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    The Phantom Tollbooth 2005/New Breed
    New Breed — Nine cover

    New Breed

    Nine

    (2004)

    Reviewed by Josh Marihugh

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    Label Uprok RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2005
    hip hoprap

    Macho and his sister Else are part of the Tunnel Rats crew out of New York, so we know that they know hip-hop. But this disc makes it clear that they also know the Spirit of God. The title "Nine" refers to the nine fruits of the Spirit or, if you'd rather, the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. Whichever way you look at it, New Breed wants you to know and feel that fruit.

    The album kicks off with "Love," a song that talks both of romantic and spiritual love. It's clear that Macho and Else are living in the world, while endeavoring not to be of it. Rap music often treats love and sex as synonyms and makes light of both, but New Breed doesn't make that mistake.

    Over the course of ten tracks (the "nine" of the title, and then an outro), this duo never strays far from the central theme that we are called to live and walk a Godly life in this world. This is an ambitious project and one that stays true to its focus.

    4 tocks

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