The Art of Translation
The Art of Translation was a studio album by Christian hip hop group GRITS. It was released in 2002 on Gotee Records and earned the honor of the Dove Award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003.
Critical reception
Awarding the album four stars at AllMusic, Dan Leroy writes, "They're hot here, on the most potent antidote to hip-hop's parade of pathologies in some time."[1] Deborah Evans Price, reviewing the album for Billboard magazine, states, "Each track reverberates with personality and passion".[8] Writing a review for CMJ New Music Monthly, Jessica Koslow says, "GRITS have crafted a successful formula for mixing the secular and spiritual."[9] Demarco Evans, giving the album four and a half review from HipHopDX, responds, "these southern cats have brought something new to the table--and we ain't talkin' about no catfish and macaroni & cheese."[4]
Tony Cummings, rating the album a nine out of ten for Cross Rhythms, states, "Coffee and Bonafide as usual transcend the stifling formulaic patterns of much low-budget hip-hop and fuse funk, rock and vintage soul music into their mix though this time out there are less of those vibey Coltraine-esque jazz touches which transfixed us in the past."[3] Awarding the album four stars at Jesus Freak Hideout, Kevin Chamberlin writes, "the album is very good."[5] Russ Breimeier, giving the album four and a half stars from Christianity Today, says, "If The Art of Translation doesn't make Christian hip-hop viable, I'm not sure anything will."[2] Indicating in a three and a half star review for The Phantom Tollbooth, Ken Mueller states, "GRITS is at their best when the deliver their message in a more upbeat presentation, but they have just the right mix of semi-hardcore/street sense and pop rhythms to really make a dent in the music scene."[6] Mike Rimmer, signaling in a five star review at The Phantom Tollbooth, writes, "GRITS have the chops to be a Platinum act without compromising their integrity."[7]
Track listing
- "Here We Go" - 3:19
- "Ooh Ahh" (featuring TobyMac) - 3:53
- "Runnin'" (featuring V3) - 4:05
- "Tennessee Bwoys" - 4:05
- "Be Mine" (featuring Nirva Dorsaint) - 4:22
- "Ill Coined Phrase" (Interlude) - 1:08
- "Seriously" - 3:41
- "At the video shoot" (Interlude) - 1:28
- "Video Girl" (featuring Knowdaverbs) - 3:50
- "Believe" (featuring Jennifer Knapp) - 3:19
- "What Do You Believe?" (Interlude) - 1:34
- "Get It" - 3:52
- "Make Room" - 3:31
- "Keep Movin'" (Interlude) - 1:02
- "Sunny Days" (featuring Nirva Dorsaint) - 3:39
- "Lovechild" (featuring Antonio Phelon) - 3:28
- "The Art of Translation" (Interlude) - 2:57
References
- 1 2 Leroy, Dan. "The Art of Translation - Grits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- 1 2 Breimeier, Russ (August 1, 2002). "The Art of Translation". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- 1 2 Cummings, Tony (May 1, 2003). "Review: The Art Of Translation - Grits". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- 1 2 HipHopDX (September 27, 2002). "Grits - The Art of Translation". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- 1 2 Chamberlin, Kevin (December 2, 2002). "Grits, "The Art of Translation" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- 1 2 Mueller, Ken (September 9, 2002). "Grits – The Art of Translation (Mueller)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- 1 2 Rimmer, Mike (September 14, 2002). "Grits – The Art of Translation (Rimmer)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ↑ Price, Deborah Evans (October 12, 2002). Michael, Paoletta, ed. "Reviews & Previews: R&B/Hip-Hop: Grits - The Art of Translation" (Print). Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 114 (41): 20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ↑ Koslow, Jessica (September 2002). "Reviews: Grits - The Art of Translation" (Print). CMJ New Music Monthly (CMJ Network) (105): 52. ISSN 1074-6978. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
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