Review by: Mike Spinney Date: 4/15/04	Tamara My Life (2004)	Paradox Nice New Life (2004)

The Bible exhorts believers to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord," and a husband and wife duo out of Brooklyn, New York have taken those orders to heart with a pair of new releases under their own GETGOSPEL label, that should appeal to the urban Christian.

Tamara, a former soloist for the Emmaus New Discovery Youth Choir, hits many high notes on her release, My Life, a popped up collection of tunes that offer thanks and praise to God.

Tamara's voice, a gift that rivals anything on the secular charts, glides smoothly through seven crisp original songs of love and devotion that are as finely produced as they are sung. The second track, "Somethin' 'bout Me," is backed up by Christian hip-hop artist Greg "G-Force" Vilfranc, and stands out as the record's strongest track. G-Force produced both "Somethin' 'bout Me" as well as the album's fourth track, "Space Fly (Can You Envision)."

Still, it is the opening cut, "My Life," which best showcases the completeness of Tamara's talent as both a singer and songwriter. Tamara's album is an impressive debut and a promising portent of things to come out of GETGOSPEL and the urban gospel scene growing in Brooklyn that the label is working to cultivate.

The second GETGOSPEL release, Nice New Life by hip-hopper Paradox, is a compelling collection of seven urban anthems that offer unflinching honesty and praise. Track one, "Intro," serves as the album's creed, and while the conversational style kicks things off slowly, the message is unambiguous and the disk soars immediately thereafter with the album's second track, "Nice New Life."

Make no mistake, Paradox' clever raps and adroit vocalization hold up, putting his skill on full display. With complex wordsmithing intertwined with a thumping backbeat, Paradox works his craft to its fullest effect.

The album's title track is a strong cut, offered with the help of fellow gospel rappers Rock and Mr. Skidz of Blessed Hope. Mr. Skidz, Nzingha, and Tamara pitch in on "Pop Life," the album's sixth track and another winner. But my favorite is track three, "Hot Like This," which plays well with rhymes and turns of phrase that show Paradox "representin' like a senator," while demanding that pretenders "step to the side."

Paradox is working on a follow-up, The Entity. If he builds on the sound and message of Nice New Life, Entity will be a disk worth the listen.