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Rating: [This review delves into more themes beyond the reviewed album. Happy reading.]
The rapper from Olbia was still missing one thing: a big live concert on record! And in the cold summer of 2014, he pleased us all by presenting this documentary, which was also the last album by Salmo released by "tanta roba".
The uniqueness of this concert held in Milan was the almost exclusive use of live instruments on stage, with the help of former members of Skasico, Salmo's old trash-hardcore band, thus leaving the dubstep-electronic component in the background, but not removing it entirely. The only unreleased track present is the single "mussoleeni," but we'll talk about that later.
The setlist includes almost all of the rapper's most popular tracks: undoubtedly dominating this live are "Yoko Ono," the opening with "Russel Crowe," "redneck," and "Un dio personale," which played with instruments sound even better than the original. In particular, "Death USB" which I never liked much, really pumped me up here, especially because it removes that annoyance from the studio original of sounding more like an angry Skrillex single than a true Salmo-style song.
There's little to discuss regarding the quality of the songs, but that's not all: the album is sold along with a DVD lasting about 40 minutes, which chronicles the making of the concert and, in particular, the rapper's relationship with all the people he's collaborated with, some even outside of Italy. It’s always a good way to get to know not only the character but also the more human side, off the stage, and to better understand his past, still too unknown to many. In any case, you can also watch it here.
Finally, let’s talk for a moment about the single Mussoleeni: the title and the video are provocative just as Salmo intended, however, the Duce and fascism have nothing to do with the song (as many have mistakenly thought). The main theme I identified in the song mainly concerns the artist's sense of alienation from the current hip-hop scene, which we all unfortunately know (and despise). It would be more of an editorial but it doesn’t matter much, because I would like to share a bit of my opinion on rap here in our area, and also on rap in general.
Simply put, I love rap. And I will always defend its art which is still little understood by the average listener. Obviously, if done poorly, it becomes a circus act, but the few artists who know how to do it like Dio (to name a few, Aesop Rock, the Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre...), simply do it justice. And Mussoleeni speaks precisely about this: wanting to be different from the trash that TV proposes to us, which instills in the minds of ordinary people that everyone is MORENO. It's not like that. It’s complex to understand. Sure, rap and its popular culture often refer to the stereotypical clichés of that life, and I know and do not deny this, however, one should not speak ill without knowing the facts.
LET'S TALK FOR A SECOND ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GENRE TODAY
Many think that rap is a minor genre. Frankly, I’ve never understood why, although in the 80s, the genre was mostly about partying. Then the Public Enemy arrived, introducing clear opposing political messages in their lyrics, while on the West Coast, N.W.A were creating Gangsta Rap or West Coast Rap, a real analysis of life in the ghetto, which would later inspire some of the greatest rappers in history, like 2pac and Notorious B.I.G.
Simultaneously, at the peak of fame in the 90s, the genre began to be popular in Italy as well thanks to the "godfathers" of old school, Frankie HI-NRG, Neffa, etc... who would bring it to the highest artistic levels throughout the decade.
It seemed like everything was going the right way... until the 2000s, or so. All sorts of people began to emerge, not always rap geniuses: I think, for example, of Vacca or Mondo Marcio, to name a few. Meanwhile, the emblematic rappers of the 90s were all collapsing: Joe Cassano had died, Fabri Fibra began a controversial solo career, Neffa would convert to easy-listening pop, Club Dogo after a great debut would keep worsening... OH YES, I FORGOT: THE RAPPER BIMBIMINKIA <3<3 ;-)
That is, people like Emis Killa or Moreno who undeniably got a push. Not to mention the delirious lyrics filled with absolutely nothing: I mean, "LIKE VAMPIRES!" Good grief!
That's why Salmo is surely a cut above this sort of Millennium Bug post-2000: just listen to one of his songs to understand what kind of artist he is. He may not be the most hardcore in Italy (Kaos One surpasses him in some ways) but neither is he the best-selling, given his background: his mix of genres attracts many metalheads, unfortunately also the youngest ones. But saying that he makes crap music because rap is inherently crap seems like a very bold statement to make.
End of the "historical" aside. Album rating, 8/10, a truly excellent live that really pumps you up and is really particular for a rapper (using live instruments is strangely something almost no one does). Recommended mostly for fans, a good extra to listen to with pleasure.
Bye and see you next time.
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