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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

Immortal Combat

Hostyle Gospel
Immortal Combat

Street Date: 2011
Style: Hip Hop / Rap
Website: Official Site
Buy It: Amazon.com

Back in 2003, there was a hip hop group by the name of The Elite M.O.C. (Men of Christ) who was called to minister in central Illinois. When they moved on to other aspects of ministry, two members - Proverb and King Soloman - continued on in the hip hop world under the new name Hostyle Gospel. With the addition of Big Job, Hostyle Gospel became a three-man hip hop crew bent on bringing the gospel through what they call dynamic Christian hip hop. Their 2011 full-length release is a generous, and kind of ehausting, 21-track album called Immortal Combat (a play on the extremely popular - and gory - game series, Mortal Kombat, which they do reference in their album, like when one of the rappers says "Lord, finish me" in "Comin' Back Again"). The majority of the style of Immortal Combat shows a side of Hostyle Gospel that very much resembles artists from Reach and Cross Movement Records. Influence from Lecrae, Tedashii and Flame are very apparent throughout a good portion of the album, with maybe a dash of The Tonic. As you get further in (somewhere around the last five or six tracks), you can still hear the influence from those artists, but you can also expect a bit of dirty south, along the lines of Pettidee (mostly in the vocals). The production is pretty solid for a group of independent artists, but when compared to the artists they're most likely trying to emulate, it's not up to the same standard. The emcees are a talented bunch, with good timing and flows, which end up being the biggest draw for Immortal Combat. Most of the music is well-done too, but it doesn't make a bigger impact than the rapping. Now, as for the negative aspects, the first (and smallest) is that, even with the talent of the emcees, some of the rapping is a little sloppy, like in the quickness of "King Soloman's Letter." It's rare, but not completely nonexistent. The main weakness is that Hostyle Gospel throws in some really gimmicky stuff that turns out more annoying than entertaining. The hook of "Tell A Story" is just some obnoxious laughter followed by someone saying "tell a story." Hooks like those found in "Got My 'C' Up" and "Get Yo' Bible Out!" are repetitive, cheesy and really just bring the track down more than anything else. "Got My 'C' Up" would be an alright track if I could just listen to it and skip over the unnecessary hook, but since it's there, it's not as good as it could've been. In addition, the 75-minute length is a bit daunting, especially when none of it really stands out that much, but mainly just feels like an attempt at creating sounds that have already been created by people that, honestly, have done it better. Hostyle Gospel is talented and will probably impact the Kingdom of God powerfully in their local hip hop community. I would like to see more originality, as I can see that they have the potential to make something they can really call their own. This and slightly better production may be the only things separating them from taking their sound and message to a wider audience.

- Review date: 7/1/11, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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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]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
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]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
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]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
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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