Customer Reviews

Nu Thang

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When dc Talk was formed back in the 80s, they were primarily a Christian rap group. "Nu Thang" is the last album they produced in which their rap music was the primary song style. Their songs styles became much more diversed with "Free At Last" as did their popularity.

dc Talk was the first mainstream Chritian group to incorporate rap music into their songs, and "Nu Thang" shows them rapping at their best. Much improved over their first two outings, dc Talk showed that you can successfully incorporate rap music into singing about the Lord.

Because dc Talk was ahead of their time with this type of music, they were rarely played on Christian radio stations, although they did achieve some playtime on secular stations. Even today the majority of Christian radio stations do not play songs off of this album, meaning that you have to buy it in order to hear it.

If you want to hear the rap beginnings of this talented group, this is the album to do that with.

D.C. Talk is an amazing band! All their albums are unique, and each is awesome in its own way, but this one is my favorite because they seem the most genuine. They shout out their love for God and listening to this once is GUARANTEED to put a smile on your face. My personal favorites are "I Luv Rap Music" and "He Works", but they are all great. D.C. Talk rules!

This was DC Talk's second album which came out in 1990- Straight from the initial success of their first release and the song Heavenbound, they stepped up their production a notch...

Like I say, a mixed bag. You'll hear a song you'll fast forward, then the very next song is Jamming, then the next song gets fast forwarded..if only stylistically. Lyrically, as far as proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, I would say this album is actually stronger than "Free At Last". But in the music category, you can tell that they were still "on their way" to creating an album like Free At Last, and Nu Thang shows that

1. When DC Talks- Kind of a goofy intro rap with vocoder
2.He Works-a great song, a straight up BoyzII Men style groove talking about how God's still working on me, he isnt finished yet
3. I luv rap music- a somewhat goofball, happy song about how Toby "Luv's" rap music..., but important for Christian music at that time. DC Talk were the "ambassadors of Hip hop" to the contemporary christian music world in 1990.
4. No More- Showing DC Talk's early rap-Rock style, but a strong lyrical proclamation of resisting sin and staying committed to God
5.Nu THang- Best song on the album- It takes some musical ideas from the secular track "Groove Me" by Teddy Riley and Guy, but uses it in this song to glorify God. It's an uplifting, grooving, jam that never hesitates to put a smile on my face when I hear it... one of my favorite DC Talk songs to this day.
6. Things of this world- With a 808 beat and synth bass, Toby is rappin about the dangers of putting your trust on material things rather than the eternal
7. Walls- the rap-rock style returns with this song about racial unity both in the world and in the church- tearing down the walls!
8. Talk It Out- I liked this one at the time, although some say it sounds like New Kids on the Block-I'd say it's funkier than that, for sure- a song telling young people not to isolate themselves when they go through hard times, they gotta talk it out with loved ones and with God
9. Take It To the Lord- The best lyrically, saying dont just live for God when things go bad, but to stay focussed on God through Bad times AND the good times
10. Children can live without it- a song about the need for abortion to end in america, with a chorus beautifully sang by Michael Tait
11. can I get a witness- A gospel styled Jam at the end, with Toby rapping about how we all as believers need to be strong witnesses for Christ

If you like DC Talk's Free At Last, you might want to get this one- For sure the style of music is outdated, yet the lyrics are some of DC talk's best when it comes to representing the truth and love of Christ!

This is a great cd, but is not dc Talk's best. But, it is hard to pin point a single album. This band is constantly evolving and challenging us as listeners to grow with them both musically as well as spirtually. The band continues to push further into writing better and better songs. 'Jesus Freak' was incredible, and how did they follow it up? With 'Supernatural', an album that I consider to be on of the most incredible CDs ever. To truly get a grasp of what dc Talk is, get all the cds, because with as you proceed down the line, you will see just how much God has blessed them in developing their music and witness!

Sorry, this wasn't much about "Nu Thang," but you know how it is :). God Bless!

This is dc Talks best album I highly recommend it If you don't have it GET IT! DC Talk is still tottaly original in this album.

And if you " Luv Rap Music " then this is for you.

Dave

THIS CD IS GOOD THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THOUGH IS THAT THEY ARE NOT AS IN YOUR FACE AS THEY WERE ON THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT. ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE SOME VERY DEEP AND POWERFUL SONGS LIKE "WALLS" AND "THINGS OF THIS WORLD" THEY HAVE FUN SOUNDING MUSIC LIKE "I LUV RAP MUSIC" AND FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T LIKE THAT TOBY MAC(McKEEHAN) WROTE EVERYTHING ON THEIR FIRST RECORD YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT MICHAEL TAIT HELPED WRITE SOME OF THE TRACKS.
THIS IS A GREAT CD YOU HAVE TO GET IT IF YOU ARE A DC TALK FAN, A RAP FAN OR A PERSON WHO LIKES MUSIC.

Nu Thang, dc Talk's second album, serves as a stepping stone between the group's subpar first effort and their outstanding third album, Free At Last. In a nutshell, Nu Thang is not a flat-out great album, sounding a bit dated, but still plenty good enough to more than warrant a listen.

This is back in the days when dc Talk was totally a hip-hop group, and the threesome comes up with some fun and solid grooves here like "No More", "Nu Thang", and a personal favorite, the foot-stomping "Walls". Also, it's interesting to note that even in their early days, dc Talk did not shy away from difficult topics like racism and abortion in their music.

Hearing this album now reminds me of the sound of 'The Fresh Prince' Will Smith back when he was still paired up with DJ Jazzy Jeff. It's very pop-friendly hip-hop employing the trappings probably more so than being a legit "rap" album. If you keep that in mind, then it's aging no worse than other pop-rap of the time. The group proclaimed their sound as "rap, rock, and soul": with Toby "M.C. Swirl" McKeehan supplying the rap, and Kevin "K-Max" Smith and Michael "Comfy" Tait the rock and soul textures. The rock is decidedly the lesser third of the equation, really only coming to the fore on "Walls" and "No More".

HIGHLIGHTS:
For the most part, it's the 'singles' that got airplay on the very few stations programming Christian rock and rap at the time that fare best here. "He Works" is McKeehan's simple assertion that Christianity is a workable everyday philosophy. ("He's working on my walk/I said He Works/He's working on my talk") "Nu Thang"'s title track actually has a pretty good shuffling rhythm once you get past the jokey intro (a phoney televangelist sounding guy that addresses the 'young people' presumably listening to the disc). "I Luv Rap Music" is an ironic title since it is NOT rap music (it sounds more like a New Kids on the Block tune) but its gentle sway is difficult to resist and you have to smile when, having brought his mom to the local rap concert, she asks 'How they makin' music when there ain't no band?'. "No More" is somewhat reminiscent of Run DMC's early rap/rock combinations as the group proclaims "No/more/Givin' in/No more givin' in to this thing we call sin". Someone once said that Sunday morning in church is the most segregrated time in America and "Walls", replete with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. samples, addresses this, pointing out the necessity of looking past the racial divide and unifying around Christ. ("We're together on Earth/We'll be together above..")

LOWS:
"Talk it Out" is the group's answerback to "Parents Just Don't Understand" (sez Toby "That's ill, I know they can") but it's a little too saccharine. "Children Can Live Without It" is a blunt pro-life song but its sentiment has been said so many times by other artists in more compelling ways. (Steve Taylor's "Baby Doe" may be the pre-eminent tune for the topic.)

BOTTOM LINE:
Definitely not an essential album for the modern-day listener but enjoyable for the nostalgia. Fans of modern day Christian rappers like John Reuben, Cross Movement, and Grits will get a history lesson in how cloistered Christian music once was (This was "cutting edge" for CCM back in its day. Only D-Boy and SFC were rawer rap at the time.) If you're just dipping your toes into the band, get FREE AT LAST instead.

With a little rap, a lot of gospel, and a touch of sampling as done by Teddy Riley from R & B group Guy... you've got a great album. Now, when I was the wee age of 11 in 1993, my parents bought me my first two albums ever- DC Talk's 'Nu Thang' & Jon Gibson's 'The Hits.' No need for me to elaborate on my first impression. I was blown out the water. It was the best thing since sliced bread to me, and you could imagine why I have every album (accept "DC Talk"). They've covered everything from rap to rock. And not to mention, Toby McKeehan comes off sounding like Marky Mark, brother of NKOTB member, Donny Wahlberg, which is my next topic. Being that 'Nu Thang' came out in 1990, it resembles acts that were out at that time, like the New Kids On The Block on the track "Talk It Out," and maybe one other track. But to keep it short, all songs are groundbreakers, but the most memorable are "Nu Thang" and "Can I Get A Witness." An honorable mention goes to mastery of the downtempo track "Children Can't Live Without," featuring a guest spot by Carman. This one the most essential recordings to have by DC Talk or by any contemporary Christian artist.

Purchased for my 7 year old boy. Rap and Hip Hop, no profanity and possitive message. These are Christian artists so the message is one of love and acceptance delivered in a rap and hip hop format. My boy loves it and with pleasant hoooks and melodies mixed in I don't mind it either.