It’s Over – Sean Simmonds (Xist/Tyscot)

It’s Over
Sean Simmonds
Xist Records/Tyscot 2008
www.tyscot.com

On It’s Over, Toronto-born Sean Simmonds delivers ample helpings of energetic holy hip hop with snarling synth, explosive beats, aggressive blasts of sound, and a startling lyrical frankness, all of which makes for extremely riveting listening.

Simmonds drapes the timeless messages of faith and hope in street-cred language and attitude. The theme of the album seems to center on the rhetorical question he asks on “Tonite:” “If the Lord came back tonight, would it be okay if he came tonight?” Successive tracks depicting a world defiled by spousal and child abuse (the chilling “Unheard Cries”) and a host of tribulations that leave the wounded shaking weary fists at soured dreams (“God is Real”), leave the listener pondering that point. On the other hand, Simmonds remains optimistic and encourages his audience to do the same.

There are some mainstream, radio-friendly songs on It’s Over, such as the current hit “My Life” that Simmonds performs with former song-mates Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale, “I Made It,” and “Wherever,” a lovely duet with Yvette Graham. But the more interesting tracks are those off the beaten path, particularly “Mary’s Baby,” a cleverly constructed hip hop articulation of the Nativity.

Musically, Simmonds can hold his own with any hip hop artist on the charts today. The significant, and critical, difference between them and him is in the message. Many artists in secular hip hop seek suzerainty over the world, or release from its pain, by steeping themselves in fame, a fast time, money and ostentatious material possessions. These things are present in Simmonds’ world too, but for him, they are not the solution. God is the solution.

On the other hand, both secular and sacred artists seek to gain respect in a world that doesn’t provide much of it. But where secular artists seek respect from those on the gritty streets, Simmonds seeks it from those on the streets of gold. In this he shares the company of artists such as Deitrick Haddon and J Moss.

It’s Over may not be your grandmother’s church music, but it is her testimony.

Three and a Half of Four Stars