By C.E. Moore
GENRE: ISLAND/FUNK/SOUL
LABEL: INDEPENDENT
RELEASE DATE:
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5
In all honesty, the Christian music industry has left me wholly unprepared to properly review this album. Here is what I mean. In the CMI, if the music produced is not pop, rock, or worship, it will generally be marginalized. Rap. Southern gospel. Gospel. Heavy metal. These types of albums manage to find their way to the bargain bin (if they manage to make their way into the Christian bookstore at all). And Benjah’s Filtered is an album you will not likely ever see in your local Berean, Lifeway or Family Christian Stores. Why? Because, Filtered is straight up island/funk/soul music. And CMI has never known what to do with that. Heck, they don’t even have a category for it. This is unfortunate, because Benjah’s work is phenomenal. To say that I love Benjah’s Filtered would be a gross understatement.
The music on this album will relax both the mind and soul as the stress-free, breezy tones float through the air. Utilizing a number of instruments popular to the genre, Benjah has crafted a melodic experience that rivals any other island sound album I’ve heard.
“I Feel So Alone” starts things out light and contemplative with some soft electric guitars, bongos, bass, and piano. But, Benjah feels anything but alone on this track, with Sho Baraka and Conviction spitting rhymes over the buoyant beat and Ms. Lulu adding her gorgeous vocals to the mix.
“Exposed” features Lecrae and Soye, continuing the trend established in the first track. It will likely remind more diverse listeners of Sonny Sandoval’s work with P.O.D. It’s really fun to hear Lecrae doing something outside of his regular hip-hop styling, choosing to offer up some rasta tones. The piece talks about the cost of gaining the whole world while losing one’s soul.
“Fly Away” is as good as any of these tracks get. It is sonically perfect and captures everything there is to capture about island music. Benjah explains on the next track that the song is about flying away from a relationship that has awakened love before its time.
Seriously, the tracks on this album are just so good. From the bouncy “Breathe Life” to the old school boom bap fused with Caribbean sounds of “Get Filtered” to the slightly autotune-sounding closer, “Stand Alone,” Filtered has something that everyone will enjoy.
The major thing that makes this album truly interesting is that it is Christian. When it comes to gospel, you know it’s gospel. Even Christian rap is pretty in-your-face about what it is all about. When it comes to Filtered, however, I get so lost in the groove that I sometimes don’t notice the Gospel message that is being dropped into my heart and soul. It’s like subversive orthodoxy. Some people might not like that, but I loved it. Here I am “getting my groove on,” all the while my soul is being edified and strengthened.
Filtered is an album that can be enjoyed time and time again. More Christians need to put out music like this. Just because it’s a niche genre doesn’t mean it can’t glorify God. Engaging both the spirit, soul, and body, Benjah’s work is superb.
Review copy provided courtesy of Benjah Music.
MAN, you hit it on the nose. Benjah is an artist in his own category right now. More need to be exposed to his style and artistry. hopefully he will get more recognition for the craft God has blessed him with.
I have the album and in all honesty…One word….”EXCELLENCE”. It is straight from the heart, without the politics. At the end of the day isn’t that, what music is suppose to be? I don’t know about you… but “Filtered” motivated me in ways I cannot describe. With its depth and flavor so rich, it never compromised the message. love -Josie