The popular Philadelphia four man rap crew known as The Cross Movement (CM) recently released their fourth group project entitled Holy Culture. This disc is a stellar showcase of CM’s trademark bible-centered lyrics, gospel message, masterful wordplay, and rugged east coast style.

The Ambassador, Tonic, The Phanatik, T.R.U.L.I.F.E and DJ Official, through three solo tracks each, and two group tracks, collectively craft a cohesive sonic statement on what’s missing from hip-hop, their response, “holiness”. Using four interludes to expound on John 17:11-19, as their conceptual framework for Holy Culture, the album’s content ranges from topics such as eternal life, materialism, relationships, intimacy with God, and primarily the challenge to be IN the world but not OF it. The chorus on Totally Free, a song title that speaks for itself asks:

I wanna know if you wanna know/ which way to go/ and if you carry loads/ you can be set free/I don’t care about the car you drive/are you alive/you and I need to be totally free

There are several standout tracks but if asked to pick a couple that should be sent to radio ASAP, I’d nominate, the anthemic “Forever,” the piano driven “Totally Free,” or the curveball the crew drops this time around with “Closer to You,” a posse cut featuring the smooth vocals of forthcoming Cross Movement Records recording artist, J.R.

Of course no CM project would be complete without the requisite “Cypha” cut. The fifth installment in this collaboration of likeminded MCs is entitled “Eternal Cypha” and features no less than 9 MCs spittin’ fire for Christ. To keep you ahead of the game, the non-CM cats featured on this track whose projects you’ll wanna cop when they drop are: Truth, J-Silas, Flame, R-Swift, and Todd Bangz. Production on Holy Culture is mad diverse, with southern and middle-eastern stylings. Props to CM’s own DJ Official, and T.R.U.L.I.F.E., longtime collaborator Lee “Tubbs” Jerkins, Todd Bangz, and The Yuinon’s own Maji.

In short Holy Culture will challenge, convict, possibly convert, and cause severe head noddin’ but it won’t disappoint. Cop it now, tell a friend and help holy hip hop maintain the momentum this project sparked in secular circles by being the first CD “of its kind” to chart on Billboards Top 200, breaking all previous first weeks sales by a Christian rap group.

-“Vessel”

*Cop it now at www.sphereofhiphop.com