Review Summary: The best Grime CD you will ever hear.
Grime. I would say, the UK version of rap. Tempo is a lot faster at 140bmp (beats per minute), a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop. The founders, Dizzee Rascal and Wiley are the obvious mainstream rappers however many underground rappers such as D Double E, Hyper and Sharky Major also helped with its development. Those who perfected it? Well, there are only a few, Ghetto Dizzee and Kano spring to mind. However its early days, and many more Mc's are steadily coming through.
The follow up cd to '2000 & Life'. Released as a Mix-tape, but described by Ghetto himself as a 'pre-album'. Ghetto Gospel was suppose to be a step down from the original hyped up, aggressive approach Ghetto brought to the mic. In a way it is, he made it to show there was another side to his lyrics and in doing so made the greatest grime cd I have ever heard. He made me a believer, that grime would become big overseas. I only wish he can re-produce this sort of perfection when his album drops.
Why is Ghetto the best?. Two things make up an artist. Content and Quantity. 21 strong mix-tape and each track is amazing. Ghetto graces each beat with his unique flow, and i just want to take you through some of my favorites.
Top 3 Selected- The first single released by Ghetts from the album (I call it an album because it's better than most Mc's). A catchy beat produced by rapid and a true club banger.
Menace- Produced by Scorcher. A sneak peek at the old Ghetts for me, and a turning point in the album, because up until now it's all been a bit hyper.
Hero- The beat by Merlin is very good. Sampled from the Bonnie Tyler classic 'Holding Out For A Hero'. Good cameo appearance by Devlin, bringing his usual complex rhymes and syllables. The songs mainly based around the people who have a good heart or 'Heros', i.e someone who jumps in if a person is in trouble. Now things start to get serious...
Touch The Sky- Ghetto makes the most of this beat by Bouncer. Not my favorite Beat, but definitely suits the theme of the song. Ghetto talking about his past, and now his future in Music. So many good lines:
Their taking half but half aint fair
it feels like you're moving, but you're not
its like you're in an arcade car game chair
my bars aint air, so who are they to say i cant be big in the USA today
C P B- Mr. Slash produces a very catchy beat with running drums all the way through. The songs about street politics, but not as dark as you may think.
Just Don't Know- As Ghetto says for the intro in this song, 'After a long think, about life, i can see that, the only thing promised is death'. Ghetto contemplates death and God in this song and another banger by Mr. Slash.
State Of Mind- My favorite tune, on my favorite album. State Of Mind. Ghetto made this cd after coming out of jail and this is clearly shown in the lyrics of this song. Very personal, deep and blessed with the flow of a genius. A good feature by Andrea Clarke, providing a soulful chorus. The whole song is full with extraordinary lyrics, but i just want to pick out a few:
Im on the grind, no time for a proper meal
so i settle for junk food, and a bottle of lilt
i do sh** and i just cant bottle the guilt
some say life's a game, well i aint playin for monopoly bills
i gotta be real, none of us aint winning the lottery
so my philosophy's deal, drugs from bobby to pills
thats how i honestly feel...
Trapped In The System- About the times Ghetts went Jail, and how hard it is to get out of 'the system' once your in it. Openly rhymes about his everyday routine whilst on probation. Again extremely heart felt, its as if he is writing down his thoughts word for word, you forget he is even rhyming.
Who Don't- Ghetto talks about the material objects in life, how everyone is different. Very well constructed.
Test- Excellent. Rhymes about his school days, how he was never good at anything in school. Another beat by Merlin. Just a good little line:
Only Music could hold my attention
i couldn't be stopped by suspension
as a freshman, i read books like Morgan in Shaw-shank Redemption
my only intention, was to feed my brain, beat the game so i dont need protection.
Closed Thing To Heaven- Expresses his relationship and respect for his mother, throughout his time in jail and other criminal activities. Merlin produces yet another fine beat. I wish i could quote the whole song, because it really is special:
Dear madre,
i hope we never have to part ways
three kids and i've given you the most heart-ache
so when i talk to my little bro, i say to him chill how much more can mums heart take
i recall Thorpe-Park, Chessington and Margate
trips we took, now i wish i never skipped the books
i wanted a fast wage.....
Well there it is people. I would go though the whole album but such is the work rate of Ghetto, there are just too many bars and lyrics. For those not familiar with grime, its easy for me to say why he is the best, a real G from the east-end of London. Many mc's often re-use lyrics and almost never produce new material, so when Ghetto came with this cd, it was like a breath of fresh air. He cemented his place next to Kano and Dizzee Rascal with this self-proclaimed 'Pre-album'. Well, if this is a pre-album can you imagine what the real one will be like?
