Review of Dishon - Transparency : The Great Oppression

It would be easy for someone like me to be bias on an interview like this. I grew up with Dishon and we work together as artist and we are part of the same label. Not to mention I got started in music by recording Dishon, traveling with Dishon, being at his shows, as well as helping him promote. This was all before I ever thought of becoming an artist. So I would like to say that I look up to Dishon as an artist, not only that, but a friend as well. Saying all of this, I am not going to go easy on Dishon with this review,he can kill me if he wants; well he's already shot at me! Haha! Oops did i say that? Well the title of this album says it all; Dishon is being transparent. This is not an album for the overly churchy person, this album is not even for those hip hop/rap fans who all they listen to is popular dance music with retarted lyrics. This is real life music, and this music is coming from a real life person with real life struggles, you just may relate to this a little bit now dont you think?

01.) They Say is the first track and sets the tone for this project. It explains how a person who already knows wrong from right, choses to do wrong anyway, and that person doesnt really want to hear it. That person just wants to have fun. This track talks more specifically about some of Dishon's struggles, "being a hypocrite" and "putting on a show," as well as  sleeping around with different women, selling drugs, and having a big chip on his shoulder. This is Dishon's confession to us, the people. Menace made the beat and this beat has a feeling of urgency and is very much ridin. 4.5/5

02.) One Chance (Rock On) is the second song and it shows his rock influences and you can tell how much he loves his family. This song shows the ambitious side of Dishon, as he looks back at the past and talks about what he sees all around him and what he has experienced. Dishon is not talking about the money, girls, cars, and rock star lifestyle, Dishon is talking about everyday life where he grew up. Menace produced this beat and its a typical Menace beat with guitar in it; another solid production! 4/5

03.) Say It All is the third track on the EP. You can tell the rock influence in this song as well as, and "Rawkstarr" does an amazing job on the hook; he sounds like a rock star. You can easily misunderstand the meaning of this song as Dishon gets political and hits many topics in the world here today. Dishon is not putting anyone on blast in this song, this song is a cry! He is crying out from everything that is going on all around the world, in the United States, in his hometown, and in his own life as well. "Look at my life, it's broken!" The rain is coming down and it may seem as if it will never stop, and that brings Dishon to a place where he is crying out, he is desperately dependent. Menace produces another great track, smooth, yet rock starish. 4.5/5

04.) Addicted is the fourth song. Dishon is asking for forgiveness for his addictions. He talks about how he has been addicted to the fame and girls but he is asking for forgiveness. Dishon is being transparent and is not hiding anything from us and you have to respect that about any artist. As many of us can relate, Dishon talks about a bad relationship, and he talks about how he has tried so hard to be better but he has fallen down. He also talks about how the church has judged him and has talked about him behind his back, and ends the song asking Christ help him fight this. In this life we will all go through things and we cant fight on our own, if we ty to fight our addictions on our own we will not make it. This track was produced by Menace and it is futuristic and has pop influence, well done. 4/5

05.) The Industry is the fifth and last track on this 5 song EP. This is by far my favorite track on the EP and Menace did his thing on this beat making it more hip-hopish, I love it! The message is deep and relevant. Sodom and Gomorrah was ruined, it was wicked, and very sinful; Sodom and Gommorah went up into destruction! This song is a metaphor of where we are living at today, Dishon says not to get caught up in the fast life, do not get caught up in this world, because this world is decietful and your heart is decietful, you will see all of the good times but in the end it will not end up a good time. Dishon is in the fight of his life as well as the rest of us, we are in a battle against ourselves as well as the enemy. Our hope can only be put in Christ. His grace is sufficient for you! 5/5

Overall I rate this album 4.5/5



Favorite lyrics:
"had a dream, America caught aids,metaphorically speakin we all became slaves. Some of us got trapped in a maze, lost in the darkness, conformed to the ways." - Say It All

"i was born with a curse plus a halo and some wings, a angel livin for Satan is confusin as it seems." - The Industry

Favorite songs:
The Industry, Say It All, and They Say.


Make sure to get this album on iTunes when it releases January 13, 2013.

-Jordan Copas