When Hip Hop’s greatest duo’s is up for discussion one pair is nearly always
left out; Showbiz and AG. The
producer and emcee group (later known just as Show and AG), crafted some of the finer music in the early 90’s (Soul Clap EP, Goodfellas) as key members of legendary NYC collective DITC.
Seven years after Andre the Giant
released his first solo album, The Dirty
Version, AG is back with Get Dirty Radio. This time broadening
his production credits to the west leaving an album that alternates between
east coast and west coast influenced tracks. One look at the production list
(consisting of Madlib, Lord Finesse, J Dilla, Jake One, Oh No, DJ Design and Tommy Tee)
you KNOW you’re about to listen to an album with production that is on par with
the Diggin In The Crates Crew
classics.
Starting the album off with the Madlib-produced
single, “Frozen,” AG proves he still
has the lyrical talent that originally garnered the legendary status he still
holds today. Teaming up with long-time collaborator, Lord Finesse, AG goes
hard on “We Don’t Care.” Jumpin’ from the beginning with lines like; “I empty eagles, if you think you the fifth Beatle/ I’m evil, the left will lean
you, but the tech will lean you/ now Joe
Budden must of pumped you up/ Niggas will air you up, lay you down, slump
you up/ Nah, you can’t beat em, and I’ll die for my freedom/ cover your team in
sheets, you would think it’s a Klan’s meeting.” Being a man that’s overcome
a significant amount of trials and tribulations – from a murder charge (that
since been overruled), industry politics and the tragic death of his close
friend Big L – AG bears all on the DJ Desig-produced
“Triumph.” AG stands tall with the
bars like “…and Big L will never be forgotten/ The Big Apple, I eat it rotten, just
to keep it poppin.“
There’s no debate that one of the highlights of Get Dirty Radio is “Hip Hop Quotable,” a track that has AG and Aloe Blacc running laps over one of the last productions credited
to the late J. Dilla. Over Dilla’s lovely trademark sound, AG and Aloe Blacc pay homage to some of the genre’s most legendary groups
and notable figures. Black Sheep, Jay-Z,
Run-DMC, Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Public Enemy and Snoop Dogg are just a few of the artists that AG and Aloe quote to
form verses showcasing memorable lyrics over the years that we have all heard
and loved. Another highlight that I think is much better listened to for the
first time rather than read about is the re-uniting with Show on “The Struggle.”
As personal and real as AG gets
on the Oh No-laced “Love,” you can’t
help but realize the track is so far out of place after the tone and pace that
was set from the previous seven songs. Another setback is “Gigantic,”
coincidently produced by Oh No. I can’t
front on dude’s production – it’s very left field and VERY dope. It’s just AG doesn’t suit it well, and it stands
out like Nicole Richie starring in
VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club.
Hardcore DITC fans are gonna be
disappointed in AG, as the Bronx
native relocated to the Bay to do this album. They want the Showiz and AG, they want the Buckwild and Finesse backdrops, they want it all (like it was). In AG‘s defense, he stuck to his roots by
steadily spittin’ that Bronx sound. It’s just this time around it’s over the work
of some of the west coast’s best underground producers. After seven years of
rest, The Giant has risen again.
