It's been quite a while (four years actually) since we've had a full-length release from Playdough, easily one of the best emcees in the Christian rap game, and even though we got a fairly extensive EP in 2008, there's a lot for fans to be excited about with his latest release, The Bible Bus Mixtape. Oh, and there's one more thing that you should all know: It is free! That's right, absolutely free. Playdough is giving it away at his bandcamp website. But, as great as the price tag is, it does make one wonder how good a free album is actually going to sound.

The eleven-track download begins with "My Turn," which boldly opens with the statement "the greatest MC in the world," a sweeping claim that actually does have some validity to it as the track delivers perfectly on that initial statement. Next up is "Back in Style," a great track that carries some of the best beats that I've heard this year coupled with lyrics like, "Never even left, but I feel like I'm back. Made a deal with the track, hip-hop, you feeling that?" Overall, this trend continues and the production stays strong throughout most of the release, standing out as uniquely good in "Pick Up The Slack," "Sunday Best," and "2 Tired 2 Sleep." Taking the cake both with production and lyrically would have to be the track "Cutthroat." The rapper delivers a lesson in rhyming with lyrics such as, "Drinking living water in a deep cup. Every little sponge in my soul getting seeped up, til the Lord told me, 'Playdough turn the beat up'." It's here that you'll find that perfect rap joint that we've all come to expect from Playdough.

The spiritual depth can be loosely found in hooks like "fight the good fight" from the song "Live It Up" or the idea behind the song "Truth," as the chorus chants "everybody needs some truth." It doesn't get much deeper than that, but the release is still filled with positive themes. Despite the positives, not all is perfect here, however. "Gentile Giant" comes out flat and "Sinner 2 the Saint" is more mediocre than your standard song from Doug Krum. That being said, this is a very solid release overall. And the simple fact that is free tells me that you should all go out and support one of the Lord's best rappers by downloading it and spreading the word.

- Review date: 11/17/10, written by Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com