K Sparks' Self Portrait

It’s only been about a year since the release of K Sparks’ last CD, Read Between The Lines. I was first introduced to his music with that project and liked it so much that I went back to listen to some of his older music. He’s from South Jamaica, Queens and his East Coast vibe can be felt in his music and the way he relays his messages. Think rapper Talib Kweli with a little more southern flavor. Don’t call it  come back, because he’s literally been here for years. He started off as more of a mainstream, secular artist and now focuses on Christian principles in his music. But don’t mistake it. He hasn’t lost any of his swagger and you don’t feel like he’s preaching to you, just merely dropping knowledge.

Self Portrait opens with an intro that finds K Sparks performing spoken word and discussing the current state of society and hip culture (“Bands will make her dance/But not enough to dance for education”). It sets the tone for the CD with a strong force. The title track “Self Portrait” has a stutter step base line backed by flutes and guitars. Simply put, his delivery here is definitely on point and this is easily one of the stand out tracks on the album. “Home School” featuring Paul Rivers Bailey, the CD’s lead single, sounds like a sped up Western showdown. 

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