Words by Rob P

B.G. & Chopper City Boyz – We Got This

B.G. is a reassuringly assured artist, if that makes sense? What I mean is, he’s truly old-school in the sense that unconcerned with gimmicks. He has allowed personality and realism to define his career. Making nothing but key moves since the Cash Money fall-out, he has recently stood tall in his support of his devastated city, and has even been involved in some ‘bigger than hip-hop’ business regarding his show of love for Baby over the recent tragic loss of his sister. Therefore the obligatory crew move, comes with a little less trepidation than usual, for whilst he’s a ‘Fool Wit It’, the last thing B.G. can be called is a fool.

So as the classic N.O. rhythms of ‘Taking Over’ open up, it’s clear that Sniper, Gar, Hakizzle and VL aren’t just here for the ride. Engaging from the jump, you realize they’re cut from the same cloth as their mentor, and most crucially for a co-signed group, you’re not simply waiting for their mentor to appear. Unpretentious flows and a solid understanding of their audience is evident throughout too, with ‘Bounce’ and ‘Crucial Shit’ transporting you back to the late 90s New Orleans heyday. Their swagger over the latter, in fact, reaches ridiculous and dare I say it, Cash Money levels at times – sorry Gizzle. Meanwhile, the thundering David Banner drums (welcome back Lavell) of ‘Make Em Mad’, show up some of the more spineless Southern beats that have been propping up the charts, and ‘Going On’ is an undisputed highpoint.

There’s some inevitable filler, or to be more accurate, cuts that are just ‘cool’ in comparison to the aforementioned. ‘Flatliners’ is slightly pedestrian, despite the brilliantly delivered line “I’m not a positive rapper/I’m a negative nigga!” and ‘Thorough Street Nigga’, with it’s screwed hook, is predictable for the wrong reasons. ‘Shake Em Off’ too, could be mistaken for superior selections from the CD, but played at a decent level, I can’t front, they’ll all still get you amped. In fact I am now nothing but amped for B.G.’s solo return, especially if that that track ‘I’m Out Here’ from the Grand Hustle compilation is the standard we can expect – cause that’s my shit. Word to B.Gizzle, a man deserving of his rep.

Album in stores on 2.27 on Koch/Chopper City Records

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