Rhymefest

In news of things I didn't know but probably should have, Rhymefest co-wrote "Jesus Walks" with Kanye West.  That song with probably go down in history as one of the best hip hop songs of all time.  This came up because Rhymefest makes a comment about the song on his new album,  El Che.  He basically says Kanye took the money from that single and ran.  I wonder how Kanye feels about that line...
 
El Che came out two weeks ago and I haven't picked it up yet, but what I've heard I like.  After penning "Jesus Walks" Rhymefest was picked up by Clive Owen's J Records, and had a pretty successful first album with Blue Collar in 2006, but since then has been dropped from the label for wanting to make the more political El Che.  As a result the new album is stripped down and less produced (this is what happens when you take Mark Ronson out of the equation).  The album is named for Rhymefest's real name, Che Smith, and yes he was named after Che Guevara.  With that spirit Rhymefest never seems to shy away from political conversations, no matter how controversial or unpopular his ideas are.  During the last presidential campaign he said he didn't even think Obama should be running for president.   Despite our different political views, the man is not afraid to say what he thinks, which is how songs like "Jesus Walks" are born, and if nothing else the man makes you think, which is always a good thing.