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JFH Music Review




Grits
The Art of Translation



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 49 minutes, 33 seconds
Street Date: August 13, 2002


As previously stated I'm slowly getting into hip-hop. With this art slowly gaining momentum in Christian circles, one of the longest running hip-hop artists, Grits, blows the rest of the field away. Having been one of the older bands in music and having several albums under their belts, this rap duo has certainly not lost any talent. With perhaps one of their best albums ever, The Art of Translation, Grits explodes onto the Christian scene showing these youngsters how to perform and gaining national celebrity on the secular market.

Art is produced by Toby Mac of dc Talk fame. Having toured years ago together and already having a bond set up I'm sure made this a fun recording. Toby sings along on "Ooh Ahh" and Knowdaverbs and even Jennifer Knapp sing along on this album too. The album is smooth lyrically, lacking those annoying space-fillers like "yeah, yo, uh-huh, word and check-it" like on some inexperienced artists' albums. The only time it appears on the album is as a back-up harmony. They guys from Grits know how to flow. "Runnin'" features an artist known as V3. "Be Mine" is a song written for one of their wives.

"Tennessee Bwoys," "Seriously," "Get It," and "Make Room" are more upbeat and fast, but Grits still enunciates each word so it makes it understandable. "Video Girl" features Knowdaverbs, "Believe" features Knapp, which is different from what Jen Knapp fans would think. Her vocals are a nice addition to an already good song. "Sunny Days" features Nirva Dorsaint. "Lovechild," one of my favorite songs, is a slower ballad, that talks about God's unconditional love. "The Art of Translation" opens with some nice strings and features Dorsaint and numerous other artists. I'm a big fan of classical music and strings in hip-hop offer a nice addition. Just when you think the song is over, a woman comes on singing opera and that closes out the album.

Also unlike some Christian hip-hop, Grits talks about some serious topics that often get overlooked -- like marriage and purity on "Be Mine." "Lovechild" talks about God's love. "Runnin'" talks about running away from God and your problems. "Ooh Ahh" talks about relying on God during the hard times in life and God leading us along during those times. "Video Girl" talks about girls who fall into the traps of societal pressures found in society. And topics like belief, faith and what success really means.

Overall the album is very good. Out of 17 songs I only dislike two or three songs. It is produced well and deals with topics that need to be addressed. It has real beats and each song flows well. There is a good variety of heavier songs, slower songs and several people that are featured on the album for a nice array of Art.

- Review date: 12/2/02, written by Kevin Chamberlin



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Gotee Records
. Album length: 17 tracks, 49 minutes and 33 seconds
. Street Date: August 13, 2002
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Here We Go
  2. Ooh, Aah (featuring tobyMac)
  3. Runnin' (featuring v3)
  4. Tennesse Bwoys
  5. Be Mine (featuring Nirva Dorsaint)
  6. Ill Coined Phrase
  7. Seriously
  8. At The Video Shoot
  9. Video Girl (featuring Knowdaverbs)
  10. Believe (featuring Jennifer Knapp)
  11. What Do You Believe?
  12. Get It
  13. Make Room
  14. Keep Movin'
  15. Sunny Days (featuring Nirva Dorsaint)
  16. Love Child (featuring Antonio Phelon)
  17. The Art Of Translation
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This Friday, October 3, 2025
ALBUMS
BASECAMP Beautiful Like the Truth [Polished Arrow]
Pat Barrett I've Got A Fire [Capitol CMG]
Elan Brio Millennium Funk (independent)
Kristene DiMarco MEMORADUM - EP [Bethel]
Heath McNease Autumn Sessions, Vol. 2 (independent)
Mystical Death Carnation EP (Remastered) [Rottweiler Records]
Matt Redman Life & Breath [Integrity]
Thrive Worship Jesus Song - EP [Integrity Music]
Bay Turner Better Days - EP [Centricity Music]
John Van Deusen As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise Pt. 1 [Anotherland]

SINGLES
Gabby Barrett Ain't Supposed To Be - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Mark Bishop Time To Let Go and Let God - Single [Sonlite]
Franni Cash Church Clothes - Single [Capitol CMG]
ChristianXXII & Futuristic Already Won - Single [DREAM]
Damian Back To You - Single [DREAM]
Emerson Day This House Won't Fall - Single [Fair Trade]
Chris Ekiss Life's Biggest Questions - Single [Provident]
The Forerunner Manifesto (independent)
for KING + COUNTRY World on Fire (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb Records]
Forrest Frank JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON (feat. Josiah Queen) - Single [River House]
Nathan Oswalt MAKE UP YOUR MIND - Single (independent)
Drew Parker Blame Jesus - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Shamash The Gulf Between Us - Single [Rottweiler]
Anne Wilson Carry Me - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zahriya Zachary Stay - Single [Bethel]

Next Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]


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