Thi'sl (thizzil)

In the same manner that the Cross Movement’s “Human Emergency” gave us Da T.R.U.T.H., Flame’s project introduced the world to his man Thi’sl.

By Chris Lassiter
WTW Magazine
March 2005 Edition


A few things were apparent after hearing Flame’s self-titled project. First, the St. Louis-bred artist lived up to his name, spitting fire for Christ. Second, he wasn’t the only talented Christian artist in the 314 area. In the same manner that the Cross Movement’s “Human Emergency” gave us Da T.R.U.T.H., Flame’s project introduced the world to his man Thi’sl. Born Travis Tyler, Thi’sl set off the disk’s first full-length track on Flame’s album, “The Truth Will Travel,” with a skilled flow, a grimy-sounding voice and a Christian soldier’s mindset.

WTW caught up with Thi’sl to talk about his relationship to Christ, his relationship to Flame and his debut album, “This House I Shall Live.” As evidenced in songs such as “I Believe,” “Things Gone Change,” and “A Father’s Love,” he had an extremely rough childhood. Thi’sl grew up in one of the roughest sections of St. Louis without much parental involvement. “Man, it was consistent drama from the age of 12,” said Thi’sl, who has seen at least three of his friends killed every year since age 13. “My mom was doing her own thing, and by the age of 22, I had only seen my dad three times. I was in constant trouble. I was in the streets from the age of 12. You see so much. I thank God I’m still even sane. I’ve seen stuff that makes people kill themselves.”

The low point of his life is when a friend murdered his cousin. However, it’s a part of what the Lord used to draw Thi’sl. During this time of soul-searching and seeking God, an evangelism team from a local church came through. “They introduced me to Flame. I saw him rap, I’m like, ‘Church Rappers? What they gone rap about?” said Thi’sl, who considers Flame just like a brother. “What I saw was a big shock. I was like, “Dude gone rap like us. He just ain’t cursing.”

A rapper with a growing reputation, Thi’sl had already dropped thousands of dollars into his demo project. However, as the Lord called Thi’sl out, the artist who opened up for Black Rob, Eight Ball and MJG, Too Short, Scarface and others hung up his microphone. At least temporarily. After two years of not rapping at all, Thi’sl began using his gift for rapping to glorify Christ. His efforts culminated with his 18-track independent release.

“This House I Shall Live” is a hard-hitting project with quality production and raw, head-nodding beats. It’s available at his website, thislmuzik.com. It’s a quality project from start to finish, but some of the songs stick out. “Rain Today” and “Not Too Late Mommy” are cleverly-designed songs with catchy choruses and beats made by J.R. from So Hot Productions. “Push Ups, produced by Big Mont, creatively compares spiritual discipline to weight training. Thi’sl chopped up the theme song from Fat Albert to make a crazy beat for “Head On,” which features his St. Louis counterparts J-Son and Flame. Appearances are also made by Elicia, J.R., and V-Land. “Luv’n Life Right Now” and “This House I Shall Live”- both produced by Million Tracks also stand out.

In “Built 4 This,” Thi’sl looks back over his life in the context of Romans 8:28 – 29. He has a great burden to share the cure to the sin problem to people who have similar life experiences. “My heart goes out to dudes and girls who live like I lived,” said Thi’sl, who wrote a song called “Pleading For Your Soul” on his album. “It’s the sin problem. They are stuck in sin. I’m trying to make them understand…without Christ, they’re going to hell.”
- What's The Word Magazine/ Chris Lassiter

Nelly and Murphy Lee really put St. Louis on the map. Nelly and Murphy have their own style, but till now, the Midwest has not been known as place for straight-up Rap Muisc. Newcomers like Flame (see album review) are helping to bring the heat to St Louis. Fellow minister in the Gospel, Thi'sl, has released This House I Shall Live to provide more hip hop from St. Louis. JR, N.A.B., Million Tracks and Big Mont provide most of the production on this one. Thi'sl's voice is like no other —it's grimy, and has a sound seldom heard in rappers. There's been an onslaught of emcees that are reaching out to the ladies, surelya breakthrough in a genre whose secular side is reknowned for exploitational antics. Thi'sl drops a beat banger, "Not Too Late Mommy" which is encouraging women of God to save themselves for marriage and the right man. JR lays a nice beat that will sure to get heads nodding along with the ladies'. Charity guests on "Things Gon Change", as Thi'sl talks about his troubled past and how God takes bad situations and turns them into good. Charity's voice is a delight, adding extra spice to this one. With respect to lyrics, Thi'sl is candid. He makes sures that he ministers to those who've experienced hard times. On "A Father's Love", he tells of growing up without a father, and then testifies of the love that he experienced from his Heavenly Father, and goes on to how he wants to be a good father to his children. Nice production values from N.A.B. here. The best song on the album is "Rain Today". Thi'sl includes a group of kids to sing the chorus, while he raps in a softer tone than is his norm. JR adds a simple yet dope beat with some nice Middle Eastern samples. Everything on this song makes you want to smile and keep the repeat button on. Things get smoothed out with the R&P-flavored "Joy 2 Me". JR produces and sings the hook. Another jam is "Head On", featuring fellow St Louis ministers J-Son and Flame. Thi'sl produces this track and features crazy samples from Pac Man and the Fat Albert theme song. Flame and J-Son bring the heat with their verses as they spit the Gospel. Other standout tracks on the album are "Endure", "Keep Making Them Dance" and "Pardon Me" with the impressive Elicia. This House I Shall Live is a great debut by Thi'sl. It's all about bringing Jesus to the streets, wrapped in more heat from St. Louis.
- GospelFlava.com/Dwayne Lacey

I doubt there exists a better description of this album than that of the title itself. Like the name implies the “116 Clique” (pronounced one-one-six) is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The operative words here being “not ashamed.” Their formula for this compilation is philosophically quite simple: Rep Jesus’ name as much as you can for sixteen bars. Musically, they’re all business. This, their first full-length recording together, features a lush arrangement of pounding bass and energetic rhythms. After a few listens, there is no doubt that you’ll soon be ready to join “the fellowship of the unashamed.”

The simple, innocent act of hitting play on track one brings a deluge of sound that puts your head into a continuous nodding motion. Each of the thirteen songs focus on the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and the 116 Clique approaches them with boldness and firm conviction. I dare you, listener, to listen to track four, and not have it plant itself firmly in your head. The hook on this track is huge, its energy unmistakable and unstoppable as Lecrae lets the world know about his fanaticism for Jesus Christ. But it’s the diversity that sets this compilation apart. We get the up tempo bump of “Breathe In, Breathe Out,” we also get the Midwest sway of “In Ya Hood,” the soothing praise and worship of “I See the Lord,” the church exhortation and instruction of “Kingdom People,” and the Midwest bounce of “Act Out.” If this weren’t enough it is capped off by three insightful interlude tracks sprinkled in between a few songs. “Church Boyz” shows This’l is interested in syllabic rhyme forms. His rhyme pattern on this one adds a certain tightness and precision that complements the track well. Also I must take note of emcee “Sho’s” use of alliteration to describe the work of Christ on “Stand, Walk, Dance.” For those who have maybe forgotten what alliteration is, here’s a quick definition taken from Webster’s: the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables. Here’s an example taken from “Stand, Walk, Dance” in describing Christ’s passion on the cross: “…Saved, Suffered, Slaughtered, Stretched…” Here’s another, only this time to describe our position before Christ: “…Ruined, Roughnecks, Ready, to Rot” Finally peep this last one: “…Iniquity, Immanuel, Isolated…” This is usually done for effect and, it shows a certain degree of depth and thought went into this emcee’s lyrics. Superb job.

In “The Compilation Album” The 116 Clique have concocted a refreshing and challenging record that confronts us powerfully with the gospel of Jesus. It’s smart, mature, energetic, and has tons of replay potential. From start to finish, you have an album that is absolutely invigorating. You can sense the rawness and immediacy with which the Clique present the gospel. They manage to maintain the integrity of the message while providing some very entertaining music to nod your head to. Pick this one up along with another one for your friends. Not quite a classic compilation, but a very solid effort by the 116 Clique.


- HolyCultureRadio.com/Milton "Tha Milton Zealot"

By far the largest portion of the evening and the most engaging of the crowd was artist Thi'sl. His motivation for writing and rapping is "to see people awaken to the truth of the gospel. I want to see people come to Jesus-that is my whole drive." He explains, "I didn't grow up in the church, I grew up on the street selling crack. I said, "God, will you make sure nothing happens to me if I stop carrying these guns? What if I stop having sex? He said "I will keep you secure." I realized that even if these thugs did kill me, my security was in God."
During his set, Thi'sl was the only artist to mix in a message; it was well-timed, and enthusiastically received by the crowd. "Everything a person does is to fill a void in their life. They are looking for love in dudes and chicks, cars, money--but God's got the real love." Thi'sl made a point to speak verbally and in his songs on the topic of temptation. One of the lyrics stated: "If he really do love me he should be happy with a dinner and a date. Be patient and let God choose your mate."
In surveying students, I heard nothing but praises for the rapper from St. Louis. Jessica Williams, Computer Science, said she specifically liked the song about waiting. She said, "I like his lyrics, I could relate." She continues, "…and there aren't many songs about it, either." Further praise for Thi'sl included "There was nothing about them; they opened it up to connect with God." Said Matt Hercules, Computer Science. His friend, James Phlum, a Civil Engineer, says, "The whole thing was amazing, they really love the Lord, they knew their scriptures, [I really enjoyed] the people and the atmosphere." When asked if they would come again, they enthusiastically replied, "definitely!"
They will certainly get their chance to be entertained again in the near future. Darron Williams, coordinator of the event, says he "is convinced that God will bring many future events to UMR." In talking to Darron, another theme for the night seemed to show through: diversity. "I was so excited to see a rainbow of people-White, Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, young, old, etc. That's how Heaven is going to be. It's time to practice unity and true love. It's time to look past someone's race, ethnicity, or even age. God has blessed us all with unique characteristics and cultures. Instead of fighting to showcase momentary strength, let's show eternal love." Many races, locations, and ages were represented, and all seemed to dive into the music, message, and spirit that made last Friday night.
- Missouri Miner-The University of Missouri Rola (2006)