Words By Patrick M.

There’s a moment in the incredible Beatles documentary where producer George Martin reminisces on “Please Please Me,” their first number one hit. To paraphrase, Martin says he knew that the song was going to be number one as soon as he heard the studio recording. He’s so matter-of-fact about it, as if making a single is as easy as taking the trash out.

But Martin would admit, and we know, that getting that breakthrough song is not so easy. No one knows what sounds will resonate with the masses, and take an artist from local semi-fame to international celebrity. What we do know is that when that moment happens, it’s almost instantaneous.

I was reminded of Martin when I listened to Big Geminii’s History In The Making. The title of the album suggests its M.O. – Geminii wants to be a rap star, not make great music. The album can be described in one word: formulaic. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. There are plenty of songs that are equal to, if not better, than anything in rotation on your local Clear Channel subsidiary. That’s the thing, once you’re a name, people (and radio and TV directors,) will give your songs a chance.

The problem is finding that ever elusive first single. On History…, I hear one song that has a chance to be that breakthrough. “Back All In It,” has all the makings of a summer club banger. A hot Latin-influenced drumpan beat gets heads boppin’ and asses shakin’. Geminii’s rhymes won’t be confused with anything abstract of substantive, but he drops enough tricky punchlines that some white kids in an SUV can rap along to the three or four phrases they remember. And if this song were to take off…who knows?

Unfortunately, Big Geminii has bet his future on a different song for a lead single, the drab “Hypnotized,” that features Gem’s attempts to capitalize on our nation’s sick infatuation with the vocoder. I may not have George Martin’s ears, but I’m confident in saying it won’t be a number one. In making the wrong decision on which single to push, Geminii may have permanently deferred those dreams of stardom.

I guess that’s the problem with being formulaic. It only works for those who’ve already got the solutions.

Big Geminii – Back All In It