Most of us first heard sintax.the.terrific as a member of hip-hop supergroup Deepspace5, a massive rap cypher featuring members of Mars Ill, Labklik, The Pride, and Ill Harmonics. The group’s debut hit stores in 2001 via Uprok Records (the hip-hop sublabel of Tooth & Nail Records).
sintax’s first solo album released in 2006 for Illect Recordings, interestingly enough, run by the former head of the short-lived Uprok, Josh Niemyjski. That is, of course, if we don’t count his 2003 indie release.
What’s cool about “Moonlighting” is the autobiographical take on being an independent Christian rapper by night, while being a real-life lawyer by day. While not many can say that precisely that, it is certainly relatable that most Christian indie artists–whether in rap, alternative, punk, metal, or something else–are moonlighting. Working hard day by day to earn a living so that you can play shows in the evenings and weekends. Heck, it’s something even I can relate to as a pastor-cum-music journalist.
It’s not all struggle though. sintax also describes the privilege of sharing the Gospel through the art form:
Bring revival, not fame
I’m Billy Graham plus Busta . . .
Rhymes–spit theology in double-time structure
The track comes from his 2006 album Curb Appeal, and was produced by Beat Rabbi.