“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”
-2 Samuel 11:1 (New International Version)
The concept behind the album When Kings Go 2 War stems from a verse found within the Old Testament of the Bible. Because King David chose to rest on his laurels and not lead his army in battle, it left him in a vulnerable position and ultimately led to a fall from grace. Minister and emcee Transformed revisits the idea of continually keeping your guard up in the spiritual realm throughout this album. Hailing from the island of Hawaii, he has been charged to share his Christian faith through music, namely hip-hop. This release marks his solo debut, assisted by special guest appearances from various members of his crew Bridging The G.A.P. (Gospel And Poetry). The album cover displays him with his back turned to the camera, a Bible in one hand and a microphone in the other. The image is a reminder of what’s at stake within these sounds and that this music is about more than throwing your hands in the air, but about winning souls for God.
Some have suggested that hip-hop loses something when Christ is the central focus. Perhaps the verses aren’t as lyrically potent or the production seems more watered down than secular selections from the same genre. Transformed shatters that opinion, commanding the microphone with a lion’s ferocity and complex wordplay. Musically, this album is wrapped up in Dirty South rhythms that will make both believers and non-believers bounce. The uncompromising evangelism of “They Don’t Want No Problems” is enough to convict anyone within earshot and “Go Bizerk” unashamedly gets crunk for Christ without a hint of irony. On “Eye Of The Tiger,” the Survivor tune of the same name gets flipped into a Lord’s army war cry, its trademark guitars chopped up and juxtaposed against a whiplash-inducing drum sequence. However, Transformed understands the power of words within the genre he’s chosen to speak through, and on “Dear Hip Hop” he takes time to reprimand the culture for its nihilistic ways.
Lest anyone think that this album is all about biblical beat downs for those outside of the faith, Transformed spends far more time shining the light inward to fight the enemy within. Self-reflection turns to recognition of falling short on “Sin City,” questioning his own existence and wrestling with far more than just flesh and blood. “What’s Happening” continues the conversation, as he openly asks God, “Oh Lord, what’s happening to me? Is it something that I’m missing? Is it something I don’t see?” Spouses experiencing challenges within their marriage will be able to turn to “Better In Time” for encouragement and perspective. For Christians that find themselves in a spiritual drought or for anyone looking for purpose during a dark moment in their lives, “Rain On Me” will speak volumes to them.
“Living Afresh” introduces a Born Again existence over rich keyboard chords and a danceable beat. As vocalist J-Moors sings the chorus, it’s clear that the musical commandment “Thou Shalt Not Commit Auto-Tune” didn’t play a part in the making of this album. However, the audience that’s meant to hear it is used to having the vocal effect as part of their sonic diet. By that rationale, Transformed has succeeded in finding a way to share his beliefs by not only speaking in a language that hip-hop heads can understand, but within a harmonic climate that invites them in. Better still, he’s honest enough to deal with those moments of philosophy and doubt in his walk and his lyricism, dismissing any perceptions that Christians have all the answers. Although the sum of this album’s songs ultimately declare that Jesus is THE answer, When Kings Go 2 War does recognize those times of weakness in mind and spirit, which makes for a compelling listen as a result.
Review by Jason Randall Smith
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
