Some of the hottest underground rap acts and the best talent in the hop-hop business come together for the whopping twenty-one track Beatmart Records – Best of the Submissions. tobyMac, Todd Collins, Billy Puddles, KJ-52, Manchild, and others join the quite impressive list of big names that submitted tracks for this "best of" compilation. But the best of the lot may actually belong to the underground.

Names like Craig Nice, Japhina Life, and Viktory might not sound familiar to you now; but …Submissions gives them ample time to shine. And shine they do. Straight up rap and hip-hop is mixed with very blatant Christian messages to make for some hot tracks you cannot help but sing along to. This is, obviously, a "best of" album… these names weren't picked at random, and it shows.

The underground cuts could have made this album on their own, but tracks from some of the most respected rappers in the industry are added to the mix like frosting on a cake. tobyMac and Todd Collins' "Yes Yes Ya'll" is a classic tribute to hip hop roots, the Gotee Record label, and, yes, "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." KJ's "Champion" is the story of the "the greatest [Emcee] battle of all eternity." Jesus and Satan battle for claim on the souls of the world. It resembles Carman's classic "The Champion," with fists being replaced by mics.

…Submissions is the Christian rap industry's answer to the countless number of rock compilations that showcase the best unknown talent in that genre. Thumbs up to Beatmart for putting this compilation together, and additional points for the promise of a 2005 edition next year.

- Review date: 10/23/04, written by Josh Taylor