Customer Reviews

Activate

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been privileged with being able to follow good ol' Benjiman for quite sometime, after being introduced to his music by a roommate a few years back. I first saw him live with Kutless and Falling Up, back when Kutless was finishing up their first tour and Falling Up had only begun to record their first album. Back then, I thought he was good.

And now he's moved on from good to pure awesome with his first full-length album Activate. Mixing a treasure trove of hard-hitting musical styles, fun-yet-deep lyrics, and a big heart, Benjiman has set himself up to... well... rock. And rap.

And he does both extremely well. Quite frankly, this is the kind of album that many bands and artists strive for, and usually fail to achieve on the first try.

I got this album when it first came out in February 2005 and found it to be a high quality rap offering that had me listening to it quite often. It has energy and power, as well as good musical elements--both instrumentally and in the frequent sections where the lyrics are sung rather than rapped. I am a bit mystified why this album never took off in popularity. Two years have passed since this came out, and I haven't heard anything more from him, nor anything about him.

Some songs have heavy guitars, for more of a rapcore sound. "Outta Time" has heavy guitars and a sung chorus with full emotion. The second and third track sound so much like Tobymac, if I heard this somewhere not knowing what was playing, I'd think it was him--these have a great mix of rap and power pop singing. "Trace Of Love" has a moment of chord progressions in one bridge that is reminiscent of an Evanescence chord progression; the chorus of this song has deep, minor-key guitar power chords offering a rich sound, augmented by strings. "Upside Your Head" has stringed instruments doing a slow, 2-note kind of marching beat, with chimes coming in at intervals, giving this a kind of dark, gangsta rap kind of sound. The final song, "Lay It Down" also has the dark gangsta rap sound, but lacking the instrumental hooks of "Upside Your Head." "Know You" has a Latin acoustic guitar sound to it.

There is not a weak song on this album; every track is of top-notch. Don't let its lack of popularity cause you to ignore this excellent album.

Great Summer listening CD, it is popular music/rap/salsa/islander! Amazing sound, listen to it for a sample!

I like this Album, A Little of Linkin Park and Salsa Mix. Great Beach Music this Summer.. Buy It..