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Rating: In 1993, "VERBA MANENT" is released, the first album by Frankie Hi-Nrg Mc, the "intelligent rapper," destined to remain in the history of music and the Italian hip-hop scene due to the strong themes of protest addressed in this and his future albums. This work moves in the realm of the social with true, pure, and cutting rhymes carried by excellent old school funk/rap instrumentals, featuring not only great scratches but also real instruments like bass, flute, saxophone, guitar, drums, and excellently arranged choruses; something unusual at the time for the few hip-hop albums around, which preferred (and that's not always a good thing) the sole use of turntables and samplers.
Nevertheless, "VERBA MANENT" overflows with historic tracks that, even today, more than 10 years later, are recognized, danced to, sung along with, and even studied by other artists to create new sounds. Among all the tracks on the album, those that stand out the most are certainly "FACCIO LA MIA COSA" (driving drums, jazz/funk melody, a historic chorus often cited by other Italian-made MCs, a pure tribute to the music that Frankie promotes), "DISCONNETTI IL POTERE" (the first truly protest song, highly experimental drum’n’bass base, against those who manipulate information), "OMAGGIO, TRIBUTO, RICONOSCIMENTO" (base composed of whistles and drums, piece dedicated to the O.T.R.), "POTERE ALLA PAROLA" (one of the best pieces on the album, very interesting from a political point of view, Frankie's skill here lies not only in the fluency of language but also in the continuous change of metrics), and finally (so to speak) the now historic and beautiful "FIGHT DA FAIDA" (what can be said about this piece if it already speaks for itself?! Here the rapper shows he has guts, as he openly confronts mafiosi, Camorra members, terrorists, and corrupt politicians, depicting the socio-political landscape of the time! Excellent use of "that Sicilian instrument that reproduces the sound of a spring" on a very funky base!!!)
The references to historical/socio/political figures and events are numerous, such as Rodney King, Hitler, Mussolini, the widespread use of drugs, the Bologna massacre, the situation in Naples and Palermo, Zulu Nation, terrorism, third-world poverty... very difficult themes to handle, but apparently not for Frankie, who in this album full of anger, ironic cynicism, and meaningful words managed to be understood, to raise awareness, and to create a new way of using this music without falling into the stereotype of the rebellious and politically unnecessary rapper at all costs!
At the end of the booklet Francesco Di Gesù (Frankie) writes "A SPECIAL THANKS ALSO GOES TO THOSE WHO EVERY DAY MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE ME UNDERSTAND THAT FEELINGS LIKE HATE, ENVY, AND JEALOUSY BELONG TO A UNIVERSE TOO ABSURD TO BE REAL AND TOO REAL TO BE LIVED...ONLY BY CHANGING THE RULES OF THE GAME CAN YOU CONTINUE TO PLAY!" words that perhaps have not been completely lost yet.
Naturally, I recommend the album to anyone who thinks hip-hop is just music made of jewelry, guns, money, and girls shaking their butts! Hip-hop, if used well, can be a great means of communication, and Frankie has shown us that multiple times! Let’s hope he continues to do so... let’s hope... let’s hope... yes, because lately, Frankie has somewhat lost himself in following the path of the alternative rapper, which he already was, not that he has sold out, but recent productions like "DIMMI, DIMMI" haven't convinced me that much, but that’s another story.
"To all those who believe in a superior race
to all the journalists who spread misinformation
to all those who think "I am because I have"
to all those who never ask questions
to all those who never give us answers..."
taken from "CALMA CALMA"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 Disconnetti il potere (02:16)
Fiumi di parole, torrenti di eventi che lenti insidiano le menti delle genti, rendendole impotenti, sterili e incoscienti come salici piangenti in mezzo al turbine dei venti... e questa � la realta': unica, tragica, storica, priva di retorica, figlia dell'America, isterica discarica di oniriche illusioni che ci appaiono paradisi ma che invece son gironi infernali di emozioni artificiali, dove lacrime di gioia e di dolore sono uguali, banali, formali, sagome piatte, bidimensionali...quinte di un teatro permanente, di un circo di fenomeni formato dalla gente, secondo quella logica appresa dai latiniche il pane e gli spettacoli ci rendono agnellini: miti, passivi,
inoffensivi, privi del bisogno d'accertarsi d'esser vivi... siamo cani sperimentali di Pavlov, la cui salivazione vien dalla televisione controllata, manipolata, pianificata secondo il palinsesto che prevede la giornata... comincia dal mattino, fino alla sera, l'isterico pigiare delle dita sopra alla tastiera del telecomando scettro esecrando ora accellerando, ora rallentando e' lui che ci comanda in questa sarabanda d'opinioni di fantocci: basta scegliere la banda...UHF, VHF, occasioni di beffe ce ne sono a bizzeffe: basta! Ribellarsi � un dovere... DISCONNETTI IL POTERE!!!
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