There are very few artists that consistently drop as much quality music as Mr. Donny Harper has been for the last few years. The artist better known as D-Maub continues this trend as he releases his 5th solo record, Death Before Dishonor. Is the album as bold as its title?

1. Slow Down feat. KAS & Andale: It is quite clear that D-Maub doesn't believe in easing his audience into an album. Though this song is a warning for the culture to slow down, the message is delivered at an extremely rapid speed with KAS and Andale matching Donny's trademark double-time flow. The song's warning of impending Judgment is ably supported by a fast and bouncy beat that is bound to leave you with a sore neck. Great start.

2. Go All Out: I maintain that D-Maub is matched by very few when it comes to making infectious party songs that are well-suited for both the club and the concert. This cut is just another entry into that catalogue. This banger's strength is not in its complexities, but rather its simplicity. I mean, the percussion-heavy beat is nothing extraordinary and neither is Donny's hook. However, when you listen to the track as a whole it is easy to get sucked in by its catchiness.

3. Send Me: Spitting over a beat with Asian influences, D-Maub encourages believers to avail themselves to whatever call God has for them (à la Lecrae's version). Save for the thematic similarity with Crayola's 2006 song, this is a pretty solid track. I don't care much for the beat, but D-Maub has a knack for making anything sound dope when he is in full swing. And in full swing he is.

4. Y'all Funny feat. Malski: This here is one of my personal favorites on this project. Here Mr. Harper proves that he is not afraid to try something new with his flow. He shreds through the minimalistic beat using several flows that differ but sync perfectly with the beat. It can't really be explained, so you would have to hear it yourself. With his detractors squarely in his crosshairs, D-Maub dismissively takes aim with the help of the witty Malski. I'm usually not too fond of songs that address “haters”, but this is one I have added to my exception list.

5. Everybody's A Rapper: I'm almost certain that most of us know of (or are friends with) someone who has lofty aspirations of being a successful rapper. Heck, I'm friends with at least five of those guys. Donny takes time to address this as he offers a sobering reality of how it really is to be a rapper. What I love the most is how he gives real advice to those aspiring to be rappers without sugar coating the harsh realities of the industry. A good song is slightly spoiled by the lazy and repetitive hook, however.

6. So Contagious feat. Chosen, Iz'Real & Bizzle: Here we're blessed with a themed cypher track. With hints of 1 Peter 2:12 seeping from the lyrics, the posse encourage us to lead contagious lives that point people right back to God. The beat appropriately gives enough breathing room for the the featured rappers to wreck shop. It was also a pleasant surprise to hear Donny “singing” the hook.

7. Every Breath feat. Bracey & K-Drama: Here he slows things down with the help of Bracey, K-Drama and a mellow West-Coast-ish beat. All three do a great job of giving thanks to the One who we owe our every breath to. The change of tempo is welcome and the addition of live instrumentation is a nice touch. Great ride music.

8. I Believe God: Now we all know that it is not always easy to trust God when we are in turmoil. D-Maub echoes these very sentiments in a way that is easy to relate to. I like how the song almost feels like an anthem that stirs the listener out of unbelief with the call for us to 'muster enough faith to believe'. The beat is exceptional and fans of lightening fast rapping will be especially pleased to hear the insane second verse. Another standout track for me.

9. On My Grind: Here he takes the persona of a hustler on the block. He then basically highlights the foolish vanity of being on an endless chase for wealth. He does a good job of painting the picture for us. The beat is nothing special though. Decent song.

10. Unconditional Love feat. Sean Simmonds: Here D-Maub proves that he is as comfortable with a slow paced cadence as he is with his staple double-time flow. The well-produced beat has a big and dreamy sound to it which compliment Sean's smooth vocals perfectly. Have you ever wondered how God can still love you in spite of your sin? Well this is the premise for this song.

11. Soulmatic: D-Maub affirms his dedication to being God's vessel and making soulmatic music ('music that is automatically for your soul', that is). I really appreciate his verve and aggression. What I don't appreciate is the lackluster beat. Save for the hard drums, I feel that this is a forgettable production.

12. On The Move feat. Tha GIM & Knine: With the help of GIM and Knine, Donny drops another smooth West Coast song. He and his guests drop dope verses that echo the commands expressed in Matthew 28 about the importance of being on the move with the Gospel. Like a previous song that had the left-coast vibe, I see this being played with your top down on a sunny afternoon.

13. I Will Survive feat. Willie Moore, Jr.: D-Maub has definitely dulled the mood of the album with the closing songs and the project closer is no different. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as the project jumps off at such a breakneck speed. Willie Moore Jnr. handles the hook well as he croons about his confidence in God to help him survive life's challenges. A nice track, but the somewhat insipid beat discourages me from repeated spins.

Categorical Ratings Breakdown:

Originality/ Creativity (3/5): In my opinion, Death Before Dishonor doesn't really do much to reinvent the D-Maub wheel. Plenty  of what he does lyrically, we have heard before (as amazing as it sounds). Though D-Maub hits us with some moments of creative genius, those moments are few and far between. In general this suffices for the type of album this is – an unthemed rap album.

Lyrics (4/5): No complaints here. D-Maub's penmanship is really good. His songwriting and lyrical structuring is really sound. Witty metaphors, clever punchlines and punchy anecdotes are all part of this man's vast lyrical arsenal.

Delivery (4.5/5): This is the strongest area of Donny Harper's repertoire. This man never seems to miss a step when it comes to riding a beat. A lot of rappers tend to veer off-beat when they do the double-time flow, but D-Maub is one of the few who can maintain the flow at a rapid speed. It's also amazing how understandable he is even when rapping at such speeds. Another thing that impressed me was the way in which he can effortlessly change his cadence to match the beat change-up - Y'all Funny being a good example of this.

Beat Selection / Production (3/5): I feel that this is where Death Before Dishonor disappoints. There are several songs on here which are outstanding production-wise, but I feel that there are several which are not so great. One of the qualms I have is that a number of the beats feel outdated and some feel a bit bland and simplistic. I cannot fault any of the mixing though. Vocals and instrumentals pop out of the speakers cleanly and everything sounds clear.

Concept / Arrangement (4/5): I really like how the track list flows here. The album starts at fever pitch and it gently winds down to a doddle by the time you get to the end. Each song flows easily into the next – even from a hype song to a mellow one. I also think he knows how to pick his features well as every guest on the album makes a good contribution to the project.

For me, Death Before Dishonor is D-Maub's best album to date. This is really a great listen for the most part. What proved to be a bit of an issue for me was the wayward beat selection at some points. I'm fully aware that this could boil down to nothing but a personal taste issue, but the inconsistency in the quality of the beats was too glaring to ignore. I wouldn't let this detour you though as I only highlighted four bad beats out of a total of 13 songs. Other than that, this is an album that deserves your support.