E.T.W. - "Stop! The Wild Hype"

E.T.W. - Stop! The Wild Hype
1991, Forefront

1. This Is What Time It Is (Revelation Generation)
2. Stop! The Wild Hype
3. One Bad Apple
4. God Is
5. This Is The Life
6. Destined To Win
7. La Guerra (War)
8. Yo Mouth (Isyomouf)
9. Paper Money
10. The Balm

The other day a great mania seized me. For some unexplained reason I had to listen to all the old Christian rap I had on my Ipod. For that entire day and a couple after I listened to everything I had…but it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I suddenly remembered that there were a few old albums that I never got around to the first time. E.T.W.’s Stop! The Wild Hype is one of them. Now before I get into this album, I have to say I think I was a little hard on their debut. I suppose it’s not objectively “great” but you know what? I still listen to it and I still enjoy it. So there. Anyway, Stop! The Wild Hype is better. It’s still not in the upper echelons of Christian hip-hop, though. At this point they are still being eclipsed by the likes of S.F.C. and Dynamic Twins. However, as I said, this album shows improvement. It certainly has better instrumentation all around. A lot more female vocals are added into the mix as well to spice things up. “Destined to Win” is an odd bird in that it’s almost techno. Kind of cool if you ask me. Though I can’t shake the feeling that these guys just haven’t found their sound yet. I think that probably happened on the next album. Speaking of which, I’ll probably have to get that one too…

One of the things that struck me as I listened to this album was how urgent it sounds. I mean...in the first track there's talk of geopolitics that would be right at home on a Jack Van Impe broadcast. But that's just how we rolled back then. Everything seemed more urgent. Jesus was coming back TOMORROW so you need to get ready! The New World order will rise up any day! Persecution of Christians in America is rampant! THE WORLD IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET AND OTHER TYPES OF BASKETS AS WELL!!! While many people still hold this urgency, I just don't have the energy anymore. At my advanced age it does indeed seem like the world is going to hell in a handbasket, but I think it's always been that way. Civilizations always stand on the edge of a knife and the sovereignty of God decides when they rise and fall. I'm not sure either of us are right. Wow...that got kind of deep. 

Useless Fact: The liner notes indicate that the album is dedicated to D-Boy. Aww... D-Boy. He's been in heaven awhile now. I will certainly expect some sick beats and rhymes from him when (if?) I get there.

E.T.W. - "E.T.W."

E.T.W. - E.T.W.

1989, Forefront

1. We Are Warriors

2. Let Love Live

3. Satan, You're Cancelled

4. E.T.W.

5. Fun 4 a Minute

6. Too Busy Dissin'

7. I Want You Back in My Life

8. Shakin' Up the Joint

9. I Gotta Get Out

10. Bonus Track

I never heard any of E.T.W.'s later albums. I've gotten the impression that the later ones were a lot better (someone better informed can fill me in) and if that's the case then this debut is humble beginnings indeed. It's not really that great. The backbeats are processed, programmed, and electronic sounding. The actual lyrics are neither catchy nor memorable. There's a couple bright spots in "Fun 4 a Minute" and "Shakin' Up the Joint" but they're ruined by crap songs like "Too Busy Dissin'" or the horrible *rap ballad* "I Want You Back in My Life." I cannot stress enough that rap should NEVER have ballads. Ever. I will confess that I really did like this when I was 11, but after having heard it after years recently I can say... with confidence... that's it's not very good.

Oh... another weird association... I remember I got this on tape and I was home sick from school. I listened to this album and played A Boy and His Blob for the original Nintendo.

Useless Fact: There is video of me... actual MOVING PICTURES... of me in MC Hammer pants singing "We Are Warriors" for church. I have to hunt that tape down and destroy it so as not to infect anyone else with its evil. I've known people that have died seven days after watching it.