The Action Figure

Knowdaverbs

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gotee Records
• ASIN: B00004W567
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,189 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From CCM Magazine -- Subscribe Now!
First Knowdaverbs wanted us to learn from The Syllabus. Now the rapper declares himself The Action Figure for his faith, urging his listeners to be the same. With a mouthful of metaphorical rhymes and production equally reflective of Southern and East Coast hip-hop sensibilities, Knowdaverbs convincingly makes his case for active, thoughtful Christian living.

Knowdaverbs has refined his lyrical approach to a healthy medium between The Cross Movement's hardcore doctrinal approach and Grits' more oblique poetics. His sense of humor is sly enough to perhaps escape less attentive listeners. But the faux heroic motifs of "Action Figure" and his wanting to clean up rap's global village in "If I Were Mayor" prove laughs can get across profound points.

On a musical level, Knowdaverbs seems to be heavily influenced by Mannie Fresh. That "dirty South" flavor is tempered by the more New York approach of samples and turntable usage: some spoken word vocals here, a banjo loop there. What unites both regions lately is a love for Hispanic and tropical elements. Knowdaverbs has those to spare as well on "Phullon Empty" and "What Do You Think of That?" among others. The mellow ambient groove of "How Excellent" will be felt by those looking for fresh musical terrain while 'Verbs and Out of Eden's Andrea Kimmey Baca bring the praise.

All together, The Action Figureis a sonically dense, intellectually rich sophomore effort. -- Jamie Lee Rake (c) 2000 CCM Communications, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative beats, humorous lyrics, December 27, 2000

By	Carson E. Lorey "cellorey" (Cardiff, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just recently purchased this album, and it was definetely worth the money. Knowdaverbs has some of the most creative beats I've ever heard, leaving you sitting and thinking: How did they come up with that background music? I also enjoyed the humor he worked into his lyrics. Such humor can be found in Plane Scared (where he's giving his opinions of flying in planes), Me & My Mic, Stu and His Fish ("You might have seen me on my other album with my head cut off"), and so on. Plus, he did all this and still had time to deliver christian messages in each song. Doing that takes talent. The best beats are featured in "Phullon Empty", "If I Were Mayor", and "God Is Big". Get this album!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative in beats, rhymes, message, and humor, September 25, 2000

By	Nate Franklin (Santa Cruz County, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I used to listen to non-christian rap. I came to a point where I decided to listen to christian rap only because I wanted something positive to listen to. I had a fear that there was no good christian rap out there. Cross Movement was the first group to prove me wrong. Knowdaverbs sophmore album, Action Figure is a consistent album the whole way through. I can actually listen to the entire CD and bob my head to every song. Some artists have that one song that makes them famous overnight, and gets played everywhere for a month, only to be forgotten by the latest overnight musician's song. This album has a good beat in EVERY song, and they all sound distinct. He did the same thing with his first album, but even more in this album. This guy is amazing. Favorite songs: 01 God is Big, 09 Jericho Sounds, 11 What do You Think of That?, and (west coast fans will love this song) 03 Just The Facts Ma'am. You don't get any better of a CD for your money than this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Maybe he's good for Christian rap, but he's a small fish..., January 14, 2001

By	"1bigkid" (Sherman Oaks, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is for those hip hop listeners who listen to all types and not simply Christian hip hop. It's been almost ten years since I have heard any Christian hip hop, and this album reminds me of that reason. I purchased this album under the suggestions of the other readers on this board. However, I've come to realize that this is probably the best hip hop that Christian music may have, but he is FAR from anything special. I gave him a rating of 2 simply because I enjoy independent releases, and that he tried something a little different. Nevertheless, I couldn't find one song that made me feel this was the price I paid for it, which was still discounted. Not one of the songs is fully polished, and many of the integral parts of his songs are not congruent at all. If his rhymes are interesting in one song, his beats are mediocre, or vice versa. Come to a song that might actually have a promising sound to it, is then ruined with very average, mediocre choruses.

In respect to Christian hip hop, there's no reason he couldn't have had a few songs that might have revealed some of his skills in simple freestyling or storytelling for that matter. He could have easily had some songs that matched his secular counterparts, or at least songs that discussed today's problems with personal insights. However, he falls into the "Public Enemy" syndrome and what entails is a very preachy, monothematic album that's exhausting to listen to. Hip hop does NOT have to be about negative subjects, but it should at least have a strong set of cutting insight, or word/rhymeplay with the rapper's basic tools: homonyms, and edgy simile and metaphor. There are PLENTY of other non-Christian rap albums around that wouldn't offend ears. Go find them.