Imagine Recoil (Alan Wilder) collaborate with the late great rapper/poet/actor Tupac Shukar or number one hip-hop producer Dr. Dre (N.W.A., D.O.C, Snoop Dog, Michele, The Wreckin' Crew, Eminem) hooking up with goth rock Marilyn Manson. What do you think it might sound like? It'll be very interesting, I'll say. Birmingham native, Rev. Birminghell (aka Travis) have did something quite interesting and wild that gotten the white punks, goths, rock and alternative crowd attention at the clubs on the southside. He combined hip-hop with gothic elements. Serious hellish lyrics coming out of this black dark rapper who is influence by Marilyn Manson, Slip Knot and Nine Inch Nails. His debut release "Who In The Hell You Thank You Talkin' To???-Heiron Music Vol. 1 has raised some local underground hip-hop acts and fans eyebrows who just didn't get it when performed some tracks off the cd live at an all black club and audience. I like this guy because his style is absolutely different and the messages he's throwing out is a significant killing. Some of the tracks contains dialogues from movies and sampling of other artists music; from new wave, r&b, rock and alternative. The cd is more hip-hop than goth, but there are some tracks that have a dark doomy soundtrack feel. Rev. Birminghell raps on different subjects that'll make you say hmmmmmm. I have some favorites that I like. "A Prayer For A Black Rose", which contains a sample from Britain's one hit wonder The Verve "something Symphony" (forgot the name of the song's title because the band haven't put out an album since 1994), the song is based on a man who had experienced bad situations in life and trying to have faith by maintaining to believe that love still exist; "Xxplorr" is about sex, love, lust and sin. A romantic love song that have a twist at the end. It contains a sample from Prince "Adore". Track 6 "Love Sweet Love" have a dark feel. It's about so-called christians, from preachers to congregation, who called themselves children of God and be quoting Bible verses and be sinning like hell. The last verse is catchy which I do agree what he said: "America is the fungus corrupting your soul/got deacons raping children 12 years old/I know if I were on the cross all blooded with nails/I would have sent all you hoes to hell!" It also contains a dialogue from Todd McFarland animated "Spawn." "Academic Pimpin'" is a good song for urban radio and clubs. This tripped out track talks about players who be perpetrating and be impressing a fine female everytime one walks by showing what they have and taking out their wallets flashing their stash of cash. The track have a dialogue from Prince movie "Purple Rain." This second favorite of mine "The D.A.I.D (Drownin' Alive In Dirt)" have a melancholic feel that contains a sample of one of Duran Duran 80's hits "Save A Prayer". The song is about a man who lives in a shadowy cold and lonely world with hatred and bitterness in his heart and dream of a perfect family with wife and kids, despite what he sees and go through in life that fills with trials and tribulations in this messed up world. This track have a dialogue from the movie "Scarface." "Rosemary's Baby (Baptism In Hate) is my number one fave. This track caught me off guard when I heard U2 "New Year's Day" being used through out the whole segment of the song, which also contains dialogue with Kingpin talking from the gothic hellish movie "Hellraiser." Even the lyrics is tight with a deep emotional feeling that blew me away, especially in the second verse:They came and witness the death of my innocenceThe birth of the anti-christReflected all the painThat's upon me through my lifeFifty percent of me prays to God at nightWhile the other half wakes up to live in a satanic lifeAnd I blame society for the so-called leadersPerverts and hypocrites, backstabbersAnd phony ass preachersNever knew hate until a racist called me a niggerNever knew greed until a brother killed another over figuresBut I won't discriminate when I say fuck you allIf I were Jesus on the cross the whole world would fallCause I can never forgive the worldFor what it did to meCorrupted me with hate and greedFrom my head to my feetThe cd and cover contains explicit lyrics and graphics. The Rev. is on the back cover dressed in a black robe with make-up, a drawing of a rose on his forehead and fingers polished black looking like a satanic priest. He's holding a rose and a cross is in the background glowing. Rev. is a genius for coming up with a unique original idea. It may sound crazy, but he pulled it off extremely well. This is a must listen!