Sottotono
Sotto effetto stono

Area Cronica. Two words that have come to represent a concrete and unique reality concerning hip hop in Italy in the nineties, the peak of its explosion in the USA, with the likes of Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, Nas, Prodigy, DMX, and so on. Hip hop in Italy never truly existed. However, there were realities, albeit smaller compared to the Sanremese concept sell-outs, that managed to carve out a niche for themselves with elbow grease and, why not, mainly thanks to talent. Among them, certainly stand out the Sottotono, the top representatives of Area Cronica, composed, after the original formation of their first album, by producer Big Fish and emcee Tormento.

"Sotto Effetto Stono" is not just the masterpiece of the Varese duo, but it is probably the best rap album Italy has ever produced in those years. It is not just a display of style in both rapping and clothing, not just the refined quality of the productions, but its status as an instant classic that has rendered it immortal for over 20 years. Every rapper and rap producer in Italy, after the release of this album, would have to reckon with it. Not without reason, if we listen to artists of the caliber of Club Dogo, Fabri Fibra, Mondo Marcio, and Cor Veleno, among the biggest names that would explode ten years later (in the official market, I mean), it’s clear where our guys shopped, both for lyrical wealth and the search for the most egocentric style. Yes, because Tormento at the time was the perfect rapper, a cut above everyone: a flow capable of becoming raw and technical, and at the same time smoothly transitioning to singing and lengthening vowels, thus giving a decisively more soulful and incredibly modern soul for the time, first inspired by two of his mentors, namely Tupac and Snoop Dogg. Fish, on the other hand, manages to give the right color to the productions: dark, brash, gritty, powerful to blast in the car, but occasionally soft and melodic, in the good name of the West Coast sound.

The album opens with the title track, where Fish’s eerie voice introduces the show, and after a minute, Tormento enters over the drums, and it's immediately magic. Our guys show that they are more than capable, not surprisingly, the track is a bomb, enriched by a female choir in the chorus, making it a true anthem. A handful of tracks follow, where we find exercises in punchlines, radio hits, and many other rich surprises. The singles are certainly the part that most captured those who never really savored the genre: the second track "Non c'è amore", a slow and painful ballad about the end of a love affair, featuring Graziano Romani (one of the most underrated rock voices in Italy) in the chorus, then there’s "Solo lei ha quel che voglio" with Danny Losito, balancing between rap, soul, and pop in a tasty and catchy cocktail. Then there’s "Tranquillo", the sweetest and most romantic moment of the work and among the most appreciated tracks of the duo's repertoire, the famous and sensual "Dimmi di sbagliato che c'è", where Tormento tells of "strawberries and champagne" and a hot night of sex with his "puta", up to "Non c'è storia", along the lines of "Non c'è amore" but more lively, even though it is the lesser of those listed above.

But if we talk about hip hop albums, the more technical and self-congratulatory side cannot be missing. In fact, "Eh beh" enters promptly with an assertive tone, where Tormento shows off as the gigolo every woman would like to have, with interest in women, money, and success (someone said Sfera Ebbasta?). Joining the parade are his sister Marya, partner Maku Go, and Fish himself in two unbearable verses in my opinion. A fun and just the right amount of ignorant refrain. "Di Tormento ce n'è uno" is Tormento’s response to the haters who have thrown crap at him until then, primarily at Neffa: "and you just have to keep silent, raise your heels and return from where you came" and again, "you're just a disciple, I am a God. You play the boy, when it comes to being the chico, I'll handle it". The result is impeccable as a whole, where Tormento comes out on top. But the strong point is "Quei bravi ragazzi", where sharing the mic with Torme are the Lyricalz (other representatives of Area Cronica) and the talented Left Side, as well as Dj Double S on the scratches. A massive and dark posse track, that still today does not look out of place in front of the self-congratulatory tracks of the trap phase rappers, together with the second and last posse: "Ianglediz", the ballad dedicated to... you can imagine. Joining are his brother Esa, at the time one of the masters of Italian emcees, rapper Polare, and even a young Bassi Maestro, in a way still growing before becoming the legendary big shot he is today. A round of applause especially for Fish's gigantic production, among the most inspired of the work. To give the album a bit of breathing room comes "Succo alla pera col gin", the party episode of the record, a 4-minute party-time diversion with funky choruses in the refrain and a vocoder voice giving extra American style push, where rhymes and qualitative coherence are certainly not lacking.

But Sottotono are not just rhymes, parties, money, and love stories, indeed when their dark side comes out, tracks like "Cronico" with Maku Go pop up, the "heaviest" and most controversial episode of the work, up to a "trilogy" (so to speak) starting from the whispered intro of "Ho il controllo", where this tormented voice hidden in the dark begins to emerge slowly, then crawling in front of the listener in "Dimmi che farai" (the voice in the chorus is creepy), up to total control in the final track of the album: "L'inscoscio", the absolute darkest track of the entire Sottotono production.

"Sotto effetto stono" is this: a great album made of passion, fun, love, hate, technique, but above all, so much rap. You will breathe the air of American hip hop as few times in your life, with continuously tasty references to Tupac, Mobb Deep and an assortment of samples that dress the album to make it shine even today in 2020, resulting in a mature and timeless work. What a pity for the end they have met... a real shame.