Sean Slaughter is back with his fifth official release The Prototype. The Prototype is a conceptual project that has very few features and features the exclusive production of Pros. Jesus Christ is THE Prototype and sets a model for us to follow. Let's see if this project does the same musically.

Sean Slaughter is back with his fifth official release The Prototype. The Prototype is a conceptual project that has very few features and features the exclusive production of Pros. Jesus Christ is THE Prototype and sets a model for us to follow. Let's see if this project does the same musically.

1. Blast off Intro – This intro serves as a “Prototype” to how the rest of the albums production. This is “new age” east coast boom bap and the majority of the remaining tracks follow suit.

2. Log In* – When this beat drops you are officially a dead man if you do not nod your head. The beat is simple but you are captivated by the lead synth on the hook and thumping kick. The lyrics are for the church and the street and encourage the listener to remember that your connection to the Father is through prayer and you can “Log In” at any time. Slaughter list the many devices that take away from our time in prayer on the hook. This track has some outstanding wordplay and metaphors “that make sense” showcasing Sean's ability as an emcee. This could easily become a video as well.

3. The Light – This track sounds like a throwback video game. I kept waiting to hear the sounds of Pac Man swallowing up ghost! Pros did a great job changing up the feel of the track by adding some pads and keys towards the end that could have made this a little too monotonous. The track is in your face and will gobble you up and reminds us that Christ is the Light that gobbles up the darkness in and around us.

4. Get At U f/ D-Maub – Another track with a simple but infectious beat and a well crafted hook that features the “Creature” D-Maub. It's hard not to like many things that you hear D-Maub on. He delivers, as always,with his quick stutter flow. The two artist mesh well together with Sean rapping with his in your face intensity and D-Maub came with a more laid back flow on this one and they both work well. This song explains the call to “Get at” those that need the truth of God's word through the art of rap and music. Making it clear that it is not about the money or the fame but the souls of those reached through this music.

5. Got Em Again* – Another track that makes you want to sign up for the Sean Slaughter Brigade. The track walks heavy and could be a pair of Timberlands. Sean gets a little braggadocios on this track. In fact this is an exhortation to EVERY CHH Rapper that your influence and reach is going to places that you may not realize. So when you see those that would normally pump Drake,Wayne and Ross pumping Slaughter, Lecrae or (insert your favorite artist/minster's name here) instead then you can say “We got em again”. Slaughter got em with this one and “cleverly” wrote a different set of lyrics for each pass of the hook. Not only showing his lyrical reach but our reach and influence as believers as well. Reminding us that everywhere CHH goes so does the influence Christ along with the opportunity to minister to and convert the non-believer.

6. Who We Are* - This is the first single and video from the project. It's a call to battle to tell the world, the kingdom of darkness and more importantly to remind yourself of who you are in Christ. It was preceded by a short film that bears the same title as this project. The track has a cadence feel throughout the verses and Pros drops the drums and brings the airy pads as Sean Slaughter sings the melody on the hook. Slaughter then proceeds to run down the believers identity in a barrage of lyrical bombs. The concept of this song and mini movie is very well executed. I expected this to be the lead in track for the Prototype but it was cleverly placed in the track listing prior to another song of identification for the believer.

7. Survivor f/ Canton Jones* – This is the type of song you would want to listen to in a in a foxhole. It reminds you that no matter what you are facing that you're coming out alive either in this life or the next with Christ. With Christ we survive either way! It’s a soldier’s anthem! It’s not preparing you for the battle but strengthening you IN the battle. Another simple track that uses layered synths and horns and features the vocals of Canton Jones with his melodic rap flow on the verse and vocals on the hook this one is a winner. Just put it on repeat!

8. Trust In I Am – This track takes a more traditional approach from Pros' considering the previous beats. It has a slightly live to it and if you listen close you'll hear some sick running bass lines. The title is self explanatory. This is not a repeat track but I highly doubt that the listener will skip it.

9. Lemme Go – Another Head banger with a live feel. This brings a rock edge to the project. With lead guitar licks, drum rolls and organ fills. This will make you put one hand in the air and sway from side to side. Sean goes in and explains why this music is more than just rap. It's ministry!!!

10. Handz Inda Air – If CHH could officially dropped a “diss” tracks to fake rappers then this would be it. It's not a “diss” per se to worldly rappers or any one individual but it exposes the deception and lies in most of their lyrics. Many mainstream rappers lie in their rhymes and embellish their lives and this song exposes the deception. Sean drops the following line in the hook: "Why they real life they just wont share yeah / lying out loud with they handz inda air."

11. I'm Gone f/KJ 52 & Jamie Driscoll – This track starts slow and does not quite grab you at first. It's a concept beat with futuristic sounds. As the track progresses, it builds. You may not find yourself dancing or really nodding to this track you just end up listening which is exactly what I think the point was. This allows the flow of Sean Slaughter and KJ-52 to stand out and command you. The vocals of Jamie Driscoll and a welcomed addition and round out the song.

12. GO! feat CMO*- This is a standout track and possibly the best on the project. The content is straight forward. Christ has won the battle for us so Go! He was the Prototype so go and follow in his footsteps. The track features the vocals of CMO as he delivers soulful vocals with a rock edge to them. You know you picked the right feature artist when his performance makes you want to go out and purchase their CD. Which is exactly what I did. Sean Slaughter, CMO and PROs are a force to be reckoned with on this one.

13. Raize Da Roof – Pros takes a different approach to the track. The track has a slight circa mid 90's Timbaland feel to it with a choppy syncopated beat and guitar riffs. This is a song of Praise and encourages us to make some noise for the Father and His son.

14. Itsa Reynolds* – It's a Wrap (get it) for this CD! This song was the perfect way to end the concept of the Prototype. This is a lyrical gem. Sean Slaughter pours out some his frustrations that come with living the life of a believer. We should all want to leave our mark on the world for Christ. Sometimes we fall short of that and feel defeated. Yet the song remind us that Jesus has overcome the world and the sin it. When he rose from the dead “It was a wrap”. So every believer should be of good courage regardless of where you find yourself in this journey.

Lyrically: Sean Slaughter is a veteran CHH MC that may not always get the “respect” that is deserved and if he does not earn that respect with this project then it is on the listener and not what was offered on this project. He commands every track included those that feature top notch artist.

Musically: The beat selection was flawless and it is clear that this was a collaborative effort between the artist and producer. They did not just pick through beats and start spitting. There was a concept that needed to be executed and that was done well. The album was not monotonous, too long or too short. None of the individual tracks were too long showing that the artist was not caught up into hearing himself and that PROs was not feeling himself too much on the beats.

Ministry: From a ministry standpoint it has it all. Real life relatable ministry, sound theology “applied” with Christ at the center, discipleship for the mature believer and it is still evangelistic and “street” enough for the non-believer to be drawn in.

I have never awarded five stars to a project but there is a first time for everything. I tried to find something wrong with this project and the execution of the concept. In my opinion this gets five stars because the concept of this project, including the mini movie, was executed well and Slaughter never veered from the theme. Not to mention the concept is a play on the name of the only producer on the project!

Jesus Christ is the Prototype on which our life as a believer should be patterned. That is made evident in each song. Yet it is also clear that Sean Slaughter wanted “The Prototype” to serve as and example and set a standard for the genre.

The Prototype could very well be a model that many artist to come will follow.