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Rating: Bassi Maestro aka Buzz Dezz is undoubtedly one of the most important icons of our local Hip Hop. Sure, he can be accused of being too pro-American in his attitudes, but he is still a character to be respected for his long-standing presence in the Italian HH scene, for his desire to push rap, and above all, for his consistency with the idea of making music while always remaining in a tight circle, without exposing himself to the mainstream and major labels (a path many rappers have been taking lately, with more or less satisfying results).
"Seven: The Street Prequel" is not an album, but rather a simple mixtape, recorded in 2004, and it serves as a "bridge" between Classe 73 and L'Ultimo Testimone, the seventh and penultimate album of Cock Dee. The record features very American sounds, as is Bassi's tradition, but some moments are clearly intentional, almost ironic imitations, such as the mimicry of dirty south and crunk in the skit "South-O-Biz" (a play on words between "South" and "Sano" Biz, Bassi's crew). There are many features: besides the ever-present Jack The Smoker and CdB, Bassi's rhymes are accompanied by Mistaman, Stokka, Madbuddy, protégé Mondo Marcio, and Fabri Fibra. As mentioned, the sounds and beats are quite "American style," the lyrics are mostly carefree and self-celebratory, but there are also more acid and protest lyrics. "L'Ingranaggio" is the preview of the track that will be included in Buzz's next album: a great track where an introspective Bassi dedicates it to the people outside, to pregnant women, to jerks, to the hopeful, in short, to anyone. Because we all have in common this nostalgia that captures us every day, that keeps us grounded even when we want to fly away. "Rezpekt" is set to the beat of "Lean Back" by Terror Squad, Fat Joe's group: personally, it feels a bit strange to hear a song by an American rap group with Bassi's voice on it, but it's a good track nonetheless. "Beiotchhh!" is one of the most carefree tracks on the tape: here Bassi (in collaboration with Mondo Marcio) talks about women, and he surely doesn't speak well of them, just listen to the introductory phrase of the track to understand it ("Women are divided into two categories: whores, who are those who give it away, and then there are sluts"); a good track with a great beat. "Parli Di" is the second track together with Mondo Marcio: Bassi dedicates this song to all the trendy posers who listen to rap just for fashion, to all those fake b-boys who talk about things they don't know, who want to be experts in things they know nothing about ("all these b-boys are nothing but posers / turned into victims of their own ghettos, you wait for it / you consume it and don’t even respect it, you throw it away, unprotected / you protest, you make names you don’t know who they are / you talk about my lyrics? you haven't even read them"). Excellent track as well, in my opinion one of the best on the record in terms of lyrics. "S.A.I.C." (an acronym standing for Suck It Again) is one of Bassi's best-known tracks, and the fact that it's sung together with Fabri Fibra is not something to overlook. Here Bassi and Fibra spit venom against the Italian music industry, still ruled by seventy-year-olds, full of fake and stupid dollies, manufactured at the green table, that don't last more than a season, like people like Angelini and Meneguzzi, who make pop that "doesn’t even work in the background while you’re giving me head". In short, nothing to say, a great track, with a chorus to be sung out loud (I guarantee it, at high volume in the car it makes a great effect! I tell you from personal experience!). "2 Di Notte" in my opinion is one of the best tracks on the record: dark, nighttime but still "groovy" beat, perfect for describing the atmosphere of the song. Bassi, together with Mondo Marcio and Jack The Smoker, talks to us about evenings with friends, where you stay awake until late, hit on girls in the club, roll a few joints, and freestyle in the streets. The tape closes with "Fuori Dal Coro," the "short" version of the track that will be included in L'Ultimo Testimone.
In short, a decent mixtape, nothing transcendental of course, the classic disk that you listen to without problems (also thanks to a relatively short duration). A must-have for those who love Buzz Dezz, one of our local Hip Hop icons, beyond criticisms, justified or not.
PS: WORLD CHAMPIONS!!! GREAT AZZURRI!!!
I know it has nothing to do with this, but I had to say it ;)
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