Unashamed Concert Review 

They’ve toured across cities in their native country; America and they are now in the UK proclaiming their unashamed stance to live for Christ through the form of Hip-Hop music, with visits to New Orleans, Orlando, London and Bath to name just a few.

The event was full of young people that came to praise God. It was supported by some of the talented UK Christian Rap artistes – Sammy G, Jahaziel and Dwayne Tryumf. Jahaziel gave a heartfelt speech to his close friend - Dwayne Tryumf, wishing him farewell on his 9 month departure to America to begin missionary work later this month. They performed a track together and Jahaziel gave solo performances including tracks from his very popular album – Ready to Live and also celebrated his Jamaican roots with a couple of self-written reggae tracks.
Helping to enforce the night’s theme Sammy G asked the crowd “is anyone feeling unashamed this evening?” and the answer was clear from their raucous cheer; they’re proud to live a lifestyle that reflects Christ.

Sho Baraka was the first member of the 116 Clique to come onto the stage, he opened their set with one of his soulful tracks from his debut album Turn My Life Up and creating the audience into a choir he taught them the chorus words.
It seems that these four artistes are more than brothers in Christ; they have a friendship and a bond that’s developed even further over the duration of the tour. Together they’ve visited over 25 cities in total. Tedashii explained to me
“the tour has definitely changed my life for several reasons, one being because we all live in different parts of the country and so coming together and spending time in fellowship and labouring together and ministering we find a sense of community and encouragement that you will sometimes not have when you’re travelling to shows by yourself.” Their unity and close relationship was obvious to see on stage; performing with one another and featuring on some of one another’s tracks.

Trip Lee gave dynamic performances for which he made sure were praises given to God. Performing ‘Gotta Grow,’ one the heavy baseline and insightful tracks off his first album If They Only Knew. Releasing this first album at just seventeen years of age it’s an album that exceeds youthful maturity and his second album - 20/20 is no exception. At now 20 years of age the youngest member of the Reach family continues to evoke the Gospel and the need to have a conscious walk with Christ, he wants to inspire others to see God with a 20/20 vision, which is the clearest type of vision that one can have. Telling the crowd that “I aint no superstar”, just part of the lyrics from his new track ‘Superstar’; encouraging the listener to take their focus off him and place their eyes on Christ. Following on with ‘Real Vision’ featuring Tedashii, the crowd couldn’t get enough of this Holy Hip-Hop joint, either every head was boppin’ or every hand was flung high, moving up or down or side to side.

Like Sho Baraka, Tedashii created the crowd into a choir with his heavy hitting ‘Carry Mine.’ In comparison to Trip Lee he brings the southern rap flava to Reach Records, which is unsurprising as they both hail from Texas- one of America’s southern states. Although binging a very southern sound to the record label his album Kingdom People also displays versatility incorporating influences of rock, old skool R&B and pop. His album has been appreciated by lovers of Rap music and definitely has been shown much love by Christian fans of Hip-Hop for its down south feel and lyrical content that exalts the Lord.

Before all performing together as a collective on stage the other member of the clique - Lecrae aka Crayola ran onto the stage, his excitable energy was contagious, evident when the crowd started bouncing up and down.
Lecrae was one of the founding members of Reach Records and the first artiste to be signed to the much anointed label. Together with Ben Washer who is now the CEO of Reach Records he would perform at different places, including juvenile detention centres. After performances they noticed young people were approaching them continuously to request CD recordings. When they decided to this and handed them out Lecrae describes the young people “went ballistic.” The excitement spread to urban inner city camps and churches, it was at this point that the desire to create a record label was put into action.
Lecrae first graced the music stores in 2005 with his album Real Talk; speaking about some of the many issues that can be presented in everyday life, subsidising them by passionately communicating the power of the Gospel and Christ’s love.
Gracing music stores a second time round in 2006 with his most current release- When the Music Stops; an album that has consistently strong beats and a lyrical content that speaks of living an uncompromising life for Christ, it’s a compilation that can undoubtedly be placed alongside mainstream rap music with the difference of a message that speaks of salvation and positivity.
Mainly performing tracks off this current release the crowd didn’t miss a beat being able to sing to every word off every track.

Before ending the night with one of Lecrae’s biggest tracks, the 116 Clique joined in unison to usher in the presence of God through a slow song. They had a time of concentrated praise and worship to the Lord and encouraged each person to do the same.

After the interlude the pace was picked up with the explosive track that not one person in the building could sit still to even if they tried – Jesus Musik!! As soon as the first beat dropped the place went crazy, everybody knew which track it was and getting them even more excited the DJ stopped the track one minute through, rewound it and started it from the beginning.

The Unashamed Tour ends during mid August.
For more information on Reach Records and the Unashamed Tour visit www.ReachRecords.com

The 116 Clique’s visit to Birmingham, England was managed by the Main Room team at Birmingham Christian Centre, with one of the youth workers - Romord Lindsay as the main organiser.

Amanda Hemmings – August 2008