Album Review: Gigio – “Caught In Traffic”0
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Gigio has been quite active, in terms of album releases, during 2011. The Grand Sunz album, “Forever Shining“, dropped in July. Then there were his solo releases… the “Good Hard Times” EP in August, and “Sour Milk in November. A month later, he pushed out his final EP of the year — he joined forces with B.C. producer Josef Blo, for “Caught In Traffic“. It’s a collection of 9 tracks, where they kept it true to the one emcee, one rapper vision.
Check out my review…
Traffic, to define the constant & unpredictable motion that is life. So when we say “Caught In Traffic”, we are talking about stories straight from the page of life. Golden age hip hop afficionados & newschool fresh kids should be enthralled alike.
01. VOW ——————– 5/5
Gigio soaks in that perserverence mentality, and vows to keep moving forward, to stay educated, and to embrace originality. The “beastie boy with hairy arms” describes himself as a “hip hop hippie, macked out, young nerd // Cultured up, hustled up, from the ghetto to the burbs // blue-collared rebel…” This is over a wholesome sounding beat; backup choir sample that harmonizes throughout, alongside an easy-going clap rhythm.
02. G’S PARTY ——————– 5/5
This is that up-beat, let loose and have fun song. Toss out that members-only jacket, ’cause everyone is welcome to party with Gigio. Only one rule: no suckers allowed. This goes beyond the head-nodding vibe, and is made for you to groove and really dance to. It’s for entertainment, something feel-good, that doesn’t throw your brain into think-mode with conscious, complex lyrics. Just move, vibe out. Smoke to it, don’t smoke to it. Throw back some drinks, party it up with the good folks around you, and just enjoy yourself. I can dig it.
03. CATCH ME IN TRAFFIC ——————– 3/5
Eased up on the tempo from the previous song… for some relaxed, dusty snares that snap behind soothing what-sounds-like horns and guitar strings. The more that I listen to this song, though, the more I like the beat vs the vocals. I think Josef one-upped Gigio on this one.
04. THE GAME ——————– 5/5
I’m really digging all the laid-back, soul-jazz infused production on this album. This beat included. When Gigio speaks about “playing the game” and “playing to stay in”, I get the inclination that he’s using that metaphor as a job that doesn’t pertain to music. You know, a 9-to-5 to pull in the money to keep bills paid. “Life is not a game, but yo, it’s all a game for them // Playin’ us like pin-ball, but we payin’ them // My people, day to day, play the game to win // But me, I’m just playing a game to stay in.”
In the tracklisting, Gigio listed Felicia Andolong as the background vocals… but I didn’t hear ‘em.
05. AFFAIRS OF THE HEART ——————– 5/5
Here is where Josef Blo showcases some of his scratching skills, right off the bat. Combining the beat, with vocal cuts of “I Used To Love H.E.R.” and “You Know What Love Is” (from The Look of Love). The title speaks for itself. It’s a failed love/lust story, where Gigio looks back at signs of disceit and dishonesty, and mistakes that ultimately resulted in a fragile, scarred heart. But it’s not all just frustration and anger with her (“Now you wanna be held? // Well, you’s a cold bitch // Young ass girl, you still don’t know shit“), oneself, or the situation. In the second verse, he throws a middle finger up, and gets into the process of moving on in life.
06. CRAZY ——————– 3/5
A funky mellow beat, equipped with claps, a dose of keys, and occasional buttery strumming, while Gigio’s stress level climbs. I liked the bounce of this song, but each time I listened to it… I forgot about it.
07. HIP HOP IS REAL ——————– 4/5
Here, Gigio shows the positive side of hip hop. He reaches out to the youth with a motivational grab. That believe-in-self, develop your own voice, aim high for your dreams regardless of who tries to push you down… type of thing. It’s a solid song, and I like the “good” in it, but I kind of wanted a little more.
08. LET U GO ——————– 5/5
“I kept my distance, I tried resisting // But I’ll never let you go from me…” I’m at crossroads with this song, in terms of what it’s about. Either it’s the flip side of “Affairs of the Heart”; a burgeoning crush, or love interest, that he doesn’t want to let go. Or, due to certain lines, it could be about someone that was once close to him, that isn’t here anymore. Whichever it is, it’s a solid track. It feels deep and personal. “I see your spirit when I stare at you // Lookin at all the love you are to me // And I’ll never let you go from me…”
09. SEASONED ——————– 4.5/5
“Y’all want a taste, ’cause ya boy so seasoned // All I know, is all I see // Yeah, you got a little flavor, but not like me…” Dope little track where Gigio toots his own horn, bragging about his flavor, his talents, and all of that. But it’s not one of those tracks where you pass it up, because the person is on some bullshit. Most of everything that I’ve heard from Gigio, has been pretty fresh. So the props are deserved.
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Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the EP. Thanks to Gigio for everything. And Josef Blo brought his A-game.
On another note, you can expect an exclusive track from him on our February compilation… so look out for that!
DOWNLOAD “Caught In Traffic“
