Zoo’s put up warning signs to patrons about not feeding animals to protect both them and the animals they view. On one end it protects them from the animals acting on their primal tendencies and keeps the zoo somewhat in control of the animals through the feeding schedule. Gorilla Zoe, a rapper indigenous to Atlanta, plays on this concept on his sophomore album Don’t Feed Da Animals. Seeking to portray himself as a vicious rhyme animal, he comes off sounding lethargic as he can’t decide whether to keep catering to the streets or expand his artistic scope past self absorbing topics.

If anything, Zoe is a student of his craft and has studied the artists who paved the way before him. Sonically, this album is full of rising, pulsating synths and deep bass that give every song the feeling of an anthem before the first bars are heard. This is no more evident than on the opening of the album when “Untamed Gorilla” & “What It Is” featuring Rick Ross and Kollosus. The backdrops are epic and the lyrics tepid as both tracks sound great, but will leave little impression on the listener once the next track begins.

On the lead single “Lost,” he takes a step back and laments on the trappings of fame over a sparse and hypnotic beat. While lines like “got me a cigarette/smoking this cancer” still show how basic his wordplay is, he effectively conveys the feelings of isolation and desperation adequately. Unfortunately, this song sticks out like a sore thumb when he inundates us with songs that continually sink lower and lower in terms of creativity. It’s like he decided that being creative took too much work and went to task at creating the next “Hood Nigga.” “Shit On ‘Em” probably takes the cake as low man on the totem pole, by extending out what would be a mere punchline coming out the mouth of a more capable rapper, into a whole song. That’s not to say these songs don’t sound good, as the likes of Drumma Boy and Zaytoven keep things sounding like 85% of anything else that comes out of Atlanta nowadays.

Outside of his production, Zoe’s biggest strength is voice, which commands your attention and has a tone which adds gravity to the soaring beats. He may not be saying anything of redeeming (or rewind worthy) value, but it sure does sound good. Lyrically, he comes off more lazy than incapable because lyrical flashes do pop up from time to time. But when you get out-rapped by Roxy Reynolds, like he does on “Talk Back,” it doesn’t look good. It’s a shame too, because songs like “Lost” and “Echo” show that he has more to offer. Unfortunately, he’s still running back for seconds (& thirds & fourths…) at the all you can eat hood buffet.

3cigs

Don’t Feed Da Animals is in stores now. For more info, visit www.badboyonline.com.