The Godkinz

by Jenny Bennett 

Up-and-coming hip hop artists The Godkinz (twins Ishmael and Isaac Godkin and their younger brother Israel) released their self-titled debut album in September. The record is a mixture of R&B and hip hop with twists of both rap and pop – creating a diverse sound. 

'Godkin' is coincidentally their family name, but its meaning is appropriate. Lyrically, the group leans heavily towards a message that is purely and clearly focused on communion with the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

With tracks like the a capella Ua Silisili, my personal favorite with its rich, beautiful harmonies, is a reflection of their Samoan heritage. The brothers remain true to themselves and their background, and their story begins before they were even born. Their parents were having difficulty conceiving, and their father promised the Lord that if He blessed them with children, they would grow up to spread the love of Christ to the world. And quite literally a star was born (or try three) who have been fulfilling that promise.

And the message is like a spoonful of sugar when delivered by The Godkinz. The smooth R&B warmth and flowing rhythm of Jesus Is the One make it one of the crowning jewels of the album. Got to Feel It has a Jackson 5-esque dance beat and the worshipful lyrics help it stay in character with the album. Is There One has a melodic piano line and tells the story of a young boy and his journey of faith. Grandma Song is a touching tribute to the brothers' grandmother and a strong testament to their love of family and God.

The album has a cohesiveness that's distinctly "GK" and a diversity that makes it accessible to a broad audience. With those two characteristics, I envision this young group touching lives and carrying on their music for years to come.

thegodkinz.com
MySpace

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