Golden Disciples

Golden Disciples are comprised of Toronto MCs G-Roc and Creep. Their new release, Discipline Hearts, is their first since 2001’s twelve-inch Goldfinger. Over the past seven years, they’ve changed their style and honed their skills, and so it’s no surprise that they waste no time getting their message out on the album’s first track, "Shape.” It is a captivating, reggae-infused number where the chorus states their manifesto: "We need to shape our Earth,” the duo proclaim. The way in which they wish to do so is through their music and this nine-track album treads the fine line of being positive without sacrificing brawn. The strength of the album is that they don’t try to do too much, as can be the temptation when artists are as hungry as these two are to get on. The production is generally pretty decent, with the "Teach the Youth” remix being the sleeper of the album. Both versions are produced by Tyme, with the latter giving the vocals a clarity lacking on the original. While the album leaves itself open to the oft-lamented notion of being too preachy, for the Disciples, there is no rebuttal, nor should there be.