Club Dogo
Penna Capitale

In 2003, one of the most representative albums of the underground new school of Italian hip-hop was released: Mi Fist. The same rappers who created that underground masterpiece return today with an album that exceeds every possible expectation from any Italian b-boy.

Penna Capitale could be defined as the definitive album of Italian hip-hop, much like “Sxm” by Sangue Misto back in '94.
The Dogo show substantial evolution in writing and crafting their lyrics while Don Joe proves himself to be the number one DJ in Italy.
For the bases of the CD, he sampled some soul tracks and even 80s progressive rock, turning them into hip-hop pieces that you can enjoy in your home stereo, in the car, or simply in your own CD player. Highlighting the collaborations with Deda, a member of the legendary Sangue Misto, Caribbean singer Ricardo Phillips, Argentinian Shablo, and DJ Shocca. The CD already, at first listen, shows a significant difference from the previous Mi Fist; in fact, unlike the first work of the Milanese rappers, it appears much more accessible even to ears unfamiliar with local hip-hop. Songs like Due Modi and Una Volta Sola demonstrate this.

The Dogo, as is their custom, always try to mention or reference coke in their lyrics; well, I must say that in this album compared to Mi Fist, the allusions to Coke or Cannabis are much rarer, even though they have dedicated an entire song to alcohol and smoking, “La Testa Gira.” With “Falsi Leader,” we have one of the first truly committed texts in Italian hip-hop: in it, the Dogo show us their opinion on the government and power more generally with truly formidable and never boring lyrics. Also noteworthy is the Dogo's tribute to Sangue Misto in “Cani Sciolti 2006,” one of the best tracks on the album. The gold medal for the best song on the album is a contest among three tracks that alone are worth listening to the entire CD: “Butta Via Tutto,” the aforementioned “Cani Sciolti 2006,” and “Una Volta Sola.”

Having to choose, I pick Una Volta Sola as the best song on the album; it is a reflection on life in general that is truly well done.
In conclusion, this CD is absolutely a must-have for any supporter of Italian hip-hop, on par with “sxm” by Sangue Misto, “Dio Lodato” by Joe Cassano, “Parole” by Mistaman, “Classe '73” by Bassi Maestro, and the previous work by Dogo themselves, “Mi Fist.”
I leave you with the chorus from Una Volta Sola which, as I mentioned above, is the best track on the album:

“Se si vive una volta sola vivo col cuore in gola,
posso cambiare questa storia qua,
e non posso aspettare ora,
devi fartela,
non è la vita che ti fa fra”