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Bobbin Bouncin, Bouncin Bobbin... After eleven years helping to establish hip-hop as a viable genre for Christian music, walking the line between mainstream and Christian radio, taking stands on issues that were taboo, and doing their thing, Grits is more than ready to take things to the next level. In the last few years, they've fulfilled their contractual agreement with Gotee Records, launched 5e Entertainment, and set the wheels in motion for life after Gotee. Their eighth album is releasing 21 November on both Gotee and 5e. Does it have the punch needed to put Grits and 5e Entertainment on the proverbial map? Let's take it for a spin and see what's what.

Track One: We Workin... yeah yeah... they'll never see... ay ay... okay so off we go with another Grits album... number eight and at least the fifth one to promise a mainstream breakthrough... i kind of dig this beat... certainly the piano touches... and it's produced by Ghost which probably doesn't mean much to a lot of people, but it's a pretty big deal... the odd thing about this track is that it kind of feels like they're rapping at a normal pace, but the beat is sluggish which kind of makes them sound like they're rapping double time... i don't know... feels kinda weird to me and i work too... Track Two: Holla @ Ya... moving on... the first, obvious thing to pick on is the title... i didn't realize that grown men made songs with "@" in the title... i'm sure there are other examples, though, so, i'll leave it at that... pretty straightforward rhythm to this one... rather typical Grits... i don't have credits for the album yet so, i can't tell you who's singing the hook, before you ask... those random little yells are kind of unsettling to be honest... l-o-v-e between you and me... well, it's fading out... so far i haven't been blown away... Track Three: Heeyy... this is an interesting little composition... somewhat of a break from the standard... not sure how i really feel about it though... it sounds pretty disorganized from first glance/listen... i like the way Coffee's managed to deliver his verse over this though... that worked pretty well... just kind of a strange sound... very difficult to really get into... apparently they liked it enough to be the first foot forward, as it's for sale on iTunes as part of the Heeyy EP... anywaayy... Track Four: Not the Same... i like this sample... that's a nice touch and shows a lot of potential for the track... another pretty slow beat... but it's laid back and it's actually got a rhythm that's easy to feel... easy like Sunday morning... this is kind shows a bit of angst towards the industry at large i suppose... but i like it alright... Bone's verse is pretty nice here... talking about your life being a soundtrack and steady bobbing to it... "put the words in my mouth, give me peace in my heart..." well, they're obviously talking about relying on God for their inspiration and for all that they do... better than angst anyway... Track Five: Tight Wit These... make em say uuuuhhh... so there's definitely a dirty south feel to this one... and i don't just mean Pettidee... the beat's really off in the distance, very much in the background, but it's impression is pretty strong still... and it sounds like Petty on the hook... someone else is here on this third verse too, but i don't know who it really is... i think the best way i can describe the feel of this song and some of these other songs is that it reminds me of carrying my old television down to the basement not too long ago... i have this big ole 29-inch television which is as deep as it is tall or wide, oddly shaped with the tube configuration in the back and probably about 200 pounds of awkward heaviness... i felt as though i had dislocated my shoulder trying to hoist it up off of the stand and then it was just plain painful carrying it down step by step... but yeah... awkwardly heavy... that's the way i'd describe some of these songs... Track Six: Soul Cry... i like the sample again... "help me help me help me"... that's pretty tight... and the beat reminds me totally of the Luniz from back in the mid 90s... "i got five on it..." eh, it probably wasn't theirs first either... but this is a pretty sweet song... and man the way it's just entirely opened up here... it sounds so wild and grand and large... very interesting sound here to end that one... halftime!

*** INTERMISSION (maybe it's cheating but i'm falling behind on this typing and i need to go stretch) ***

Track Seven: Ambitions... interesting little speech here fom someone (Bone) who says they can't preach... this beat is perhaps the first one that actually feels like it's safe to breathe... woah... Coffee just said Can-i-Bus would lend a hand... could it be?... anyway... all the fella say "ho"... i think that's a Biggie sample in there... "don't sleep"... now Bone's going on about the state of the industry and "Gospel" rap... "buy a little land too"... oh my... it IS Can-i-Bus... "she hates hip-hop... SO WHAT?"... oh man... this is... wow... man, i've always dug his flow... but man... maybe i just haven't listened in a while... but wow... that was just a sick verse... "rewind what I recorded see if the eye caught it"... i'll definitely be listening to this track more... that's hot... Track Eight: You Said... and a little bit of Pigeon John to add to the mix... this is a pretty good beat for Grits... i'd guess that PJ wrote it since it's totally his style... but i could be wrong... some good thoughts here about being true to what you've said... standing by your word and keeping your promises... certainly not something that everyone believes in these days... oh... not just PJ... that's bTWICE kickin a verse... i like his flow too and word is that there's a new Brainwash Projects album nearing completion... of course that's been the rumor for a while, but it's closer to being true then ever before... anyway... good start to the second half... Track Nine: We Ride... back to a harder, tougher sound... but this track at least feels more natural for them... more like a Grits song than Grits rapping on someone else's song... if that makes sense... the pace is better and their verses seem more fitting for the track... i'm digging it... not gonna be one of my favorites, but it's decent... kind of talks about their mission in life and why they do their music and stuff... very cool... i'm with it... definitely southern rap... Track Ten: Memories... everyone's invited to the circle... come on in... this is a nice airy beat that feels like a good throwback to the early days... which is appropriate since it's a track about reminiscing... very cool stuff... lots of talk about food here though, i'm starting to get hungry, but i've got at least two more songs to go... focus... Coffee's vocals are perfect for this beat... very fresh sound... definitely a winner... and so far, the back half is definitely outperforming the top half of the album... but we accept te good with the bad... Track Eleven: Open Bar... another influence of Pigeon John here and the first verse goes his way... very nice... i like this one too... doesn't really feel much like a Grits song, but certainly works well and i know this is a pretty special track for Grits since they've mentioned it in interviews and such... they kind of talk about unity and embracing everybody and it shares a bit of their thoughts on the mission and vision that they have for the next few years... lots os synrh and they both do quite well with the beat... it flows very nicely... get your cups up, get your drink on - it's living water, baby... Track Twelve: Right Back... oh, this is a sweet beat... very smooth... what a solid way to end the album... this is quite a great look at what the duo is capable of... kind of a soul vibe to this one and there's some nice touches of vocals here on the hook and throughout the track... the verses are working too... this is like classic Grits with a modernized feel to it... works very well and it's quite impressive... the awkwardness of the earlier tracks is gone and their vocals are meshing perfectly with the rhythms... and now... they're fading it out... but all in all, this album turned out pretty well despite some early missteps... Grits is back in the mix and this is a pretty good encore for their Gotee career...

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