RIGA - For months now there have been rumors flying around concerning Gustavo's new album "Beidzot!" (Finally): It's been said that his lyrics were more personal than ever, his sobriety has made him more focused and he's developed multiple new flows and rhyme styles.
And for once, the rumors couldn't be more accurate.
At last the days of rhyming about the perils of drugs and street life have fallen by the wayside, allowing Gustavo's more personal side to shine through. And to say that his lyrics are personal is an understatement. His life's worth of frustrations, from his upbringing to the present day, are manifested in every word rapped out on this album. And he does this with an improved flow that can be compared to NAS.
Gustavo has long been respected as Latvia's most eminent and talented hip-hop artist. He fuses poetry, personal experience and gritty experience into a seamless blend of mesmerizing hiphop.
On the first listening, the album comes across as being deceptively simple. But then, with each subsequent listen, the hooks become more intricate and it's clear that Gustavo entwines lyrics and music with consummate skill. Such fluency can only belong to an artist who is truly passionate about his work. But the triumph of "Beidzot!" is that it not only sums up Gustavo, but in a very real and eloquent way, contemporary Latvian culture.
And what about the beats? Well, to put it simply, it is damn near impossible to keep your head still. The beats only add weight to Gustavo's verbal dexterity, and the simple loops infused with instrumental influences add a suitable sense of substance to each song.
Of course, the album will likely attract criticism from Gustavo's detractors, although on what grounds it's hard to imagine. This is his finest album by a long way, and few others in Latvian hiphop could touch it.
Gustavo's evolution as an artist has really reached its apogee with "Beidzot!" From underground hero to hip hop superstar, Gustavo has taken Latvian hiphop to the next level. This is what all the pretenders will have to measure up to. o
"Beidzot" is available
from Upe Records,
Randoms, Elkor Music and
all good record stores
