A.G.'s gritty mug on the cover of his new LP, Get Dirty Radio, leaves no question -- the Giant is back. And judging from the cold glint in his eyes, he's ready to spit some ish that will change the game again.
With his first fresh album in almost six years, he's hungry for a spot in hip-hop's new landscape. See, when A.G., Lord Finesse and the rest of the DITC crew reigned supreme, New York was the epicenter of rap, case closed. But, the game changed. Now hip-hop's sound and soul comes from places like Miami, Atlanta, and Chicago. So, it's no surprise that on Get Dirty Radio, the Bronx-born MC found... inspiration on the West Coast. "It ain't no dirt weed out there," he said, speaking about San Francisco. Cali green, indeed.
A.G. spent some time at the Look Records studios, and thanks to front man DJ Design, got to collaborate with producers like J Dilla, Madlib, and Jake One. Ironically, Get Dirty Radio's shining moments come from the tracks that were produced by his usual partners, Lord Finesse and Showbiz. Take "The Struggle," for example. Show laces the track with drums and a lone violin during the verses, the perfect spotlight for A.G.'s lines about the cycles of hustling and reality of street life. "I let 'em know about the crime side / the robberies / the drive-bys / Puffin' on la-la / Actin' like wiseguys ... / 'Till you see your man up in a coffin / Nah, he ain't comin' back / Cousin, we lost him."
A.G. doesn't glorify "The Struggle" or sugarcoat it, he just tells it like it is. And Show's lush layers of organs for the hook make the song a complete package. It kinda sounds like gospel in the background. Trust me, you'll run this one back a couple of times.
"We Don't Care" features fabulous production by Lord Finesse. Everything works, from the trumpets to the Motown singers cooing in the back, to the sound effects. With lines like: "That's 'till the lights go off / You gotta build gates around your house / Cuz' you Micro-soft." A.G. makes it clear that although the hook is catchy, this is not a candy-pop song.
"Pray," is the most radio-ready song on the album. Produced by Tommy Lee, and featuring a guest verse by Party-Arty, it veers toward the overdone crossover formula. The track has a sing-song hook, a synth guitar melody, and it's sprinkled with electronic blips and bleeps. Still, A.G.'s commitment to complex lyrics places it firmly in the hip-hop category. (And yeah, hook will be stuck in your head for a few days ...)
Last, but certainly not least, is "Hip Hop Quotable," a track produced by the late (and fiercely talented) J Dilla. A.G. has really got a way with words, and this is the perfect platform for him. He takes some of the best lines in hip-hop, adds his gruff spin, and creates a whole new lyrical journey. From old-school gems like: "Ten years ago / a friend of mine / Was laid on the ground /few shots from the nine"
To new-school bars like: "They shootin' / ahh made you look / Banana clip from the thirty cal / made you shook."
A.G. proves that his mic skills have only been getting sharper over time. If one track had to be chosen to define the album, it would be this one. "Hip Hop Quotable" will make you want to listen hard, just to see how A.G. pulls every line off.
Those four tracks are the best of the album, and the rest ... well, they're not so memorable. That's a problem, because the LP is sixteen songs long. You've gotta respect A.G. for trying to stay current (and respect Look Records even more for giving some different producers time to shine), but sometimes the formula doesn't need to be changed. From "Who Dat," to "Triumph," to "Love," Get Dirty Radio doesn't feel like it has a common thread.
There's nothing to pull all the tracks together -- no glue to keep you focused on A.G.'s lines. As a matter of fact, the schizophrenic production actually takes away from the lyrics. Make no mistake, Get Dirty Radio is not the album that's gonna "change people's minds about the current state of NY rap." It's just average. And while it isn't exactly what we'd expect from the legendary MC A.G., it's not trash either. It does pose one question though. Are you ready, radio? 'Cuz it's time to get dirty again.
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