Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Music Review


Benjah, The Break-Up
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Benjah
The Break-Up



Album length: 13 tracks: 56 minutes, 29 seconds
Street Date: September 27, 2011


Benjah is more known for his appearances on other artist's albums, more pointedly, the Reach Records family. Benjah has been featured on albums by Lecrae, Tedashii, Sho Baraka, and Trip Lee. On top of being featured, he also has credits for writing, mixing, and producing. He also released an album with reggae namesake Dillavou. The Break-Up is his second solo effort, continuing Benjah's slightly unique blend of hip-hop, R&B and reggae. It's a pretty radio friendly release, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's watered down.

Benjah isn't afraid to add some instrumentation into his beats. Light guitars, piano, and other strings are added in throughout the solid beats contained within The Break-Up. While the hip-hop vibe found in tracks like "Intro," "Sinking Ship" and "Keep Riding" are nice contributions, Benjah truly shines on the more R&B sounding tracks. "Not Alone," which features Rachael Lampa with a very nice assist, is a top track. Lampa's voice compliments Benjah's nicely. They blend perfectly together with the guitar and piano as they proclaim, "I feel it in my soul, feel it and I know that we are not alone. No we are not alone." The song references that no matter what is going on or what hardships we are facing, God is there; we are not alone.

"On Grace I Stand" is another song dominated by piano and strings. The song is an anthem to how great our God is. On the track, Benjah declares, "I may have fallen down, I'm picked up off the ground. The Lord has my hand so on grace I stand." "3rd World" brings the reggae sound in with Benjah's old buddy Dillavou. It seems like any Christian song with a reggae flare features this guy nowadays. The song, which features some of the album's most potent lyrics, says that we as Christians have family worldwide, while focusing on the topic of missions. The opening verse gets in your face with, "Have you ever been arrested lately just for going to church not nothing crazy? Have you ever seen a church burn in flames, just 'cause some terrorist hate Jehovah's name? If you call yourself a Christian, you got family worldwide. I'm saying that our mission should be to hold them when they cry." Though I don't typically get into a lot of reggae styled songs, this one is one of the best I've heard. It's a standout on this album and carries a strong message to support our missions.

Though there is nothing groundbreaking and not a whole lot to make you say, "Wow," The Break-Up is an very solid effort from Benjah. Solid beats, solid music, good spiritual lyrics, and great vocals make Benjah shine most of the time. Nothing really misses the mark completely, but there are definitely some stronger tracks as discussed above. All-in-all, if you are looking for something a little different that the normal hip-hop and rap out there today, you just might want to give Benjah a listen. While there is most certainly a hip-hop element to this album, the R&B vibe is usually overpowering. It's a good sound and I look forward to hearing what Benjah will do in the future. Hopefully he is able to step out of the shadow of being featured on albums, to being a featured artist himself.

- Review date: 10/6/11, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

 

. Record Label: Universal Christian Music
. Album length: 13 tracks: 56 minutes, 29 seconds
. Street Date: September 27, 2011
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Intro (1:23)
  2. Sinking Ship (3:28)
  3. Not Alone (3:32)
  4. Jezebel (3:36)
  5. Keep Ridin (3:26)
  6. 3rd World Family (3:49)
  7. Walkin' Out (3:29)
  8. On Grace I Stand (3:42)
  9. My Angel (3:58)
  10. Read Me (4:55)
  11. C.N.L.Y.G. (3:35)
  12. Orphan (4:46)
  13. The Break Up (12:50)

 

Leave a Comment


 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

Search JFH




This Thursday, July 25, 2024
SINGLES
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Burn (feat. Ellie Holcomb) - Single [Tone Tree]

This Friday, July 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Pat Barrett Happily Hidden [Capitol CMG]
Before There Was Rosalyn Hypocrites EP [The Charon Collective]
Bloodlines Holiness Cries EP [Facedown]
The Collingsworth Family Classics & Hymns [Gaither]
Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pixelated Virtues Online - EP (independent)
Danny Gokey Sound of Heaven [Sparrow]
The Hillbilly Thomists Marigold (independent)
Kestrel Vessel EP (independent)
Ken Tamplin Stand Up And Shout (4 CD Box Set) [Girder]
Swingin Hammers Blood in the Sand EP (independent)
Thrive Worship Praises & Prayers [Integrity]
Tyraels Ascension Hell Walker [Rottweiler]
Phil Wickham The Jesus Way Collection - EP [Fair Trade]
Thousand Foot Krutch The End Is Where We Begin (Reignited) [The Fuel]
Young Noah A Positive Sign EP (independent)

SINGLES
2 Minute Minor & Dave LeBlanc Golden Calf - Single (independent)
Tina Boonstra Can People Ever Really Change? (at Old Chapel) - Single [7Core]
Chad Cory Love Forward - Single [DREAM]
Dreamers Make A Move - Single [DREAM]
Fit For A King TECHNIUM - Single [Solid State]
Keith & Kristyn Getty Scarlet Thread (feat. Zach Williams) - Single [Getty]
Good Weather Forecast Let's Build A House (feat. Real Life Guys) - Single [DREAM]
Heal the Hurt RUIN - Single (independent)
Hyper Fenton Show Me What You’re Working With feat. Peabod - Single (independent)
Lauren, Amber & Kenna Every Praise - Single [Horizon]
Claire Leslie Original - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mission House Faith More Precious Than Gold, Everything In Your Hands + Suscipe - Triple Single [Integrity]
MotionPlus Kings Grace - Single (independent)
OM53 Letting Go of Yesterday - Single (independent)
The Riverside Blade of the King’s Tongue - Single (independent)
Sean Rodriguez Jesus Will - Single [WieRok]
Sidewalk Prophets Come To Jesus - Single [Curb]
Souljornerz The Lamb - Single [Polished Arrow]
The Spirituals Be Thou My Vision - Single [Integrity]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship The Whole Earth Will See (A.K.A America Will See) - Single [DREAM]
Verses Philippians 2:5-11 (feat. The Sing Team) - Single (independent)
Village KNG Turn'E Up (ft. Monty G) - Single [Soldier Sound]
We Are Messengers God Be The Glory (Remix) [feat. KB] - Single [Curb]

VINYL
Disciple By God Vinyl [Girder]
Disciple What Was I Thinking? Vinyl [Girder]
Element 101 Stereo Girl Vinyl [Burnt Toast Vinyl]

Next Friday, August 2, 2024
ALBUMS
Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]
Brandon Heath The Ache [Centricity]
Chandler Moore Live in Los Angeles [Tribl]
Rock Springs Worship Hymns Vol. 2 [StowTown]

SINGLES
AWZY Shadow - Single [DREAM]
FYR FYTR, Make Sure I Took the World on My Shoulders - Single (independent)
Mainstream Worship, Melanie Rivera Praise You - Single [DREAM]
Ian Yates My World Is On Fire - Single [7Core]

VINYL
Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out Ninties Worship Night!



Listen to the new Album From Millennial Reign!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images