Do you know what makes me happy? I’m easy to please, but there are a few things in particular that give me joy. Jesus makes me happy. His plan for our life, his timing, and unconditional love are things so incredible that they can only be experienced to truly understand. There’s also nothing like hearing God’s people testify to his Truth in their lives to instantly put me into a positive frame of mind.

Music definitely makes me happy. My taste is eclectic, but something always draws me to a smooth jazz ballad and the rich flavor of R&B and hip hop. There’s a soundtrack for every mood, and a song’s power to speak to the soul gives music a greater role than just background noise.

“Mood Enhancement”, Sivion’s solo debut, makes me happy. The lyrical whiz kid from Texas, and a member of both Deepspace 5 and Phat K.A.T.S crews, demonstrates a fresh flair that could go toe-to-toe and head-to-head with the likes of any artist on the scene today, underground or mainstream. Sivion brings it when he shares the Truth of Jesus Christ, imparting the Message through smart lyrics woven into jazz-influenced beats.

The summer 2005 album is comprised of elements from several genres, giving listeners not just a tune to bob their heads to, but a cultural experience. “In the Know” and “The Name Game” lay down hard beats, true to hip hop fashion, while “Out of the Blue” and “Father Time” are two examples of Sivion’s trademark fusion of hip hop and jazz. Throughout the album Sivion weaves horns, bass guitar, and a variety of piano samples into hip hop beats and thought-provoking syntax. “Right There In Left Field” is a perfectly-positioned jazz instrumental piece, complete with a saxophone solo, putting the finishing touch on a timeless underground project. One might question such an interlude on a hip hop album, but like it’s been said: if you don’t know and respect your roots, you won’t know who you are or where you’re going.

The message Sivion conveys is more deafening than any innovative melody on the record. His lyrics are like a Psalm out of the Bible, confirming God’s power and reality over and over again. “The Name Game” sums up the message of this piece, inspired by God and delivered by Sivion. “You can call him Jesus Christ or the Messiah/ Either way it is His love that takes us all higher/…Bless His name, ‘cause of His grace never the same/…Cause I proclaim His mercy and righteousness so blatantly plain/ Don’t say my name ‘cause it’s all about His name/ Ordained to be the best…”. Do you need to hear more? There are several styles of positive hip hop in which many talk about God, but when it comes to using beats and raps as a tool for the Gospel of Jesus, Sivion has it on lock.

“Mood Enhancement” lives up to its name. If Psalm 22:3 is true, and the Lord inhabits the praises of His people (thank you Josh and Grant family), then he dwells in this album. The blend of smooth jazz, heavy beats and an old-school hip hop feel gives Sivion’s debut an appeal to music lovers from the church to the street, and from the jazz café to the club.