Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review




Royal Ruckus
Royal Ruckus



Album length: 20 tracks: 57 minutes, 00 seconds
Street Date: 2002


Now here's a switch. Or perhaps, a turn for the worst. However you want to look at it, Royal Ruckus releases their national self-titled debut on Flicker Records. The rap act is comprised of Michael Paul Walker (Flatline) and Jamey William Bennett (Chunjay), two white guys from Bakersfield, California. And honestly, at first glance, it is very easy to toss them aside because, for a lack of better words, they simply aren't very good at what they do. Yes, this disc's main purpose is to incite laughter (And at times it succeeds); but for the most part, it's just painful to listen to.

There are a grand total of twenty tracks on Royal Ruckus' debut, nine of which are interludes. Some of them are hysterical (Especially a three-part drama featuring a very perturbed member of L.A. Symphony), and some could have easily been left out. I mean, come on, twenty tracks is a bit much. But let's discuss the eleven musical offerings...

The actual songs on the dissc vary from the very serious ("Double Take" deals with love for a very special friend) and the amazingly ridiculous ("Let's Start a Boy Band" takes a very sarcastic look at the boy bands that litter the mainstream and Christian market). But when it comes down to it, the band's overall image is enough for listeners to not take anything they say seriously. Even the more serious songs are done in a very tongue-in-cheek way, not unlike Relient K. But where these bands differ is in the plain and simple fact that Relient K matured as they got older. I doubt we will see much growth in Royal Ruckus' future. Yes, both bands exist to bring the listener closer to God in a humorous way, but Relient K, I suppose, took things a bit more seriously from the start. And anybody who has followed RK from the beginning knows that that is a very bold statement to make.

Musically, it's your basic rap/hip-hop beats with some pop/rock flavor thrown in. It's actually rather original. But then there is the issue of the vocals (Or "raps"). The two guys of Royal Ruckus rap not too much unlike Aaron Carter. Yeah, Aaron Carter. They just aren't too good at what they do. When the songs take a more "rock" turn, the vocals are a lot more tolerable.

And, again, I know it's all supposed to be played for laughs, but, if the music isn't that great, why listen? That's a question Royal Ruckus needs to address before they prepare a sophomore effort. Some words of advice to the band: More rock tunes, less all-out rap, and some more mature songwriting. As is, Royal Ruckus' self-titled debut isn't even much of a welcome distraction.

- Review date: 8/18/03, written by Josh Taylor



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 


. Record Label: Flicker Records
. Album length: 20 tracks, 57 minutes and 00 seconds
. Street Date: 2002
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Introducing
  2. Next Best Thing
  3. Geeky Music for Kidz
  4. Wink and a Nudge
  5. Irate Caller #1 (Interlude)
  6. Check It Out
  7. I Had a Dream (Interlude)
  8. Let's Start a Boy Band
  9. Coffee Shop (Interlude)
  10. The Latte, Latte Show
  11. Irate Caller #2 (Interlude)
  12. Double Take
  13. Bob Went Crazy
  14. MP-Free (Interlude)
  15. B-Side Rock
  16. Six Months (Interlude)
  17. My Friend (Beat Mix)
  18. Arrive @ Something
  19. The Associate (Interlude)
  20. Multi-Purpose Room
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images