J. Spence – Ascension

J. Spence
Ascension
Diversity Music Group (2011)
http://www.diversitymusicgroup.com/

Released in April, Ascension is the third solo project by J. Spence, a Christian hip hop artist from Buffalo, New York.

Inspired by Luke 24, J. Spence has taken his message to the streets to save souls. Not surprisingly, Ascension emphasizes the importance of discipleship and evangelism to, as the artist articulates on “Peculiar,” “fulfill the book story.”

J. Spence credits Jay-Z and Mali Music as influences, and the album’s clever beats bear this out, especially “Friend Like Me,” which has for a backdrop the zoot-suited, big-band Broadway soundtrack from the popular animated film, Aladdin. Similarly, “The Price is Right” borrows the familiar theme song of the game show for its support while J. Spence spits about Jesus who “paid the price” and “fronted the bill.” “Waiting” samples snippets of uncredited female gospel singing.

“So In Love,” featuring Kyria, Mahogany Jones, Choson, and Houston Knight, Jr., is a love expression, duly wrapped in a romantic melody, and directed to Jesus whose unconditional love is priceless.

The most poignant of the album’s fifteen tracks is “Pray,” on which J. Spence tells the story of a single mother at wits’ end, and the equally distraught father. “Just pray” is the mantra and motto, though J. Spence seems also to employ the stories as cautionary tales and to evoke sympathy for the players’ circumstances.  In other words: there but for the grace of God go I, so be careful of the stones you throw.

Overall, the rhymes on Ascension are crisp, easily to follow, straightforward, and the variety of beats and rap rhythms give the album added vitality. J. Spence is a Christian hip hop artist who knows his craft and has, to quote one of the tracks, “Life, Strength and Swag.”

Four of Five Stars

Picks: “So In Love,” “Pray.”