Posted on 05/07/2008 5:00 PM
reSearch reps the Holy Ridaz click of Harriman, Tennessee. Probably some bible-thumping, sermon-humping, holier than thou ‘ish, right? Naw, not really. “Christian Rap” is a pretty unfortunate title in some cases. Ever heard of Mars Ill? Anyway, God is most definitely in the mix (but no more than Allah on a Brand Nubian jam) and reSearch is a good enough lyricist. The production on Identity Theft is proper, good layering and quick fingered cuts but what concerns me slightly is the way dude sort of whispers his way through the album, a la Jay when he breaks into that style from time to time. But this God-emcee isn’t quite the “God MC” and despite being God-fearing, you gotta lend force to your audiences’ hearing.

That said, Identity Theft is chock full of honest introspection. Joints like “If You Only Knew” (prod. by Vintage) and “Long Road” (prod. by Imagecaust) definitely work well and it’s always refreshing to see someone keeping it real in the truest sense of the words. “Tip Toe” (produced by Haab) is an ill-ass minimal beat constructed of low-level hums, snaps and sleigh bells. reSearch steps up his swag on this one dropping dimes on red-neck rappers, who pay off juries like William Hung, and hard-on posers alike; “Can’t comprehend your pattern if it’s simply just stutter / Check your style homeboy, my mother’s more gutter.” “It’s Like” (feat. Shortop) is another stand out jam, mostly in part to Theory Hazit’s punchy kicks, attacking scratches and symphonic samples. I can almost hear Vinnie Paz threatening infidels in the name of Allah over this one. And it’s not that one extreme is necessarily correct; I just think Identity Theft could have replaced some of its politeness with edge.

- Jeff Artist