Richmond lyricist G-Mo Skee enlists Boston producer Stu Bangas to produce his fourth full-length LP and first since returning to Majik Ninja Entertainment. Became a member of the Stampede Trio and later the Inf Gang. He independently released 2 official mixtapes Got Filth & Got Filth II: The Great Adventures of G-Mo before Twiztid signed him to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016. I personally think G’s sophomore effort Chaly & the Filth Factory is his best work to date due to its incredible concept and the instrumentation that accompanies it (mostly handled by former Strange Music in-house producer 7). His last record, The Filth Element, to mark his 30th birthday, proved he didn’t need MNE until last fall when he returned to The Dojo for 8 Bit Filth II: Hero Hunter, and now he’s putting together Filth City. From an EP to a real album.
After a soulful intro, the title track first advises us not to come to Dirty City because of the sh*t we might leave behind amid booming instrumentals, while Dirty Ass single “Work Magic” explains how to get dirty Man works his magic, comparing himself to Midas when it comes to flow, with a golden touch. “Jump” is hauntingly packed with more kicks and snares and is clearly talking about fighting unfairly with people running up to him, while “Evil Plan” sounds like something out of a horror movie, keeping Dust, while suggesting that you’ll see him referencing animals as subtly as they do.
After the interlude, “Diamond in the Dirt” contacted his Inf Gang brothers Jae Harmony and Nobe, saying that you must travel through time to defeat them in a rhythm battle and find the time they lurked underground. Let them show them what they’re worth over this creepy ass boom bap beat, and “All in Your Head” features Linzy and Jaylin Skee on front and TheArtLawd on back, bringing those colorful vibraphones into the discussion The picture of fatherhood is about worrying about what might happen and making good out of the bad things he represents. “Autistic” featuring Kvng Moses mixes these sickening synths with kicks and snares, and when the rapper walks in, he eats up more rappers than ASTROWORLD’s Travis Scott entrance, but ” The synths in “G-Mo University” feel like they’re from a Sega Genesis game, as G is known to be a player talking about coming down to get dirty.
“Storytelling” tells a true story in a frustrating way, though he can’t name them and the story gets muddled, while the gritty lead single “Postcards from Hell” tells the story How to grow up with all the killers and drugs. The devil joins the others on the front lines for nosebleeds. Featuring Outsidaz’s Young Zee, “2 the Side” aptly advises everyone to fall aside over some Atari-like synths, kicks, and snares, calling your rap style more outdated than a payphone, and that they’re more than a bitch More self-righteous. these days. The final song on the album, “Escape,” ends on a high note before the futuristic “Credits” outro, talking about the city reaching the point of no return and understandably wanting to get out of there.
8 Bit Filth 2: Hero Hunter is an interesting attempt by G to return to MNE, but I already know Filth City is going to be the highlight of his discography as his lyrical abilities are unparalleled and Stu Bangas is the absolute greatest of all time One of the underground producers. However, after hearing that it was originally slated to be an EP but was eventually becoming a true full-length album, my expectations were greatly increased, and sure enough we got The Chainsmoker II a few weeks ago, making it the best of 2024 One of the albums. Mr. Majik Ninja started the new year in one hell of a way. Conceptually, the dirtiest of them all takes us through the conditions of Dirty City, as Stu gives G-Mo some of the coldest murder he’s ever done. I know this is a difficult time for his family right now and I want to send him my deepest condolences, but this album is a special moment for him and I couldn’t be prouder of him. Be sure to check out his tour with Ritzz now and Attack of the Ninjas soon. I’m certainly looking forward to the latter.
Rating: 9/10
