Tedashii returns to the scene after a 3-year-break since his last album, Blacklight. It may have been 3 years, but he is back to doing what he does best: releasing solid hip-hop for his fans. Below Paradise features a solid set of tracks to whet our appetites. Whether it's a banging beat or a slow R&B jam, Tedashii brings it all to the table. As expected, the record features a slew of guest appearances. While some, like Trip Lee, Lecrae, and Derek Minor are a given, others, such as Crowder, are more surprising. This is the fourth album for this Reach Records veteran, and one fans are sure to enjoy.

The album opener and title track start things off right. The track serves as an intro of sorts, but features big beats and Tedashii spitting a tough message about the world. This introduction sets the tone for the theme of the album. "Perfect" is also a track of note and features a nice flow from Tedashii. The trio that made Reach Records a staple teams up for "Nothing I Can't Do." Something special seems to happen every time Tedashii, Trip Lee, and Lecrae team up, and this one is no exception. SPZRKT (that's pronounced Spazzy Rocket if you've been wondering) is an interesting artist and his addition turns out to be pretty great. The chorus of "Fire Away" has a big open sound, but then Tedashii comes in with a rap and beat that contrasts nicely. The track almost feels like two different songs in one, but it works. "Be With You" carries an R&B vibe and is just straight up smooth. The regular version of Below Paradise ends with two more good ones. "Complicated" features newcomer Christon Gray, while "Chase" features the vocal talents of Tim Halperin. The Deluxe Edition of the album contains three additional songs. The Derek Minor-featured "On Ten" is worth the extra money you may have to fork over for the expanded version of the record, but "Earthquake," featuring KB, is probably the best of the trio.

Tedashii's return is a worthy one. Fans will likely be excited to pick this one up. It's probably not his absolute best work, but it's really good nonetheless. While not every track is extraordinary, none are necessarily bad either. Below Paradise is easily a record you can throw on and listen to from front to back. Fans will want to pick this up and add it to their collections. It's nice to see Tedashii coming back so strongly.

- Review date: 5/25/14, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com