Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Royal Ruckus, The Summer of the Cicadas
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Royal Ruckus
The Summer of the Cicadas



Genre(s): Hip-Hop
Album length: 30 tracks: 116 minutes, 52 seconds
Street Date: February 10, 2017


READER RATING:   


I first got into the Christian hip hop scene in the early 2000's. The Cross Movement, KJ-52, Ill Harmonics, and Knowdaverbs were steady doses in my life during those days. When I began listening to Royal Ruckus' The Summer of Cicadas for the first time, I felt as though I were transported back fifteen years to a time when CHH was a fairly small segment of music taken seriously. There were way too many artists who were giving it their best attempt, but honestly falling short of making solid rap albums. One of the groups that I missed back in those days was Royal Ruckus, and The Summer of Cicadas is their latest release. If you have the time to check it out, sit down and relax because this album has thirty tracks full of eclectic hip hop tunes. According to their website, the duo of Chunjay and Flatline have never stopped making music and purposely remained underground while growing in life and music.

As said, if you plan on checking out this entire album, you may want to set aside a good chunk of your day since The Summer of Cicadas is a thirty-track ensemble. Sadly, even with so many offerings, most of the songs aren't worth checking out more than once. The production is nothing of note and the lyrics are mostly simplistic in style and depth. On the bright side, "Moment of Zen" displays a head noddin' hook, while "Making Nice" has enough uniqueness to come out great. Some of the featured artists (Pigeon John, Bonafide, Krum, Joey the Jerk, and Manchild) make the album a little better than it could have been, but in the end, this is a laborious listen and one that many of today's rap fans won't enjoy.

In conclusion, the only real redeeming quality about this release is that it may bring back some of those memories of the golden years of CHH. I personally loved hearing verses from Bonafide and Manchild again. The rhymes are fairly basic while being light and fun, so I can't see people getting upset over playing this on repeat; I just don't see many fans of modern rap tunes wanting to play this at all. I personally doubt I'll listen to it again except for maybe the tracks featuring some of my favorite old school rappers, and even then I'm not so sure. However, if you are looking for something reminiscent of Blake Knight or Pigeon John, these thirty tracks may be exactly what you are looking for. If that's your taste in hip hop, this is right up your alley.

- Review date: 2/2/17, written by Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

. Record Label: Independent
. Album length: 30 tracks: 116 minutes, 52 seconds
. Street Date: February 10, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

    Disc 1
  1. The Waitress Song (4:14)
  2. She's Dangerous (3:43)
  3. Never Known A Love Like this (3:04)
  4. Coconuts (3:25)
  5. We Are The Music Makers (3:50)
  6. Girl, We Got a Good Thing Going (3:07)
  7. Wounded by Love (4:01)
  8. This Should Be Enough (2:55)
  9. Rhymer's Block (3:24)
  10. Resolution (3:57)
  11. Summer's Last Call (4:05)
  12. Moment of Zen (4:20)
  13. Time for Us (feat. Bonafide & Maddy Montes) (4:18)
  14. Making Nice (3:58)
  15. Coulda Swore I Saw You (feat. Pigeon John) (4:09)

    Disc 2
  16. The Pressure Is On (Showdown) (3:53)
  17. Burn It to the Ground (feat. Krum & Joey The Jerk) (3:58)
  18. Still...(Reflections Part 1) (4:35)
  19. These Things Remind (feat. Shedlyn) (4:18)
  20. Boca Girls (feat. Shedlyn & Willonious a.k.a. Young Dick) (4:10)
  21. The Lone Gunmen (4:06)
  22. Rap Is Not Music (feat. Yoda & Grizzly Beats) (3:29)
  23. Love Slave (feat. kidDEAD) (3:50)
  24. Lost Boys (3:52)
  25. How Does It Feel? (feat. Shedlyn) (4:33)
  26. When Soundwaves Play (feat. Jeremiah Dirt) (3:33)
  27. Never...(Reflections Part 2) (3:56)
  28. Jacked up on These Girls (feat. Krum) (4:08)
  29. Departures (4:29)
  30. Epilogue: More of the Same (feat. David Mathewes) (3:32)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego - EP [DREAM]
iNTELLECT, Philip Anthony The Commission - EP [Polished Arrow]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Gileah Taylor I Call This One - EP [Velvet Blue]
Gileah Taylor I Call This One DEMOS - EP [Velvet Blue]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
Alexxander Suma - Single [Reach]
Gracie Binion Not Our First Dance - Single [BEC]
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road You’ve Already Won - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drenae Ride Or Die - Single [Syntax]
EJ Swavv Deep End - Single [Syntax]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Will Kellum Joy - Single [Syntax]
Keyodis Georgia's Only Son - Single [Charon Collective]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]
Steven Malcolm One You (feat. Parris Chariz) - Single [Curb]
New Christian Order, outr.cty & Prodi Da Prodigal Violence (ft. International Show & Q-Flo) - Single [Syntax]
No Vain Glory A Psalmist's Prayer - Single [Syntax]
Of The Land You've Met Me - Single [BEC]
Hunter Plake Circles (feat. Ryan Ellis) - Single [BEC]
PRXM & Kei Harris No Parts - Single [Syntax]
Red Rocks Worship Faithful Father - Single [Provident]
Jeremy Rosado Keep Holding On - Single [Capitol CMG]
Jordy Sam Dramatics - Single [Syntax]

Next Friday, June 20, 2025
ALBUMS
Dan Bremnes The Hero - EP [Curb]
Dan Dean More [StowTown]
The Swirling Eddies Let's Spin! (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
The Swirling Eddies Outdoor Elvis (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
The Swirling Eddies Zoom Daddy (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor The Miracle Faith Telethon: 35th Anniversary Ed (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]

SINGLES
bodie GOOD OLD DAYS - Single [Provident]
KingsPorch You Can Have it All - Single [BEC]
Rhymes in Harmony In His Presence - Single [Syntax]
Jordan St. Cyr Circles (feat. Riley Clemmons) - Single [BEC]

VINYL
IRONWRATH Master Storyteller (Double Vinyl Gatefold) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images