Platinum Souls (Unexpected Mixes Vol. 5 Bulletproof) - Reviews

Platinum Souls
Unexpected Mixes Vol. 5 Bulletproof

One could easily call them the hardest working duo in hip hop as Platinum Souls is back with the fifth installment of those amazing Unexpected Mixes.

The tag team that is Ricardo FLO and Ms. Ty Scott return with perhaps their most lethal joint to date, titled Bulletproof. Chock full of blazin' lyrical flow, thought-provoking spoken word, fire filled beats, and impressive starpower, Volume 5 is bound to turn a lot of heads.

For those unfamiliar, Platinum Souls effortlessly fuse the street relevance of hip hop with the sophistication of spoken word all with the intent of winning souls to the Kingdom. In the process, they've created quite a buzz as they've done it all with style, grace and quality second to none.

This time around, PS gives us 22 tracks to play with...all of which create a forcefield that makes the tandem bulletproof to the wiles of the enemy. After a creative radio intro that features producers DJ Device and DJ Skillspinz, the album is on and poppin' with the title track. FLO and Scott lay some heat filled rhymes down on this one and are accompanied by Sweet Lili, formerly of Freestyle Nation. Lili lays her vocals down on the hook that makes this combination lethal.

The tandem revisits a track from Volume 1 (see album review) as they bless a DMX track on the catchy "Set Me Free". This song speaks to the power of our Savior and how Christ is the only one who can set us free. This version gets a full 4 minutes of Platinum Souls and has Ms. Ty Scott lacing the track with her trademark spoken word floetry. It'll keep you wanting more and more and more of Platinum Souls.

Back for a third installment is the superhero known as Platman. On the track of the same title, FLO updates us on the latest happenings of the sin-fighting superhero who continues to destroy demons with his platinum scriptural flow.

One of the historic trademarks of the Unexpected Mixes series is Platinum Souls' unique ability to take a secular track and bless it with scripturally based rhymes that sanctify the track to reach its God-given potential. Volume 5 has its fair share of blessed hits that will make you excited and keep your head bobbin' for a long time to come. "You Can Forget That" is the result of PS blessing the Ludacris hit "Stand Up". This version is one that you can bounce to and all can be blessed from. And FLO does the track plenty of justice with his lethal rhymes that put an end to all who would think that the Gospel is wack. Oh...you can forget that!!

Alicia Keys' "Karma" gets transformed into the powerful "What Goes Around" where PS speak candidly about the results of dating and subsequent trappings that happen to men and women who date with a fleshly influence. It's an amazing message packaged in an offering that can't be denied.

Platinum Souls continues to roll with some of the finest talents in the industry and this Bulletproof project supports that theory. Those Dirty South riders Ziklag Boys lend their catchy "Raw & Uncut" track to this project. Shekinah brings her intense feminine lyrical heat to "I'm Free Ooh Wee". She brings nothing but fire with her praise as she blesses God for giving liberty and freedom to all believers. Shelle' from Canton Jones' Cajo International movement spits 16 bars of heat on "Hate On You". She's another exciting female emcee who makes an auspicious appearance on this one encouraging believers to keep going while others are drinking "haterade".

Representin' Virginia's Hoshama Camp is Malachi with "Redemption". This street heavy, gritty track boldly declares Christ as the only road to redemption.

As an exclusive, Salt, from the legendary Salt-n-Pepa adds a single from her upcoming release, Salt of the Earth. This slick track "Pardon Me" speaks of a woman's worth and encourages women to realize their worth as women of God. Without question, Salt is here to stay and can still flow with the best of them.

More Unexpected Mixes

Click on each of the above CD images for more unexpected mixes.

Perhaps the rookie that you'll give a second, third, and fourth look to is the emcee known as KNINE. Referred to by FLO as rap's answer to The Matrix's Neo, KNINE adds two tracks to this project that bring nothing but straight volcanic lava. You'll find KNINE on "The Spotlight" and "Knine". Indeed, there are few in either the secular or Gospel arena that can match his flow and content. Simply put, it's HOT!!

No Unexpected Mixtape is complete without spoken word offerings from the poet laureate Ms. Ty Scott. She offers two poems this time around and both are guaranteed to have a heavy impact. "Bulletproof Poem" declares the truth that Platinum Souls are insulated and guarded from the attack of the enemy. The enemy can't stop them and Scott boldly informs the enemy that PS will operate without fear and will willingly defeat the enemy.

"Ego Trippen" is one of the more transparent poetic offerings ever produced as Scott tells a story that speaks to Christians who are often caught up in the trappings of life. She tells of the process that many endure as they stray from Christ and the beauty of returning to a full and flourishing relationship with Christ. It's an encouragement to all who can have hope in knowing that you've never gone too far where you can't return to Christ.

Once again, Platinum Souls has given us a jewel with Bulletproof. With two mixes left in the Unexpected Mixes series, it's hard to imagine what else this group can do. With this level of heat, Platinum Souls is bound to accomplish their goal of winning one million souls to the Kingdom. Stay tuned and continue to expect the Unexpected.

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Producers: DJ Device, Ricardo FLO album release date: Summer 2004
Eternal Fava

— reviewed by Gerard Bonner —