Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Butcha is a young MC from Birmingham (the Midlands, not Alabama) who unlike the majority of rappers really did come from a gang background. Knifed and left for dead by a rival gang, it was the skill of surgeons and the fervent prayer of his mother that saw him through. His doctor had suggested he wasn't going to survive the attack. When he pulled through the near death experience, he turned his life around and decided to follow Christ. He'd never rapped before and so despite his youth and inexperience, there's no doubt that 'It's Time' is born from genuine testimony and a desire to communicate the Gospel with those like himself who are trapped in a gang lifestyle. Highlights here include "From Da Streez" and "I've Changed" where Butcha's testimony stands strong. I do enjoy the songs where he has vocal contributions to balance his rapping with melody. Good examples of this are "More Dan Life 2 Me" with some sweet vocals from Tomar Lawrence and "We're Soldiers" which features Julie Graham. Production-wise, some of this is a little primitive but the rough sounds only emphasise the street nature of the album. Looking forward to what he'll do next but for the moment, here's a brother with a testimony, a talent and a heart for the Gospel.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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