Album Overview

I enjoy lyrical theology, really, I do. I love it when an emcee can flex his creativity while dropping weighty spiritual truth. What really tops it off is when the music is just as good as the theology that's being taught in the rhymes. Well, I feel that's what I get from Curtis "Voice" Allen whenever he releases an album. To date, he has released three albums, all of which I love, minus some issues with theology on the third (my disagreeing with covenant theology). Well, he's back at it again, quietly releasing his fourth project titled a theist. And I do mean quietly, I only heard about this album through the grapevine, and ended up purchasing an MP3 download of the album.

What you get with a theist is exactly what you would expect from an emcee of Voice's caliber. It's a musically creative album that runs the gamut, giving you deep theological rhymes that are still culturally relevant, even tossing in a song or two that will tug at your heart. The one thing that I really like about this album is that Voice keeps it moving; there isn't a single dull spot in this album, it maintains a very high level from start to finish. Now, the thing about Voice is that neither the production or his rhymes will blow you away, but he has this knack that makes you want to keep listening and coming back for more. It's all around good hip-hop, and you get theology to top it off. One thing I like is that I can get into this album, enjoying the music, singing the hooks and all, and not even realize that I'm spitting some deep theological stuff that you'd find in a seminary level theology book.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this album. There hasn't been much music that I've liked thus far in 2009, but Voice's a theist is one that is in my top two or three right now. Considering how picky I've been this year, that's saying a lot. Why? Because it's a creative album and it's full of fresh content that hasn't been recycled, plus you can't help but love a guest spot from Christcentric's Evangel.

Spiritual Significance

Now, let's talk theology. Curtis is a student at Sovereign Grace's Pastors College, so he's a student of the Scripture and it shines through in an album like this. I mean, if you weren't a theology buff, then how else could you come up with the concept for a song like "A Chair is not a Throne" and the like? I don't think you can!

So, what is a theist all about? Well, it's a play on words. You have an atheist (no space) that doesn't have God in his worldview and tries to go out of his way that God doesn't exist; on the other hand, you have Voice who is a theist (note the space), a man with God at the center of his worldview and frames his views based on the revealed truth of God's Word. With that, the album takes you on a journey that highlights the differences between the two worldviews. You have songs like "Worldview" and "Cultural Jesus" that show the faults of an atheistic/agnostic worldview, including those the view of those that just "play" with religion. Then you have songs like "Still Pardoned" and "When It's All Said and Done" that bring the truth from a clearly theistic perspective.

It doesn't really matter what angle you take this album from because you're going to end up getting the truth of Scripture. Voice does a great job of showing the faulty logic behind having anything other than a theistic worldview. I love the song "I'm a Theist" on this album because there's nothing like modern day miracles to really help you solidify your faith in God. In this song Curtis gives some very personal reasons why he's a theist even through the two difficult trials that left him in a position where he could do nothing but trust in the Lord.

There's a lot of truth packed into this album. If you're a believer, it'll strengthen your walk with the Lord, and leave you declaring that you're a theist. If you're an unbeliever listening to this album, you'll either think it's a load of crock, or become a believer and declare that you're a theist too!

Topics Covered

I could outline everything that's covered in this album, but I really think this is one of those albums that you need to experience for yourself. Either way, I'll give you three, just to tease you...

• Objecting to popular culture's view of Jesus
• Realizing that God is in charge, even when man thinks he is
• Trusting in God

That's it, that's all I'm giving you.

Key Tracks

A Chair is not a Throne, Cultural Jesus, Worldview, Still Pardoned