J Prophet – Getting My Shape Up Vol. 1

J Prophet
Getting My Shape Up Vol. 1
(private release, 2010)
http://www.jprophet.com/

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

J Prophet shatters all stereotypes of the typical hip hop artist, secular or sacred.

He doesn’t rap about growing up on mean streets or even about being saved from a life of sin, shambles and shame. Quite the opposite: the rapper earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University in the spring and remains in New Haven to complete a masters program at Yale Divinity School.

This past September, the Ghostwriter took time out from schoolwork to release his latest mixtape, Getting My Shape Up, Vol. 1. The new collection contains fourteen new tracks and three remixed and remastered selections from Ghostwriter Vol. 3: Hope in the Valley.

Make no mistake: Yale resume and membership in Kappa Alpha Psi notwithstanding, J Prophet has sufficient life experience to deliver lyrics about the pain and challenges associated with living the straight-and-narrow Christian life, facing haters and disbelievers, and scuffling with Satan. He has the acumen to grapple articulately with social issues and offers love, hope and faith as solutions to life’s myriad complications. The tracks are set to conventional beats and minimal atmosphere so the lyrics can be heard clearly.

“Music is my medicine,” J Prophet spits on “Over the Land,” and arguably so is cathartic rapping, as he provides what sounds like an autobiographical account on “Exhibit A (Speak to Me)” and “I Ain’t Scared,” the latter depicting a near fatal car accident. “BMF Freestyle” highlights heroes of the past, including Martin Luther King, Fannie Lou Hamer and Ella Baker, who demonstrated J Prophet’s mantra of “peace and power.”

“Sky is the Limit,” featuring Antoine, is the mixtape’s shining moment. It is part spoken word poetry, part rap and all inspiration. Speaking of guest vocalists, the female vocalist on “Thank You (Class of 2010)” sounds for all the world like Lauryn Hill.

Three of Five Stars

Picks: “Sky is the Limit,” “BMF Freestyle.”