Ruslan

Creativity and passion are two elements emcees need for my approval (IMO). theBREAX are quickly becoming one of my favorite underground groups because they embody these two elements, WATCH. - gardenstatehiphop

Way back in March of 2009, theBREAX introduced themselves to Booth readers with For What, a retro-informed single so fresh that, by the time listeners realized the Cali trio were preaching a very different message from your average hip-hop act, they were already hooked. Two years later, they’re back with, well, More Of the same: uniquely dope hip-hop music designed to get heads nodding to the Good News. Lex Luthorz handles the beat, flipping some African-style chants a la Kanye‘s Power as rappers Ruslan, Beleaf, Mic B showcase a commitment to dope lyricism as ironclad as their faith; whether you agree or disagree, you’ve gotta respect emcees who can lace a beat with lines like “...pseudo-spirituality mixed with postmodernistic thought only causes more casualties.” So, have theBREAX succeeded in elevating your spirit – or least gotten your toes tapping? Keep it locked; though this is just a promo single, you can rest assured we’ll bring you all the latest news and tunes!

Read more: http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/thebreax-more-of/#ixzz1HTkC6N7f
on DJBooth.net - Contributed by richard

Album Overview

Stop the presses! No, seriously, somebody find the presses… and stop them! Reprint the headline; let it read: “You must check out theBreax.” Follow that with this sub-header: You might love them, you might hate them, you might not know what to think about them… but you must hear them.” This is a new style, a new perspective… on hip-hop, on Christianity, on the meaning of fresh. While theBreax take time to honor hip-hop past, the message that resounds throughout the album is: here comes a new sound, a new point of view, a new group that innovates instead of imitates. These cats have taken the best of what Future Shock, Tonex, Lightheaded, 4th Ave. Jones, and Adeem had to offer and blended it together with some blue-toned, break-beat jazz, spoken word, and jaw-dropping earnestness and honesty, to create something all together new. TheBreax self-titled debut has recently been picked up by Rawkus Records, and is on course to blaze a new trail that will send shockwaves throughout the industry.You probably haven’t heard a crew quite like this. You don’t believe me? Just take a look at the origins of these diverse emcees and beat makers. From Azerbaijan Baku, to Baltimore, to the Dirty South, to San Diego, California, these talented men hail from a variety of backgrounds, and have been brought together by the providence of God for the betterment of your listening ears. Their varied upbringing and distinct musical style, that features spoken word and live instruments, is as unique as their lyrical content. At one moment their confessing their sin and broken past in the midst of an eerily honest live-spoken word rant, and in the next moment they’re representing Christ with unwavering conviction like strong-armed warriors. This album is destined to become one of secular hip-hop heads favorite Christian cd’s, not because it is compromised, but because it is true school: honest, passionate, and original, while maintaining a solid grasp on the unwavering tenants of the Christian faith. Their self-proclaimed style of music is as follows: an artistic concoction of Kanye West soulful swagger, Saul Williams spoken word poetry, the live instrumentation of the Roots, and the spirit of U2.

Spiritual Significance

Have you ever had the experience of being shaken by the words of a non-Christian? As their words pierce your heart, you realize that in some way you had drifted from the simpleness of God’s truth, and it took the unpretentious heart of an unbeliever to remind you of the heart of God. Granted, this kind of thing doesn’t happen every day; but in my life, I have learned to welcome these occurrences and allow them to shatter my religious mindsets that are opposed to God. Listening to the new album by theBreax is an experience that is akin to these moments of awakening, where the Holy Spirit is able to highlight and expose things in my heart that have somehow found a safe haven amongst the sterile life of the “Christian norm.” Let it be clear though, these artists are in no way unbelievers… far from it. It is just that they have seemingly been able to keep themselves from the ugly, self-righteous spirit that often permeates our religious culture, and happens to drive away the very people we are trying to reach, as well as grieve our heavenly Father. Ruslan, the group’s primary emcee, lets us into his world with extreme openness, sharing about his broken youth, immigration to America, upbringing in poverty, his woundings by the Church, his experiences with God, and the redemption and blessing that has now come into his life. These twelve tracks (some clocking in at the 7-9 minute mark) smack the wake-up call on the sinner and the religious soul with equal weight, much like the ministry that our Savior brought 2000 years ago. Yes, theBreax join the ranks of so many other artists in the genre, who wander into the occasional hip-hop lingo/ battling mumbo-jumbo (which is usually non-sensical filler if you ask me); but the flow, purpose, and direction is on point 90-95% of the time. For the most part, this is the gospel presented in an intimate, musical expression that never backs down from condemning sin and pointing to the saving life-line of Jesus Christ. Real life hits you hard on this joint, but the real life of the resurrected Christ comes through even stronger, sending forth a fresh dose of hope, truth, and earnest compassion to rescue anyone with ears to hear.

I’m looking on the scene, and I can see holy hip-hop veterans clearing the stage, hushing the crowd, and giving the floor to some newcomers… theBreax! And boy, something’s gonna happen to the style, genre, and the stage when these cats hit the set. So, don’t do it… don’t sleep on this one. Take your medicine, and when you’re done, make sure that you pass it along to some of your non-Christian friends (that is if you have managed to make any… Hey, I’m speaking to myself as well). Introducing theBreax: Ruslan, Beleaf, Mike B., and Name Brand - peopleofpromise.wordpress.com

With a live drummer and a flair for the past, TheBreax is a strong hip-hop trio--that is, if you can handle a little Jesus in your rhyme. It's not all Sunday school, but there's a good dose of father, son and the holy ghost. MC Ruslan has a strong percussive flow, gruff-voiced as he toasts positive things and disses his superficial counterparts. DJ Beleaf puts the old-school Philly soul samples to good use, even if copyright hawks might eventually have their lawyers get in touch. But the strength of their recent self-titled album got the attention of Rawkus Records, which proclaimed them one of the "50 Next Important Hip-Hop Artists."
- SDCityBeat

With roots in spoken word, The Breax center their style around poetry. Nothing out of the ordinary, but this is a rockier road than your average head would like to admit. People can hate on G-Unit all they want, but tea-drinking, intellectual rappers can be as violently clichéd as the most gangstafied and snappy shit on MTV.

Fortunately, The Breax are professionals, and they’re far from the coffee house amateurs Phonte rips on “The Yo-Yo.” But with a successful background performing slam poetry (and still performing), they’re able to tackle a normally difficult approach to lyricism (some call it conscious) with expertise. Emcee Ruslan, who handles the bulk of microphone time, is insanely natural over a beat, flowing with great confidence and dexterity, while his subject matter hits on his sexuality, race, upbringing and more.

An underlying theme on The Breax’ eponymous album is discontent for the mainstream, much like indie favorites Little Brother. But also like LB, they’re somehow able to present played-out ideas with flair and efficiency. They have fantastic things to say and Ruslan is an outstanding linguist with much on his chest, but the overall packaging is messy. The unnecessary inclusion of bonus tracks, making most of the songs 7-8 minutes in length, is inconvenient, but the album flows well from end to end, and The Breax prove to be a promising team.

- Matt Tomer
- Okayplayer

With their critically acclaimed debut album, theBreax rose out of local-grind-status obscurity and began turning hip-hop heads left and right with their fresh sound and transparent lyrics. After this success from their self-titled drop, with all eyes watching, they served up the “Eye Am Gangster” mixtape (a remix of Jay-Z’s American Gangster album) which quickly gained traction and pinnacled as one of the top remixes of all time. This unexpected move sent wires flailing in the minds of many, and not a few holy hip-hop heads began fuming. What is a group to do with angry accusations swarming, a fanbase that is growing, and the ominous possibility of a sophomore jinx looming over their heads? How about something totally unexpected? I don’t know... like pairing the phrase “sellout” alongside their name in the title of their upcoming release?

Since most historical sellouts are not self-proclaimed, you’ve got to figure the boys have got something up their sleeve when they start promoting that their next album will be entitled, “When theBreax Sold Out.” Is this merely a publicity stunt... or a subtle stroke of genius? Will these songs be full of large production and catchy hooks that are gunning for mass appeal, and a dancehall-frenzy salute to boot?... Ironically, I have to say, “well, yeah, as far as I can tell, a little bit of all that.” And, really, if the heart and content are both desperately devoted to God, why is any of that a bad thing? Now, let me calm your fears; this album is not a deranged, desperate shot at the hip-hop gold and glory. The title is meant to be sarcastic; and hints towards the demeanor that comes through on a number of the tracks on which theBreax bring an intelligent condemnation to the many ills resident in the modern-day rap game.

While listening to this album, especially at it’s inception, you get the feeling that the group has something to get off of it’s chest, a message to send out to the big-timers that are responsible for setting the standard for the level of immorality, greed, and senselessness in the culture. “When theBreax Sold Out” is an insightful response to their critics, as well as a treatise on the hip-hop world, that exposes who the real sellouts are. Fortunately, the guys do not bring their sarcasm-coated correction without also offering an affirmative direction for action. In fact, their lines are as equally effective in providing a path of hope for our culture as they are in detailing it’s downfalls. So no, theBreax are not looking to be Kanye West’s next protégé. The irony is that this set of tracks does have the potential to be grabbed up by the masses, put in the belly of their trunk, and rocked on the dance floor, possibly earning the group the misnomered title of “sellouts.” Yet, you don’t have to listen long to notice that behind the beats and production that are screaming “radio-friendly,” there is line upon line of intelligent raps, relaying the moral antithesis of the mindless garbage currently deluding the mainstream hip-hop culture.

So what differentiates theBreax from all of the other Christian outfits who have had the same desire to get the world bumping their beats in the club and resonating their sound down the boulevard? Well, because theBreax continue to do what few Christians ever manage to get done: come together to create music that is so compelling and fresh that non-believers won’t want to scoff and toss the disc in the trash. For far too long, Christians have made excuses for making sub-par music that is not intellectually nor artistically viable in a mainstream market, claiming that to do so would require them to “sell out.”

Secondly, people like honesty, and can sense when truth is spoken with compassion and concern. Ruslan, Mic B, and Beleaf have got the courage to say things that others are afraid to say, and they are able to tackle these issues in a way that makes sense to regular people without sounding like they’re just out to win an argument... or a proselyte. The listener feels like these guys actually care about the people they are speaking to instead of being concerned about crafting an orderly, pristine approach. And yes, for me, the absence of grating pretension and self-righteousness is down-right refreshing. I feel like some older brothers are speaking to me, instead of someone insecure about their own standing with God, who is looking to their rap-game in order feel better about their Christianity. Like Jesus, who attracted multitudes of sinners and loved them enough to not leave them unchanged, theBreax have managed to bring the gritty, tough truths of God and marry them with the spirit of love.

So get ready for another soul-searching set of blazers that unflinchingly look to Christ as the sole answer to the ails of human vanity. At the same time, get ready for something new to hit your ears. Staying true to their name, with this new album, theBreax are most definitely bucking off the restraints and const - People of Promise

If you’ve been following the site here for a while, you know that one of my favorite American Gangster remix albums is Eye Am Gangster, produced by Eye Am Productions. Eye Am Productions is the production side of the Southern Californian hip hop group The Breax. When I got wind that they had released an album around this time last year, I had to give it a listen and offer up my review.

In a day and age where we have corporate radio dictating what good hip hop is and what we should be listening to, The Breax are breaking all the rules; pushing racial, spiritual, political, and musical boundaries. Some may call it intellectual hip hop. Some may call it progressive hip hop. Putting all labels aside, I’d like to just call it hip hop.

The album opens with a jazzy little number, making myself question if I put the right CD in the player. When DJ Beleaf scratches in The Breax and the drums kick in, I realize this is not your average radio hip hop. Right off the bat, I notice the refreshing sound of live instrumentation. Hip hop has always been fueled by drum machines, samplers, and other electronic instruments. When a group uses live instruments, you can tell a difference. That’s not to say that The Breax doesn’t use any of the above mentioned equipment. Samples are used and DJ Beleaf scratches at the appropriate moments as if he were DJ Jazzy Jeff in his prime. Overall, production on this album is spot on and is everything I was expecting after only being introduced to Eye Am Gangster.

Lyrically the album is very intelligent. Most of the verses are performed by emcee Ruslan, who speaks his mind without holding back. Discussing topics such as religion and the racial barriers he encountered growing up, the whole album sort of reads like an autobiography. At times the lyrics can get a little repetitive and maybe even a little self involved; if I had any problems with this album, that would be my only complaint. But it is very evident that Ruslan was born behind the mic and is very comfortable as his flow is flawless. When DJ Beleaf gets his turn at the mic, it’s usually during the few spoken word interludes, which are amazing. Beleaf has a knack for word play and you can tell that he has his audience’s attention as he twists his words into a story you weren’t even expecting. Beleaf’s spoken word interludes are a welcome addition to their musical journey. I hope The Breax consider including more of Beleaf’s poems in future albums.

Overall, The Breax show promise and hope that hip hop can evolve, but I’m afraid that this album may not be for your average hip hop fan. This album takes an open mind and an appreciation for intellectual music. Once the listener understands the album’s message and where The Breax are coming from, then I guarantee they will enjoy this album.

Notable tracks: “Ask A Simple Question”, “Yes”, “Why Fall In Love”
- kevinnottingham.com

For the three men of theBREAX, an Escondido- and San Marcos-based hip-hop outfit, their music is all about breaking stereotypes.

Ruslan (they all used their stage names for this interview) said the basis for their founding theBREAX last year is to show the world that "there's this whole other side to hip-hop that's drug-free, alcohol-free and family-centered."

"People only see the bad part" of hip-hop, said Beleaf, during a recent interview at the cafe. "When you come here, you'll see the other side."

With their first CD recently released, the men of theBREAX are moving quickly to advance their music career while also holding down jobs and/or attending university and college courses. Yet they also recognize that even though their schedules are crowded, their lives are less complicated now than they will be when marriage and families come along later in life.

"Ultimately, our music will reflect our faith, but also everyday struggles," Ruslan explained

Mic B, the third member of the combo, said he doesn't really care how their music is labeled as long as the music is good.

"People respect quality. If you put out a quality product, people will hear that first."

"There's a diversity that's almost polar opposites, but when it comes together, it's very natural," he said. "We never said, 'We're going to make this kind of music' ---- we just made our music."

Because their music does fall outside most of the pre-existing and easily recognizable niches, the three said they've decided to move forward on an independent track, not seeking to get signed to a major label. In fact, Ruslan said being with one of the big corporate labels could actually hurt the band.

"They keep doing the same thing expecting the same results they got 10 years ago."

And Beleaf added that as long as they're independent, they can call their own shots and not feel pressured to change the positive message they're putting out just to sell more records.

"We all feel more comfortable having control." - North County Times

theBREAX
If you were to ask someone to name the hottest emcees from the West Coast the general public will most likely say NWA, Snoop, Tha Dogg Pound, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Tupac, E-40, etc., etc.

Although Death Row Records and a host of other artists had the game on lock back in the day, if you were to ask me that same question I probably wouldn't even mention any of those rappers, give or take one or two. As a East Coast rider it was rare that I gave any love to the left coast but then I came across dope artists such as Casual, Souls of Mischief, The Pharcyde, Dilated Peoples, Blackeyed Peas and Jurassic 5. Just like when you purchase a CD from Amazon it'll state, "Customers who bought this album also bought such and such". I'm here to say, if you like emcees such as Souls of Mischief, The Pharcyde and Jurassic 5, you may also like theBREAX.
- www.squidoo.com

The breaks. An old Kurtis Blow song. An old hip-hop radio show in Atlanta, Georgia hosted by The DOP and X-Amount. A website that is a guidebook for who samples what. A lot of variations, so it takes a lot to call yourself something similar, and expect for people to be into you because of a variable. Fortunately, TheBREAX are a group based in San Diego who are all about variables, and in fact have something to offer that a lot of other groups do not.

The CD (released by Eye Am Productions) is from the minds of Beleaf Melanin, Mic B, and Ruslan. Together they deliver a positive message, which almost seems to be a rarity in today's marketplace. They do it in the spirit of their Christian beliefs, but this isn't D.C. Talk, nor do they go overboard with the spiritual references (as some Christian-based hip-hop tends to do). In fact, I would compare them to Time Machine in terms of wanting to stick to the style of hip-hop from their youth, but knowing very well it's about living for the now and the future. In other words, rap music with an old-school asthetic but still keeping things hot and for today's audiences. That is, for those who still care about the music that felt real.

On this CD, they command the mic like well-precisioned MC's, and perhaps it helps that some of them have been involved in slam poetry, so one could say their perspective is varied and open to interpretations, not unlike Saul Williams. In a track like "Ask A Simple ?", Ruslan firmly makes his role in life known:

Let me introduce who is on this microphone
It's Ruslan, leave the wack raps alone
I'm too strong, and the backpacks are gone
That's aluminum, why you say you packing chrome?
All that hooping and hollering about who got the dollars when
90 percent of you cats following your sorrow and
You can't really understand the wisdom of Solomon
And why we keep following the most high
How you are doing, what are you doing with your life
What is the surface, what is the purpose, what's the price

He goes on to say that he's not afraid to step up to "bubblegum-writing penpals", and does so with an effective hook/sample that helps take his lyrics home. It's not just someone dropping rhymes because he feels he is capable, Ruslan has some skills, and a flow that's like a cross between Heavy D. and that guy from Urban Dance Squad. A few songs later, they'll dip into something that has that crunk vibe, and one immediately wants to scream out "OH YEAH! OHHHHHHHKAAY!", but instead the lyrics aren't about partying and getting high. With his sensibilities though, I think Lil' Jon wouldn't mind dropping his voice on a few tracks for the sake of showing respect for quality music. Each of the guys assist in the production, and it varies track to track, but Mic B has the beats down (in fact the back cover shows a preview of what will be a CD of nothing but his own beats, played on a drum set by by Mic B himself).

It's also nice to hear an album that makes a successful attempt in coming through with something different on each track, not just fodder for the ultimate megamixes. I like this a lot, and I look forward to hearing more from this collective, as well as their individual projects.
- da bookman

theBREAX
If you were to ask someone to name the hottest emcees from the West Coast the general public will most likely say NWA, Snoop, Tha Dogg Pound, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Tupac, E-40, etc., etc.

Although Death Row Records and a host of other artists had the game on lock back in the day, if you were to ask me that same question I probably wouldn't even mention any of those rappers, give or take one or two. As a East Coast rider it was rare that I gave any love to the left coast but then I came across dope artists such as Casual, Souls of Mischief, The Pharcyde, Dilated Peoples, Blackeyed Peas and Jurassic 5. Just like when you purchase a CD from Amazon it'll state, "Customers who bought this album also bought such and such". I'm here to say, if you like emcees such as Souls of Mischief, The Pharcyde and Jurassic 5, you may also like theBREAX.
- www.squidoo.com