The existence of a Christian oriented hip-hop branch being now granted, it was only a matter of time before someone really talented emerge from it. Such a guy, actually, does exist. He comes from Portland, Oregon, his name is Braille, and in 1999, at 17 only, he released Lifefirst: Half the Battle, an album highly praised in the underground. This scene being now made, for a large part, of White middle-class boys concerned with hip-hop's respectability and hostile to its most materialistic tendencies, it just made sense that they favor a more spiritualistic approach to their favorite music.
Even though a large part of it is dedicated to Braille's personal relationship with God, Lifefirst: Half The Battle is still, primarily, an underground hip-hop record. There are some indie rap key players, actually, among the many producers, like Celph Titled – who produced the great "Ink Blotch" – and some of its experimentalists, such as Anticon-affiliates Sixtoo and MoodSwing9. The others are Deeskee, Kno, or less famous beatmakers like K IV, Big Balou, and Kiilani.
These people seem to have a peculiar taste for acoustic guitars, like with the outstanding "Hard To Determine". There are strings as well ("Sister Of Change", "Gullet Gambit"), and flutes ("Delusive Decorum"), spread here and there, in subtle ways. Also, at times, they experiment weirder sounds, like Kiilani, with the Hitchcock sample on "Molasses".
As for Braille, he doesn't deliver the dumb and pious lyrics one might dread. Even though he can be a preacher, or profess his gratitude for Jesus with his low profile voice, his flow is precise and impactful, and he can sound hardcore at times. The main religious trait on this album, finally, is the use of ethereal samples. With them, Lifefirst sounds gothic at times, and not dissimilar from the first Jedi Mind Tricks album, but with a less sacrilegious stand, obviously. Not a bad idea, since this formula is heard on two of the best tracks on the album: "Antfarm" and the great "Homesick".
Obviously, for people as secular and irreligious as we - the French - are, Braille's Christian militancy can sound embarrassing. But since we got used to the virulence of gangsta rap, or the excesses of the horrorcore style and people such as Necro, why not cope with the bigotry of this other underground rapper? We don't have to subscribe or relate to his lyrics. Let's just enjoy the music which, apart from some weak and lazy tracks like "Gullet Gambit" and "Abandoned Island", is just great. At the end of the day, we care just for one thing: Braille is a strong rapper, and his beats are good.