Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review



Da T.R.U.T.H.
Open Book



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 62 minutes, 38 seconds
Street Date: July 10, 2007


More and more Christian rap has been sounding like secular hip-hop, but with a much better message. This is a good thing, to a point. How far can you go to make your music sound like a secular counterpart, yet still keep the message of Christ pertinent? Some artists have fallen through the cracks, and others have succeeded in doing what they do. Da T.R.U.T.H, with his newest album Open Book, shows how a Christian's life is, and should be, real and on display for unbelievers, pointing them towards Christ.

Truth's life may be an open book to unbelievers, but some of his record just doesn't pass as decent hip-hop. While the lyrics and rhymes may be straight to Christ, and quite clever as well, the beats are what gives this album a question mark. Songs like "Star Struck," featuring Duce "Ambassador" Branch, and "13/30," among others, boast hard beats, yet what ruins each song is the extended chorus and lack of production on the beats. "Star Struck" even has a voice in the back that is way too high and just ruins the chorus for listening. The record does have its moments, however, with songs like the beat-driven opener "Who Am I?", the title track, and "Price Tag" which features Trip Lee from his fame with Christian rap icon Lecrae.

Another problem is that there are a few too many interludes featured on the album. More and more hip-hop artists have been dropping this old feature that told a story throughout a record to make room for a few more full songs. Granted, sometimes these intros and interludes can help a listener get the point of a concept record, but during the era we're in now, hip-hop fans don't want to see how many interludes you can fit on an album. Instead, fans want to see how many songs you can fit into 79 minutes.

Overall, this is a guaranteed hit-or-miss record for hip-hop fans. Fans of the genre may find some to love, and fans of the artist will definitely love what Truth does, but for someone looking for good new Christian hip-hop, this may be one book to keep on the shelf.

- Review date: 10/14/07, written by Justin Mabee



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CD

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. Record Label: CMR
. Album length: 17 tracks: 62 minutes, 38 seconds
. Street Date: July 10, 2007
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Intro
  2. Who Am I? (feat. Tye Tribbet)
  3. Man Up (feat. The Tonic)
  4. Star Struck (feat. Ambassador)
  5. Price Tag (feat. Trip Lee)
  6. Interlude
  7. 13/30
  8. Every Day (feat. Tia Pittman)
  9. Why I Do
  10. That Great Day
  11. I Need You (feat. Izzy)
  12. Open Book
  13. Rose Interlude
  14. Rose
  15. Click
  16. Fig Tree
  17. Outro
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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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