Anyone who has been following the all-time Fight Flub champion Nems career knows what he’s all about. His latest project, though, is a treat for fans of the gritty bar-based New York City sound that is having a run currently thanks to the independent success of acts like Griselda. Gorilla Monsoon is in many ways an opus; a carefully constructed body of work that gives heads the vicious MC they love, while momentarily separating himself from his rap persona and displaying personal growth.
Produced entirely by Jazzsoon, the 13-song effort rarely takes its foot off of your throat. Littered with Biggie references — even borrowing the main elements of his “Who Shot Ya” instrumental for the aptly titles “Who Got Ya,” Jazzsoon creates a vibe that is distinctly New York, opening up Nems to traverse a surprisingly diverse amount of topics.
“Leave Me Alone” stands out with Nems offering inspiring commentary about moving on and letting go of the past, and navigating crippling isolation. You can hear the cracking emotion as he asks his father why he left, and pays homage to mother — who suffered from addiction.
The most telling part of the song is the revelation that “Nems” was created as a way for him to channel his aggression.
“Token Of My Affection” is another gem, on which Nems discusses how he he used to joke about rape until someone he knew was raped; he goes as far as to offer a sincere apology to female fans for his past ignorance. He then offers his disgust for anyone who harms young girls.
These two examples signify the maturity of this record, which are interwoven into a tapestry that includes some insanely grimy compositions, like the Conway The Machine collaboration, “Where You Know Me From,” which borrows sonic elements from Fat Joe’s “Respect Mine.”
It’s also interesting to see the growth taken to such a human place as opposed to the Intro “Step Aside,” where he goes back and forth with his wilder younger self, which seems to signify that we’re getting a more mature rapper, but still keeps it (very) thorough.
The record is brimming with balance. Nems let his pen bleed all over this masterpiece, but no song on this record ultimately captures the spirit of his place in the industry as well as shiniest jewel “Gahbage” — a theme song for a generation of listeners who are sick of music that seems averse to bars. There is a new wave of gritty nouveau-nineties grime beginning to finally erode the current structure of Hip Hop, and on Gorilla Monsoon, it’s clear that Nems has his surfboard ready.
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This album super raw. 5/5
so far this album is mad phat to start to finish.
Edit your articles man. This review is littered with mistakes like an 8 year old wrote it. Just lazy.
I was sorry to read that his mother “suffered from addition.” It’s terrible when it feels like things just keep adding on top of each other.
this is strictly fire!!!
Heavy Metal bangs the vibe!
thank you for finally giving a real sounding raw as fuck lyrical hiphop release the score it deserves. one of the best of the year.
One of the best straight Hip Hop albums I’ve heard in years!???
The production on this album is dope AF, what is not dope AF is NEMS played out, tough guy schtick, he just comes across a try hard and I’m not a fan.
Thank goodness a New York MC who sounds like he’s from New York!!
This morning, I awoke to find out that my teenie white penis had grown into a massive Negro schlonger donger hanging between my pasty white legs!!! I had been praying to Allah for months day and night that my itty bitty white pee pee would grow to the length and girth of that of the typical American Negro. Today, at long last, my prayers were answered! Where once there was a tiny pink wee wee, now there is a giant black mamba, a 10 inch boa constrictor hanging out of my boxers, splayed across the floor! I thought my prayers had indeed been answered, my life was finally worth living, all the bitches would want me, and I praised and thanked the Profit Muhammed until tears streamed from my eyes and snot dripped from my nose, but I am now suddenly shocked to find that, although my penis is now Sambo-Sized, all the money that was in my bank account has suddenly vanished, my fridge is full of nothing but two week old fried chicken and malt liquor, I have dozens of illegitimate kids with names like Leroi and Shaquanna, I have four fat, lazy, angry baby mamas on food stamps, I have nothing in my wallet but a maxed out EBT card, I have three outstanding warrants for vagrancy, robbery, and public chicken consumption, I’m unemployed and I live in a filthy trap house! HELP! HEEEELLLLPPPP!!! PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP MEEEEE!!!
One of the best proper debut albums I’ve heard in YEARS. NEMS’ lyrics, while respecting the classic NY flow, is updated for modern ears, as is Jazzsoon’s consistently entertaining production. Put it on repeat, and enjoy the depth, humor, emotion, and lyrical violence to keep ’em listening.
underrated, great album. Nems is the future!.
Who’s this guy Jazzsoon?