Story

B.M.F. (Be My Faithful ones) comprises of Fredrick Ouma a.k.a Mizzile, Samuel Maina a.k.a Sammy Dee, Harison Ashioya a.k.a Harry Ash and Patrick Maina a.k.a Maich. They've been around for quite a while now and "Rise Up" is their debut album. Judging for m the great music they have been releasing over time, you expect great music including some that many have already heard, in the album. Rise Up is a 12 - track album with production coming from different production houses.

The Album Track listing:

1. Birthday
2. In Your Arms
3. Mpenzi Wa Suprise (Remix) ft Saint P
4. Rudi Nyumbani
5. Rise Up
6. Worship You ft Mercy Wairegi
7. Holy Ghost Fire
8. Nakhuyanza
9. Dream
10. Seriously in Love
11. Live for You
12. African Worship

The songs "Birthday", "Rudi Nyumbani" - which is a hit at the moment, "Holy Ghost Fire" and "Live for You" are well known songs already. Those not heard include a beautifully sang worship song featuring Mercy Wairegi - Worship You - which is done over sweet sounding reggae beat. This is one song that should get quite some attention over time. There's also "In Your Arms" which has more of an R&B/HipHop feel to it. There's the title track "Rise Up" which is more of the dancehall that can be said is B.M.F's turf. "Nakhuyanza" is another which is a dance track. "Dream" is another R&B/HipHop track that has B.M.F at their best. "Seriously In Love" is an upbeat love song that can very well be played in the so-called 'secular' stations and do very well. In another house track, "African Worship" has B.M.F explore & display their ability to be eclectic.

The album includes a remix - Mpenzi Wa Surprise featuring producer & rapper (member of gospel group SP-AT) Saint P. This song is a remix to one of B.M.F's earlier works with the same title of course. This remix actually gives new life to the song and Saint P's input is also quite notable. Check out the video of the original song below.

BMF - Mpenzi Wa Surprise

Below are more of videos from B.M.F:

BMF - Birthday

BMF - Rudi Nyumbani

BMF - Holy Ghost Fire

BMF - Live For You

KIFALME RATING: 8

CONTENT = 8.5
Each song tackled whatever was at hand adequately enough. The variety of content from pure worship & devotion to family values & responsibility to a love song is also a big plus and commendable. On the flip side, the album has only 12 songs which leaves one feeling there could have been more - much more. There have been artists, not in a group, that have done 18 track albums so for a group of 4 to do a 12 track album feels like being short-changed.

THEME = 7
Usually, the album title should give a clue as to the album's theme. This album's title is "Rise Up" but has no bearing to the overall theme of the album. There just happens to be a song with the same title - feels like that title was picked because the track is most likely the next track to be promoted. Being the group's debut album, I would have suggested they self-title it i.e. title the album "Be My Faithful" and in it have a song explaining what exactly what "Be My Faithful" means. This would free them from having to be on the spotlight to explain the theme of the album as self-titling an album means that the content is whatever the group does even if the content is diverse.

SKILL = 9
When you first listen to B.M.F, you can't miss Sammy Dee's contribution. A very able singer and may very well be a sought after voice by other artists to feature. Harry Ash & Maich are also very good and fit just right. My focus, however, is Freddie - the rapper in the group. The first time I heard music by BMF, I quickly judged Freddie as the weak link but having seen the growth of the group, I stand corrected and I realize that I was too harsh. Truth is, to be a rapper in a predominantly sing-jay group is not easy - it's hard! All the group needs to do is to let Freddie loose. Tracks like Mpenzi wa Surprise (Remix) and Nakhuyanza show just how good he is and with time he's going to be even better.

PRODUCTION = 9
With production from the likes of 2 of Kenya's household names Saint P, Ulopa Ngoma & Homeboyz, and others like Dede Records who may not be very well known but who did Rudi Nyumbani a lot of justice, it's only right to say that the production is good - really good!

VERDICT
B.M.F is a very talented group which feel more at home with Reggae/Dancehall as is evident in songs like "Worship You" featuring Mercy Wairegi, "Rise Up" but with the ability to be eclectic in their style to even include House as seen in "Holy Ghost Fire" and "African Worship." One thing that is a bit annoying has to be the constant "BMF mara nyingine/once again" thing on every song - save for "In Your Arms", "Live For You" & "Dream"! B.M.F is a unique group and that is totally unnecessary.

The album has great songs as singles but as an album, it leaves a lot to be desired. Being a debut album, you would expect an introduction - say maybe interludes to introduce the group members would be a good idea. That aside, Rise Up shows B.M.F have even a lot more to offer. This is just but the beginning!

Get B.M.F's "Rise Up" on:
iTunes: Rise Up by Be My Faithful
Cd Baby: Rise Up by Be My Faithful

FIND BMF ONLINE:
FACEBOOK PAGE: BMF Music
TWITTER - B.M.F: bmfkenya
TWITTER - Sammy Dee: sammydeebmf
TWITTER - Freddie: freddiebmf
TWITTER - Harry Ash: harryashbmf
TWITTER - Maich: patmaichbmf
REVERBNATION: Bmf Krew
WEBSITE: www.bmfmusic.com

Review by Alffie,
Kifalme Contributor.