The Underground

By Kyle Kiekintveld

GENRE: HIP-HOP/RAP
LABEL: INDEPENDENT
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 1, 2010
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5

The Underground is a nearly perfect album that offers solid reinforcement of the religious messages through exposits. Quick but profound explanations of what was behind the song, the meaning and where he was spiritually when the song was written. David Michael offers listeners wonderful testimonies without any of the bravado that is so common in secular rap. This is a humble man who will leave the listener wanting to hear more of his compelling testimony.

Musically the album is nearly perfect. The beats feel slightly old school, but only because the secular scene is so in love with the Southern sound. These are not the most complicated beats, but they will cause heads to nods and toes to tap without any of the sirens or the ever present Auto-Tune. Lyrically David Michael does not have any gimmicks, no strange pronunciation, no unusual slang, just simple, classic lyricism. His delivery is crisp and well practiced, he never gives the impression that he is spitting too fast or too slow, but he offers a steady flow of knowledge.

“Nightmares” is one of the most vivid tracks on the album. It centers around the idea that those who do not have Christ do not have peace. He goes on to explain that he still sees the madness, he still sees the darkness from his past life as a criminal. In “Nightmares (Exposit)” he goes on to explain that before he found Christ everything he did fell apart, that everything he gained was just temporary. That his whole life was running away from Christ.

“Why Haven’t I Chose YOU” is one of the lightest songs on the album, but that being said it is still a passionate homage to God. It is a bit of an obvious song lyrically, about the joy God brought in David Michael’s life, but being obvious it is still enjoyable. The beat is what makes it light but it is an addictive track. It is a track that will summon good feelings and head bobbing which can be a rarity with artists taking themselves far to seriously.

David Michael has an unusual approach in The Underground that works amazingly well. He drops a track that has solid beats and a hungry flow and then offers listeners an insight behind the song through an exposit. These highlight the actual religious message in the song while unlike secular rap they are filled with humility. David Michael is a passionate rapper with a lot to say and it is well worth the small investment to listen to him speak his mind and reveal a little about himself as a Christian and a Man.

Author’s Note: This is truly a great CD, easily gaining entry into my top three of this year. It somehow isn’t a perfect CD, and I can’t exactly say why. The addition of the exposit is well needed and not just by this artist. If you aren’t try to just make money, or fame, prove it. Offer some of your real testimony.

Review title provided courtesy of David Michael