producing skills of Mattman (Brotherly Love) and JustMe (Fools Gold). This 2007 Illect Recordings Release is a perfect picture of the brighter side of Hip Hop. Illect Recordings a.k.a. the home of “Feel Good Rap” can certainly feel good about this one. This was another one of those Cd’s that had me daydreaming of the days when hip hop was in it’s infancy, when it was a pure art form painting pictures of a world that very few knew about. When hip hop was more than samples and hooks that are just looped and replayed, looped and replayed. I found Falling Tsar to be both invigorating and Fresh! This group of emcees all flowed well together skillfully tag teaming the mic like an old school wrestling foursome. The lyrics were stimulating and thought provoking, and I found the music to be an audio treasure for my eardrums that soothed and lulled me into relaxing and grooving along as the emcees spoke to my heart, convicting me at times and encouraging at others while all throughout constantly weaving a thread to remind me that I have a higher purpose. Point Blank this CD is just plain GOOD!

However as good as it is I struggle and agonized over writing this review. I didn’t struggle for lack of good things to say about it because that wasn’t the case at all, in fact it’s just the opposite. Theory Hazit did his thing on Production as did Mattman (Brotherly Love) and JustMe (Fools Gold). The lyrics were both well written and delivered with precision. It was conscious, it was spiritual, it was socially relevant, it was jazzy and it was bumpin all at the same time…a head nodder and a toe tapper…and yet I still struggled. I struggled because for the first time doing a review I felt extremely inadequate to express the purpose and the cause that Falling Tsar was birthed from, and I struggled and wrestled hoping that I might be able to write a review that touched the heart of the reader and moved them to support this project.

In case you have been under a rock or do not know the history or motivation behind the Falling Tsar Project let me try to bring you up to date. About a year and a half ago, Scribbling Idiots teamed up with Sev Statik to begin work on project together. Just prior to the time of their collaboration a dear friend by the name of Eric Place had passed away, and the idea was to dedicate the project to his memory. Eric, who was a recovering alcoholic, a godly man, husband, father and a musician. Suffering from fibromyalgia, Eric spent his last few months alive unable to work and in pain. One of Eric’s desires was to have a band named “Falling Tsar” So the idea was to name the Project the same to honor his memory. While working on the project JustMe discovered that Eric’s son had been diagnosed with bone cancer, and to make matters worse, Eric’s widow Leslie is losing her job because the new mayor is shutting down the program in which she works! A modern day Job story indeed. In an attempt to help the family, and in true Christian form, Scribbling Idiots and Illect Recordings will be donating all the proceeds from The Falling Tsar Project to help pay for Mason’s medical expenses. JustMe feels that this is a God Given opportunity to use hip hop to make a difference and I tend to agree with him.

Falling Tsar track list :
1. Valley With No Name
2. Table Of Content featuring CAS METAH
3. Medusa
4. Cob Webs
5. Brotherly Love
6. Heart Of The Song
7. What We Are
8. Argue Believe featuring Mouf Warren
9. Fools Gold featuring Lefty Grove (JustMe)
10. King For A Day (Theory Hazit)

Spiritual Significance

This project was birthed from the desire to help someone in need a Spiritual Concept indeed, this CD is Christianity/Ministry in action. However the Spiritual Significance doesn’t end with the intentions behind the projects, throughout the CD you find themes dealing with The fact that God desires to have a relationship with us. In their own unique, witty and sometimes comical style the emcees remind us that we are the voice and representatives of Jesus Christ and that we should behave accordingly with honesty and integrity revealing Christ to those around us (What We Are). Other spiritual themes include Christ being able to fix things when we let him(Cob Webs), as well as re-dedication (Cob Web) we are not perfected but are directed (What We Are). Although you won’t find scripture quoting or a preachy type style this is not Gospel lite, but instead is a cleverly disguised spiritual infusion that tackles some heavy issues facing not just Christians but society as a whole. This is one of those Cd’s that each time you listen you will hear and learn something new.

Topics Covered

The topics covered in the Falling Tsar Project not only have spiritual implications but they are on point and relevant to the current social environment. One track (Brotherly Love) deals with our responsibility to Love each other, and those who abuse that responsibility taking advantage of their brothers and sisters, you can feel the pain in this one, and I like how just when the song gets you open it closes out with a short concentrated sermon from 1 John 3, warning us to not love each other in the same manner as Cain loved His brother but with a Godly Love. Another track (Cobb Webs) serves as a reminder that only Christ can fix things and not the temporary gratifies we tend to chase after, and also directs to return to the truths Christ shared in John 14. With a smooth urban jazz like flow combined with witty and humorous lyrics the track (Argue Believe) softens the blow of the emcees challenging the listener to not go around believing everything that is being shoved in the direction of their ear hole are contrasted by the slick nursery rhyme type beat used in (Table of Content) which humorously/sarcastically shines light on we are easily distracted by catchy hooks that are lacking substance or even contain negative and dangerous messages. I highly recommend the track (Heart of the Song) for those who are in or are contemplating getting into the industry, it tackles the issue of balancing priorities, relationships and struggling to make it in a music career and that submission to God should be the main ingredient. Here’s a brief breakdown of the topics covered:

Going to the places where we [Christians] are needed, Being led vs being driven(Valley With No Name)
Sarcastic/funny song bringing light on catchy (empty) hooks that are deceptive and empty, a call to bring truth back to our songs and not just the same old re-spun lies and deceptions (Table Of Content feat CAS METAH)
This one tackles lust and seduction, a warning to avoid the lure. (Medusa)
Brushing off the Cob webs, re dedication and nothing/ no one will love us Like Christ can. (Cob Webs)
Walking in Brotherly Love, and those who abuse it and the pain it causes (Brotherly Love) DEEP!
Balancing priorities and relationships while pursuing your dream, don’t lose sight of what it is really about. (Heart Of The Song)
We are the voice and representatives of Christ, let’s act accordingly (What We Are)
Are you actually listening to the stuff that being aimed at your ear hole, don’t just blindly accept everything that is shoved toward you…take the time to at least find out where it is coming from and where it’s trying to take you, even religious messages. (Argue Believe feat Mouf Warren)
Chasing after fools gold, the illusion of fame, money and honeys for the small price of your soul of course. (Fools Gold feat Lefty Grove)DEEP
Don’t be fooled or even fool yourself…there’s only one real king. (King For A Day)

Key Tracks

Valley With No Name, Cobb Webbs, Brotherly Love, Argue Believe, What We Are, Heart of the Song