Identity Crisis

Album Review

On the key cut "26's," Christian rapper Tedashii's slow, deep, and Southern-fried voice blends with backing vocals that are straight out of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but the unselfish message in the lyrics are something rare in the world of Dirty South or mainstream hip-hop, and how well they're written is rare in any flavor of rap you care to mention. Tedashii's success has much to do with his deep knowledge and appreciation of the world of secular hip-hop and how he applies it to his own music, which answers to a higher calling than bling. Improving on his above-average debut, Identity Crisis rallies against hip-hop's love of money, but it does so by getting to what Tedashii feels is the core of the problem, the younger generation's misguided sense of self-worth. That the man makes his case over beats that would qualify on any Ludacris or Rick Ross album makes it all the more seductive and whether or not you subscribe to his beliefs, you have to admit the lyrics are poignant, vivid, intelligent, and strikingly thoughtful.