Jovanotti
Una Tribù Che Balla

THE REVIEW

The statement of intent of this vibrant record is encapsulated in the first sentence of "Intro": SPEAKER: "Mr. Jovanotti, why did you decide to make an Italian rap LP?"

Indeed, after a debut that saw him categorized more as a "sideshow phenomenon" (1, 2, 3... chaos!!) and the subsequent success of "Lorenzo 1992", our artist reinvents himself, under the watchful superproduction of the usual invaluable Cecchetto, as a great of the genre. But it's not just rap that characterizes this magnificent LP; it has everything, from short jazz compositions ("Geghejazz"), to the classic love ballad of "Quando Sarai Lontana", to the rock sound of "Abbasso I Lenti", with Andrea Braido on guitar, all the way to the admittedly not very successful attempt at melodic reggae like "Buongiorno". Among the most inspired tracks are "Libera L'Anima", with its driving groove and Saturnino's bass solo, and "One Nation", the only English composition written by Jovanotti himself and sung in collaboration with rappers Master Freez and Samantha Wood.

"100% rap music 50 content 50 movement" reads the cover; and indeed, just from its image, you can sense the "content": Jovanotti, who for the occasion sports an LA Raiders style cap and t-shirt, takes us back to the atmosphere of suburban and typical American "ghetto" rap, which doesn't envy the contemporary approaches to the genre in the least.

A record composed mostly of excellent songs, one that is a must-have for fans of the good old Lorenzo, either in the first or second phase of his career.