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Styles P - Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)Album Review by:
John Burnett
Thursday, December 6, 2007
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David “Styles P” Styles is the best member in the L.O.X. Yeah, I said it, what?!? Although his punchlines aren’t as elaborate or as showy as brethren, Jadakiss, his word play is still sharp and well thought out. Despite, not being as brash and boisterous as partner, Sheek Louch, his raspy snarl is just as menacing. Plus, he has the strongest catalogue. His nickname, the Ghost, is fitting. He plays the background, nonchalantly, yet his presence is still felt and his albums follow a similar format; not too many flashy club and dance records just good old fashioned, straight-forward East Coast gangster rap. On Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman, Styles continues his consistency in this trend.
Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman tells the story of a man jaded with the music business, disgusted with the current state of Hip Hop, slightly paranoid and just plain angry as hell. Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) is a really dark album. “All I Know Is Pain” spews Styles’ affliction over the Alchemist’s murky musical canvass discussing his frustration with the industry. Styles angrily raps, “what they call hot/I would call so lame/they don’t care about the art/and they show no shame/if you ain’t getting spins/then you ain’t gon’ win/but if you came from the bottom/then you should stay going in” summarizing his displeasure with the rap game and its backwards nature. Alchemist and Styles, to the benefit of the listener, team up again on “Green Piece of Paper” to rattle off the evil men do for the almighty dollar. “Alone in the Streets” gets more personal with Styles P rhyming about missing his deceased younger brother and his ongoing “uphill battle” of enjoying the life of a gangster versus maintaining spirituality.
Most of the album relays the tale of a man immersed in pain, which explains the seemingly overkill on violence contained within “Shoot Ni**as” and “In it to Win It.” However, there are some contrasting looks offered on “Blow Ya Mind” and “Let’s Go,” both tracks that have much lighter moods and definite single potential. While “Look at Her,” another track with a lighter tone, puts the Ghost in a club environment scoping out a vixen. The track follows him through his night until the stamp is put on the effort with a late night episode. The album is capped up with a dose of black power on “Cause I’m Black” featuring Black Thought concluding a stout but enjoyable listening experience.
The Ghost does it again on Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman). He’s able to present his personal story, candidly and effectively, whether it’s his days without shelter or reminiscing on his brother’s passing or blowing an L. And he presents all of the above in a frank manner. Combine that with the dope Ghostface Killah, L.O.X. reunion over Pete Rock and Beanie Sigel collaborations, respectively, and the result is another favorable notch under Styles’ belt. Along with a few others, Styles P with SGEG is quietly bringing East Coast rap back into prominence after a long drought.
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