When you think of Detroit and hip hop, I’m pretty sure the first name that comes to mind is Eminem and more recently Big Sean. Detroit is not really known for CHH, but Team Most High may just change that. This trio composed of Juan Bland, Alexis Espitia and Daemon Carter AKA DM dropped their debut album near the end of 2016. This project titled ‘No Man Left Behind’ is a 15 track album chock full of truth and the reality of being a creature saved by Christ, but still living in a fallen world at the same time. Let’s see how this debut offering sounds.
The title, ‘No Man Left Behind’ seems to borrow from the Soldier’s Creed, which mentions never leaving a fallen soldier behind. However, this concept of “no man left behind” predates even the Soldier’s Creed of the United States Army. In 1756, 20 years before the US declared independence from Britain, the French and Indian War was taking place. During this war, there was a group of American Soldiers known as the “Roger Rangers” who held themselves to a standard, which was to never leave a fellow soldier behind. Fast forward to 2016 and we still see this principle being applied, except now it’s on the spiritual side of the spectrum.
The very first track on the project is the title track “No Man Left Behind” and that deals with being a soldier in God’s army fighting the good fight trying to save all of mankind. Team Most High is determined to help save as many as they can, as the love of Christ is for all people. On the song “This Is Who I Am,” Jon Montgomery is on the hook singing about being delivered from what you were walking into versus who you were created to be. The stand out bar on this song to me was “Smoking weed was the only L’s I was facing” and this is a real good song to bop your head to. Track number three may be the song that best executes this theme of warfare with the opening and closing of the song. A man on a walkie talkie radio is updating Team Most High on the dire situation they are in, as idolatry and sin has been reported as infiltrating their ranks. The man calls out at least 5 times for the team to check in…but they didn’t. This song has a gritty rock and roll feel to it that matches the mood of the song perfectly. This song tells an epic story and will have the listener engaged from the beginning to the end.
The album progresses with three interludes that sound like spoken word or a letter that a soldier is writing to his commanding officer. These interludes help break up the album and give the listener something different. The song “Ready For War” really sounds like something you would march to and you can hear the snare almost count off a marching cadence. Porsha Love gives a good feature verse on “Validation” and I liked her bars “…Only concerned with making the pastor’s pockets fatter/ I paid the most tithes so only what I say matters.” This song speaks to the fact that because we have the victory through Christ, we have no need for the validation of man. Another stand out song on the project is “American Boy” in which we find the trio spitting about the life of an American boy of color and his reality. This departs from the theme but is a welcome departure, as it is an issue that is worth speaking about whenever possible.
Team Most High delivered a solid offering in their debut studio album and that is to be applauded. Their theme was well thought out and executed from the song titles, to the lyrics and production. It was clear that Team Most High was out to paint a very vivid picture. The production really captured the mood, the thought of each song and contributed to the overarching theme of “no man left behind.” My only critique for the members of Team Most High is that they may need to say their names before they rap their verses, at least for the first few songs on their record until the listener can distinguish their voices. A very solid first album from Team Most High, putting on for Detroit and Christ. Be sure to check out ‘No Man Left Behind’ on media outlets.
