P-Duble

The past couple years has seen the Gospel hip-hop bar raised to new heights by crews such as 116 and by artists like Lecrae and Tedashi. With this very independent sounding LP titled Stank: Block Boi, you may want to add P-Duble to that list. The Naptown native is a hip-hop funk specialist who defines ‘underground’ with an innovative vibe that doesn’t fit into classic hip-hop molds, giving him a vibe that stands him alone from the rest.

With lifetime experience in the rougher districts of town, this self-proclaimed “Naptown Soldah” targets Jesus Christ to the secular crowd, remaining strictly true to street flow and gangsta language. Bass-laden tracks layered with his unique, slow, but yet intriguing flow patter, often supported by nothing more than “stunner” sounding production speaks to the credentials of the artist himself and his self-created production crew Stank Beats. The entire unit comes from the self-contained Stank Records label, which shows considerable similarity to Tonéx’s MSS Records in terms to its ‘go it on your own’ philosophy.

The background of this artist deserves attention, as it truly helps to explain where his ministry is at. Despite an early church background, P-Duble became deeply rooted in the gangsta lifestyle. Hear it in his own words:

"I don't need Jesus," I kept telling' myself. "I'm a G…a b.G…and an O. G….!....however, I knew He was the answer and eventually I became so desperate, lost and hopeless....that I broke down.....and gave it up to Him."

He goes on to explain his realization that God gave him his musical talents for a purpose: “To reach those that are being reached and are entrapped by a life and environment that seems so overwhelming, with His message. A message of hope, love and salvation. I also want to let them know that I thought there was no way out, but I found a new life, a new truth, and a new way of living. A life of hope and love, a truth of salvation and eternal life, and a new way of living; all with the support of believers and others just like me and just like them, who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. They say on the streets, 'once you in, you can't get out. Once you put in work, you all about work, you will always put in work!' I always believed that and felt I would be down until I die. I was! I was down until I died, or should I say, my flesh died. Now, I have been reborn as a new person, but I am still puttin’ in work! No one can take that from me. God left parts of me intact, so I can relate to the thugs. So I can feel with the hustlas. So I can understand these street youth. So I can implement the plan He has laid before me."

The LP starts off with a track (yes, with a full-length rack...not an intro or a shorter track with a verse disguised as an intro..actually there are no interludes or skits or anything of that sort on this project. Just each individual track that speaks for itself) that is nothing short of raw, rugged and straight driven up from the same streets P goes right to. A thunderous, heavy, driving track, intertwined with sounds and lyrics from not only P-Duble, but also a opening-track feature (something that is rare in this industry) that twist the deepest recesses of your mind and force you to not just nod your head, but wonder where this project will take you. P is also not an artist who is afraid to say what he feels needs to be said; and that carries throughout this entire album; which takes you inside the catacombs of one of the deeper and thought-provoking projects that I have ever experienced in the Christian hip-hop realm; correct that...this is not even Christian hip-hop or Christian rap – this is truly Christian gangsta’ rap!...anyways…this opening track could stand alone alongside any of the secular projects on the streets, but it has some support behind it that will leave even the trust hip-hop head scratching just that in amazement and wonder as to the power and direction of God.
“I’m tired of the cliches’…I’m tired of hearing all of these artists tip-toe around these dark and desolate areas…stretch out a finger and dabble a bit into the world of the true gangsta’, but yet never fully enter themselves into the mix,” P-Duble stated. “There are already many heads that are comin’ at me in a way sayin’ I’m wrong for calling out other Christian artists…I’m not callin’ anyone out…you are who you are and if you bring it as you are, you’re being true and the Lord will bless that and use that…if you feel as if you’re being called out, then go back to your Bible and church and reevaluate how you feel about yourself and what you’re doing…it ain’t me that’s callin’ you out...I’m just doin’ what I’m supposed to do…it just so happens there ain’t many others out there doin’ the same thing…but, that ain’t my call, it’s God’s plan,” he continues. “I was fake for so-long…coming-off too soft and trotting around the real avenue that the Lord was calling me to run into...afraid of what others would think and how the church would respond…God is the church and if He leads me here, then so be it…I’m led…I’ve been taught the hard-way why I must be obedient to Him…my life, both when I was younger and even as recent as a few months ago is a living hell; satan always tryin’ to hold me down and beat me while I’m broken and bloodied…forget that…I got somethin’ for your demonic head…call me too militant, I say take it up with my Jesus – He’s the one who has made me this way, “ finished P-Duble.
The first track on this LP was also the single that flooded the streets and generated a buzz that one would expect from Lil’ Wayne. “i Ball,” is still a simply produced, sample-free, yet E-40 combined with the dirty-south sounding track with a hook as infectious and catchy as any that has come through in recent memory. Yet, it lays the final groundwork for what Stank: Block Boi is really about.

Peep these lyrics for a hook and tell me if you know whether you’re listening to Ludacris or P-Duble?

“I get big money/I, I, I, I ball/them 24’s got a homies Chevy standin’ tall/take 5 racks and blow it all at the mall/got my trunk steady poundin’, knockin’ pictures off the wall.”

It’s a blazing track peppered with simple guitar riffs and a basic energetic rhythm, with P-dub showing he can still throw it lyrically with the best of em’. Add in the assistance of one of the hottest unsigned kats in the Midwest; Ty Wills – and you have nothin’ but a street hit!

Next in-line, is the deep, dark and bordering on sinister (until you hear the final verse), “Goin' Crazy (i wanna’ die).” True to name, the cut puts you in a place where you feel as if you’re actually feelin and thinkin’ what you’re hearin’ –one of the few tracks I have ever heard that can actually take the listener on an out-of-body experience when they hear it…something that is extremely unique and hard to come across in music of all genres today. Laid on top is P-duble’s confident lyricism, bringing a comfortable and almost, but not quite…and still deliberate, monotony-sounding flow.

Rounding out the opening-trio of the LP is "Whatcha' Gonna' Do", which allows P-dub to deliver a distinct and at times oft-patter flow over a thunderous beat. This track is carried along nicely by the tight vocals of Fedarro on the hook. “Whatcha' Gonna' Do,” talks to the “studio gangsters in not only the secular world, but also in the Christan Hip-Hop realm, as well.

The next track: "Stank Me On,” is a straight street, gangster joint with nothing but raw, edginess to it. Lyrically simple, P-dub offers up language and dialect that may be unrecognizable to those whom are not from these streets...but, once you realize what he's saying you are awestruck by his straight-forward and blunt approach at the decision to follow Christ as being simply a 'life or death choice.' It is this unabashed, real and in-your-face evangelical style that will either leave you liking or not liking P-dub...without much room in between. It must be noted; that this is not a project for the church (read; saved), but rather a project for the unsaved and there are no qualms about that fact throughout this album.
Up next, P-Duble teams up with BW [pronounced: bee-double-you] on the track, “U Can Find Me,” where they both lace a sweet harmonic-infused groove with another thundering under-layer of thickened bass. This track may very-well be the sleeper of the album as it is a complete ridin' track and somethin' you can roll down the windows, flip-back the top and just stroll down the street to. The message is also one that needs to be heard; representin' not just the city they call home, but also their home in the Kingdom of Christ and how they're not hiding because they're Christians, but rather they tell you exactly where you can find them ministering and evangelizing.

The project isn’t short on other promising guest appearances, who variously demonstrate their vocal and mic skills. These unknown names include Ty Wills, Fedarro, Quami Cooke, J-Rott + da’YungSnappa'. Their evident gifts may well change their unknown status pretty quickly. This project also attracted the talents of some more well-known artists in the likes of Layzie Bone and Fantasia.

Quami Cooke murders the hook on the street-charged anthem, “I'm A Rida'.” Finishing up the hot-set of tracks that open-up this project is a sentimental, yet powerful testimonial from both P-dub and Ty Wills layered underneath the mesmerizing vocals of St. Louis native and long-time friend of P-Duble; J-Rott; “Hold On.” It is this track that finally begins to tie everything together and it's placement (7th out of 16 tracks) is right where it should be. There is more than enough to get even the most fickle listener to this point and then there is plenty more to come after.

As soon as the soothing chords of “Hold On,” dim into the recesses of your mind, P-Duble snaps right back with another one of his poignant, in-your-face, pull-no punches type of tracks in “Haterz.” As the name suggests, he talks about just that and no he doesn't limit himself to the secular world. If you hadn't already figured it out, P-Duble will leave you no doubt on this one, as he lays down the rhymes to give his case for his being saved ‘and a gangsta at the same time’.

Be informed, this is an artist who doesn’t always necessarily preach over his beats…however the message is clearly there; one just has to listen. “Till tha' Wheels Fall Off,” featuring da'YungSnappa'; is a trunk-thumpin' track with one of the catchiest hooks in a long-time, but also a track that isn't short at taking some rather direct pot-shots at the Holy Hip-Hop Community.
With hard-to-come by accolades from the often-jaded hip-hop journalists of Source, XXL and Hip-Hop Weekly, you may just find yourself racking this one beside your rhyme and beat favorites. Especially with the production that drips down in behind every joint on this project. Marcus contributes twice to the collection and both times he delivers in fine fashion. Whether it's his street-savvy vibe on “Let Me C Wat Itz Lyk” or the mood he sets on one of P-Dubles' testimonial tracks, “Twisted.”
If that isn't enough, then wait till you get deeper into the project and hear the connection that P-dub makes with da'YungSnappa', and how he just rips the heart out of the first and third verses. However, before he comes on, you get to taste another of Ohio's historical hip-hop talent in the likes of a special guest appearance from Layzie Bone; all in the track titled, “Stronger.” Eventually even the best albums hit a dead-point and your ears began to wean and waver. Just when you think this may occur on this project, P-Dub teams up with the MC he seems to fit with the best; Ty Wills, for another real, in-your-face, bangin' street anthem on the track; “Respect.”

This album has something for everyone and is chocked full of hits and tracks that can hold themselves up on their own as singles, but when P-Duble decides to get really clever, is when the fun really begins to start. With Toledo, Ohio's DJ Crossfader supplying the track, P takes the listener on another one of those out of mind experience type of journeys [i.e., “Goin' Crazy (i wanna' die)] and transports us back to the days of Christ's crucifixion. He takes on the role of Peter and portrays the city of Jerusalem and the week around the crucifixion of Christ in a manner that only Richie Righteous has been able to accomplish (re: Salvation 101). The track is titled “Welcome...” and if it isn't the sample from the movie “Jaws” at the very beginning, it's Crossfader's eclectic, electro-charged beat-pattern and P-Duble's flow patter that will have ya' recitn' this hook for a long-time.

Then, just when you think P can't come at you any harder, he resorts right back to what he does best...a straight gangster track; this time with a thunderous bass-line and a call-out to everyone to “...take the Word back to the streets...” on the aptly titled, “Back 2 tha' Streetz.”
However, as much as one would think this is an album generated from past experiences on those same streets, you would be mistaken to lump it all up into that one ball...and P-dub makes sure he relays the real reason he came out with this project; one final-time, on the melodic, soothing and harmonically pleasing “All Lyf Long,” featuring Fantasia.
This is a top-flight produced project from start to finish. It's a quality collection of just the right amount of street anthems, gangster-joints and even some club-happy tracks with a consistent and spiritually founded message interwoven all the way throughout. P-Duble is not be an everyday name in the Holy Hip-Hop world...however, this release may just change that and bring the message forward in the secular realm, as well.

Production: Stank Beats, Quite Stankable Productions, Kelly, the Presidentz, Roli Hasan, Marcus and Heavyweight
album release date: December 1, 2009
Stank Records

— reviewed by North Stansan — - RapPages.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 8/Stank Promotions/ --In the summer of 2008, P-Duble's life was twisted around his physical and spiritual self like a python around it's prey, when he was forced to face two deaths in the span of one week. One was a member of his immediate family and the other was a lifelong friend.

Since then P-Duble has gone on to establish a solo buzz with his suprise hit "i Ball." After releasing a full-length LP in early 2007, P-dub is doubling down on the new stuff the Lord has been leading him to create.

With lifetime experience in the rougher districts of town, this self-proclaimed “Naptown Soldah” targets Jesus Christ to the secular crowd, remaining strictly true to street flow and gangsta language. Bass-laden tracks layered with his unique, slow, but yet intriguing flow patter, often supported by nothing more than “stunner” sounding production speaks to the credentials of the artist himself and his self-created production crew Stank Beats. The entire unit comes from the self-contained Stank Records label, which shows considerable similarity to Tonéx’s MSS Records in terms to its ‘go it on your own’ philosophy.

Behind his cocky sense of humor, there's a dark underbelly that surfaces on "Goin' Crazy (i wanna' die)," a brink-of-insanity cry for help filled with booming 808s and a uniquely clever sing-songy digital harmony.

"You never, ever understand me/My eyes are my eyes, how you look in your eyes, is ever gonna' make me see/It's better off for me to die, for me ain't nuthin' nice/If you could read my brain, you'd probably go and see my life," he croons.

The background of this artist deserves attention, as it truly helps to explain where his ministry is at. Despite an early church background, P-Duble became deeply rooted in the gangsta lifestyle. Hear it in his own words: "I don't need Jesus," I kept telling' myself. "I'm a G…a b.G…and an O. G….!....however, I knew He was the answer and eventually I became so desperate, lost and hopeless....that I broke down.....and gave it up to Him."

He goes on to explain his realization that God gave him his musical talents for a purpose: “To reach those that are being reached and are entrapped by a life and environment that seems so overwhelming, with His message. A message of hope, love and salvation. I also want to let them know that I thought there was no way out, but I found a new life, a new truth, and a new way of living. A life of hope and love, a truth of salvation and eternal life, and a new way of living; all with the support of believers and others just like me and just like them, who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. They say on the streets, 'once you in, you can't get out. Once you put in work, you all about work, you will always put in work!' I always believed that and felt I would be down until I die. I was! I was down until I died, or should I say, my flesh died. Now, I have been reborn as a new person, but I am still puttin’ in work! No one can take that from me. God left parts of me intact, so I can relate to the thugs. So I can feel with the hustlas. So I can understand these street youth. So I can implement the plan He has laid before me."

The Indianapolis native has silently been building what is currently an unknown Christian Ministry powerhouse, with the hopes of launching it sometime in 2009. However, patience is a virtue that he has learned to possess. His moniker derives from what he was called when he was younger: "They (older girls) thought I was cute like a teddy-bear, so they called me Lil' Pookie," P-Duble stated. "I began using that when I would freestyle and was spellin' it out a lot. As I grew and matured; musically, physically and emotionally, I eventually cut it short and just began to use 'Pookie.'"

"Then I shortened it up again to "Pooc," still spelling it out, ya' know, P-double O-C...," added P-Duble. "Eventually I just dropped the whole nickname moniker and took the "p-double" out of what I was spellin' to create "P-Duble. It's even growin' into "P-dub" and juz' plain "P" or "dub," he concluded.

Regardless of the moniker, he's poised to make a major impact, with proof found on his debut single, "i Ball." The charismatic and talented wordsmith has plenty of passion and takes artistic risks, while delivering a mix of club tracks, raw street anthems and aggressive, spiritually-charged compositions.

Another single bound to be a hit; "Respect," is a hyperactive blend of crunk and 808 bass, complemented by the Midwest MC's ability to parlay some buzz-worthy, lyrical energy.

His full-length release; Stank Block Boi is scheduled to hit the streets on 12/1/09.
- Stank Promotions

“P-Duble's” new album “Stank: Block Boi,” hits streets on December 1st, 2009.

The first single off the album, “Stronger,” is now circulating and the track can be heard on P-Duble's MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/pdublestank) and on the Stank Records website. A free download is only available at: http://www.reverbnation.com/pdublestank. This single features Columbus, Ohio native, daYungSnapper, as well as Cleveland, Ohio's own, Layzie Bone.

So many artists have spent so much time in the past few months working like madmen and touring for their own albums that before they knew it, the new P-Duble album was on the horizon!

Ohio certainly has its share of hip-hop history; from “The Dayton Boys” to the “Bone Thugs Family” to “Bow-Wow,” etc.... It's really exciting to see what direction P-Duble has gone in. Based on what many heard so far (leaks and samplers), there is a good-buzz that this album is going to be a natural progression forward. He has brought back that grimier sound, much like the natural and pure Midwest hip-hop flavor, and has moved away from the over-produced perfect rap formula that he doesn't relate to. Paul Mohr, of Midwest Music Zine, describes the new single as “something that hasn't been heard since Bone Thugs were in charge of the game,” and that is coming from a secular and non-urban specific music zine, “very unexpected from a christian artist, in a good way.” - Paul Mohr; MMZ

The new single maintains with the grimy street theme “The basic concept of the single is about the punches life throws at you and how you can pick-up your cross daily and keep moving forward through the power of Jesus Christ. But, done so without compromising the gritty, street-oriented edge we feel called to reach out to with Christ's message. It's real and that's what was one of the most important elements when we were recording it!” says P-Duble.

Sounds like it’s not a far departure from the title of the album, “Stank: Block Boi.” - Stank Promotions