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JFH Music Review




Playdough
Lonely Superstar



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 15 tracks: 67 minutes, 41 seconds
Street Date: October 22, 2002


Playdough. Normally when you hear of "Playdoh," you think of the salty clay that little kids play with. Allow me to introduce you to another type of play dough. The Playdough I am talking about is clay in the potter's hands, and the salt of the world. Not much difference, you say? Well I don't remember the clay I played with as a kid rapping off the hook.

The Playdough I'm introducing you to is known from his work with ill harmonics and Deepspace 5. He loves to rhyme, but instead of rapping about the common subjects among rappers these days - women and money - he raps about his lack of wealth and his reliance on God.

Lonely Superstar starts off with "You Will Listen," an acoustic track with the lyrics "We lift up Jehovah Jirah..." comprising the chorus. "Seeds of Abraham" follows, one of my favorites off of the Left Behind, Urban Hip Hop soundtrack. This is followed by "5 Cent Needleheads," more upbeat than the previous tracks, with a tight track pumping behind catchy lyrics. "Clappy Valentino" is another acoustic track, and is followed by "Shadow Dance," with a track full of horns, bass, and an awesome drum loop. Playdough follows this up with the title track, "Lonely Superstar." He laments his situation as a rapper with not much recognition, though by his performance on this record, his talent warrant much more recognition. "Lonely Superstar" is followed by "Freedom Fighters" - more guitars found on this loop, a style used many times on the disc. "Single 1" follows, a much more laid back loop backs this song, still rhythmically together on the vocals.

On to some of my favorite tracks. "Verbal Tea" has the now familiar guitar loop in the background, but is overlayed with rhymes about "crumpets and tea." "Retract the Feedback" follows, a bass-driven loop with some sweet drums and a tight chorus - "Ease back / retract the feedback / We don't need that here / rhyming crystal clear..." "Mr. Mike R. Fone" is from the perspective that the microphone keeps him company, and is a person that is too often abused by other rappers. "Soul Brothers," featuring Manchild, contains a tribute to Mars ILL and other Christian rappers. "Quarter Inchin" features a guitar-driven loop again, with rhymes about him being nearly unknown, and ends up with my favorite part of the record - a small song at the end of the track. This little ditty has a catchy chorus and tight rhymes over a phat loop - the chorus is as follows - "I was invited to a house that's divided / No, it couldn't stand, so our plan was to reunite it / And set it off / With some juice and bread for communion..." "Palm Sunday" and "Supreme Service" close out the album, complete with more rhymes and tight loops.

I have to admit that Playdough is one of the most talented rappers in the Christian industry, maybe the most talented. However, he is overlooked by many people. Lonely Superstar could hold more variety as far as the type of loops go, but he has a solid album in the end. If you like hip-hop with a little old school flavoring, I'd recommend buying this album and giving it a listen - you might find yourself a convert.

- Review date: 2/9/03, written by Colin Ake



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. Record Label: UpRok Records
. Album length: 15 tracks, 67 minutes and 41 seconds
. Street Date: October 22, 2002
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. You Will Listen
  2. Seeds Of Abraham
  3. 5 Cent Needleheads
  4. Clappy Valentino
  5. Shadow Dance
  6. Lonely Superstar
  7. Freedom Fighters
  8. Simple 1
  9. Verbal Tea
  10. Retract The Feedback
  11. Mr. Mike R. Phone
  12. Soul Brothers
  13. 1/4 Inchin
  14. Palm Sunday
  15. Supreme Service
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This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan Resurrection Power - EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure (2025 Remaster) [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Hulvey HE WILL RETURN - EP [Reach]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
VaShawn Mitchell SOUNDCHECK [Fair Trade]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
The Band JAREN Poetic - Single [Hit and Run]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
EJ Swavv & Jericko Love Like This - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
goodwill. REST - Single [Syntax]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mat Kearney Good Old Days - Single (independent)
Kelo Car Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Vic Lucas I Need You (ft. IsaiahLaRoi) - Single [Syntax]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Myles Maestro No Place - Single [Syntax]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea Breakthrough - Single [DREAM]
Razzie & Glenn Ray Second Chances - Single [Syntax]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
tonyxtrotter, Yung Drew, Wayne Klassik HOLY HOLY HOLY - Single [Syntax]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)
Unseen Faith Cold Resolve - Single [Rottweiler Records]
Kim Zamolo Your Ways Are Higher - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


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