With no knowledge of who C. Goss was, I dove into his album blindly. No bias, no preconceived notions and no expectations. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised to find out that he was a Christian rapper, strictly through listening to his music. I honestly questioned my ability to write this review due to my disconnect from the black church. I have never claimed to be nor have I ever shown that I was very religious. However, I am a fan of good, thought provoking music and that is exactly what this album is.
C. Goss, also known as Corey Goss, is a rapper hailing from Virginia Beach, VA. Although he is a Christian rapper, his messages are not typical. He not only advocates for mental growth and revelations through God, he also offers criticism of the Christians and the black church. This is evident in his latest project, With All Due Respect.
With All Due Respect is a 16-track lyrical opus, jam packed with strong beats and even stronger messages. The album starts out with the track Andre Needs a Favor which leads into the official Intro. The intro speaks to C. Goss’s life experiences and his growth as not only a Christian, but as a man. He criticizes rap culture as well as wavering Christians as he raps, “We don’t want to rap the truth all we want is sing alongs”. It’s evident to see that music is not what it used to be. It is churned out by the boatload with a catchy hook and confusing lyrics on a daily basis. Yet, somehow it gets into our heads to the point that we eventually know every word. He then goes on to rap, “how many claim to be Christian when the faith is convenient, but on critical issues that’s when your views become lenient”. That line speaks volumes, with no explanation needed. These 2 lines are by far some of my favorite on the album. The 2 provocative intro tracks further build the anticipation of what is too come later in the album.
Real 1’s featuring The Kidd Jopp, happens to be one of my favorite songs on the project. Not only do Goss & Jopp criticize gospel rap for constantly providing the same message, it also seems like it is illuminating the revelations they have made about themselves on their journey to “fame”. 
Will Robi Speaks, speaks to the questions that many black people have asked numerous times, what happened to the black Church? Once a mecca for black livelihood and care, it’s messages now cloned, questioned and at times, falling on deaf ears. Robi brings light to this sentiment in the line, “But, until these black lives me more to these black churches, it’s hard for me to hear it.
Can I Bless It? – Yes you can. This is another favorite from the album not simply for the message but for its beat choice. The idea of pairing such a gritty beat with the notion of a blessing seems like a contradiction yet works wonderfully.
“Christians – when did this become a bad word? When our life ain’t match the life of the one that we say that we serve.”
C. Goss – Can I Bless It?
Overall, Goss gave listeners a solid project with dope beats and heavily quotable lyrics. The messages on his songs move you to thought and ultimately have been the catalyst for many conversations. If you haven’t heard it, do yourself a favor and give your ears a blessing they deserve.
Listen to C. Goss With All Due Respect on iTunes.
All images taken from C. Goss’s Twitter. All opinions and interpretations expressed are my own.
