G-Side - iSLAND Album Review

Artist: G-Side
Album: iSLAND
Label: Slow Motion Soundz Records
Executive Producers: Slow Motion Soundz

Quality music is hard to come by in 2011, very few artists are putting out quality projects as it is, but nobody is putting out two albums in a single year. Not only 2 albums but two albums that you would consider ‘quality music.’ Well, Huntsville, Alabama’s G-Side has set their sights on that very goal. At the beginning of this year they released the critically acclaimed album “The One…Cohesive” and now G-Side has released yet another full length release, entitled “iSLAND.” That title really fits perfectly with G-Side and the Slow Motion Soundz camp as it really does seem like their on an island of their own right now. Putting out excellent music over and over while just about everything else around seems to be just thrown together junk. G-Side has also played with their release dates this year. “The One” was released on 1-1-11 (January 01, 2011) and “iSLAND” was released on 11-11-11 (November 11, 2011) really taking G-Side’s biggest year of their careers full circle. There has been a singular theme that G-Side has really been attempting to put out really since 2010, that of “cohesion” not only with the music they put out but everything about it from the music videos to the artwork (designed by the amazing artist John Turner Jr.) seems to flow perfectly. “iSLAND” is no exception.

The album kicks off with the familiar sounds of Block Beataz on the production and singer PH croons over the silky smooth beat about being “on an island by myself” while Historian and Journalist Charlie Braxton (shout out to Bentley for the heads up) provides the intro before G-Side’s Yung Clova closes out the intro song. Next up is the perfectly titled “Cinematic” where the amazing Block Beataz production and captivating rhymes from G-Side gives it such a big feeling. G-Side and Block Beataz have the uncanny ability to grab the listener right off the bat and hook you. Following that singer PH joins G-Side for “Atmosphere” where ST 2 Lettaz does what he does best and absolutely shreds the insane beat to pieces with his syrupy delivery. On “No U N Us” G-Side describe how despite all of the success and any they may get in the future, they’re still the same guys they’ve always been and how they won’t change like most do. ST explains best on the hook:

“we just out here doing us/
all that other sh!t ain’t got nothing to do with us/
what would you do if you was us?/
sucka free, cause aint no “u” (you) in us…/”

On “24 Eight” G-Side describe how they never stop hustling (24/8 instead of 24/7) but there’s not enough time in the day. Block Beataz yet again provides yet another perfect backdrop for the ST & Clova. On “Recognize” ST and Clova take the braggadocios rhymes to another level while PH’s silky smooth crooning and Block Beataz helmed beat make this one that perfect “riding music.” ST proclaims “RECOGNIZE! That G-Side, the only side I recognize!”

Huntsville’s Joi Tiffany joins G-Side on the next two tracks. First is up is the saxophone laced “Cast Away” where ST sets things off right weaving a tale about the harsh realities of being “Cast Away” on the streets.

ST:
“mama, I got to go and I don’t know when I’ll be back/
but I do know, that I can’t stay where you found me at/
in the gutter, came up around the rowdy pack/
they strapped like them Saudi cats/
we ran the streets since we were little dudes/
now we feeling like sharks in a swimming pool/
new sneakers in a new city/
I need 7 grams, 5 shells, and two t*tties/
where I’m from, most n*ggas don’t make it out/
the Alabama Triangle, so take a safer route/
seen plenty dudes get lost in the midst/
talkin them bricks, bargaining snitch, it’s a cold game/
Operation Rolling Thunder, codename/
no surrender, no retreat, we won’t the whole thing/
measure a man by what he didn’t do/
n*gga, you didn’t do enough so no one will remember you”

Joi Tiffany’s amazing voice seems to blend in perfectly with the jazz influenced Block Beataz production. Block Beataz trade in the saxophone for horns and keys on another jazz influenced beat with “Stay-Cation” where Clova and ST take a minute to serenade the females. I mentioned “riding music” earlier and the next track, “Down,” is about the most perfect example of “riding music” as you’ll find. A smooth beat along with the crazy, laid back hook from Adrian and rhymes from G-Side make this a perfect song to just sit back and ride to.

Fellow Bama representatives G.I.A. (Gone In Alabama) and DJ Cunta join the party on “Luv 2 Hustle” and the standout hook plus thumping beat really set this one off. ST kicks one of his more memorable verses here as well. Next up Stalley of Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, hailing from Ohio, rhymes alongside G-Side and holds his own on “Getting It” as they take things to the streets with a more aggressive record. On “Our Thing” G-Side proclaims their allegiance to SMS over the darker, harder Block Beataz production.

Producer, Parallel Thought, steps behind the boards with Block Beataz to craft the beat for “Rabbits” which almost has more of a 90’s east coast feel to it than anything. Regardless, ST and Clova toss some gritty, hard bars at this one. Clova really stands out:

“steal our identity, tell him to plead guilty/
throw us in jail and look at us like we filthy/
forreal, b, this is the society/
treat us like we slaves, actuality gotta be/
cause ya payroll less than ya bills be/
no overtime, how the f*ck do ya kids eat?!/
and I’m tryin to see my daughter go to law school/
brothers still sick that I’m still tryin to play it cool/
I got dreams of getting fresh and cover dreams/
im overseas, they tellin me I wouldn’t be/
say my prayers and everyday hit the galaxy/
on this paper chase while the cops after me/
young, black mothers playing father/
single parent trying to raise a son much harder/
then the son turns around a becomes a robber/
tryin to help the mother pay the bills and the doctors/
just sayin what I feel, lost everything tryin to get a deal”

ST’s DB49 partner, Bentley, joins forces with G-Side for “16 Shots” and Bentley does his best to steal the show with a standout hook and nasty verse. Another harder song here (in which ST says “I ain’t gonna occupy Wall Street/Imma occupy yall street/let them rockets fly all week”) to match the hard beat produced by Block Beataz and G-Side’s own Yung Clova. All 3 come with a much more aggressive flow, especially Bentley. “iSLAND” closes out with the bonus track, “Look Up,” where G-Side exchange bars about getting big so you have to “look up” to see them.

I almost feel like I’m being monotonous when talking about G-Side because there really is no other way to say how great they are, that hasn’t already been said. They CONTINUE to drop excellent project after excellent project. I came into this one just wondering if it could match up with “The One” and not only did it do that but it may have even surpassed it. That’s an argument for another day but regardless I don’t think there is another artist (or artists) in today’s Hip Hop scene that can boast the claim of dropping two projects in the same year with this type of quality. We’re not talking about 2 thrown together mixtapes, but rather 2 ALBUMS that was put together with great effort rather than just thrown together. G-Side does it again and I don’t think that’s the last time that statement will be made.

My favorite tracks on this one (and it really is hard to narrow it down) are “16 Shots”, “Down”, “Luv 2 Hustle”, “Atmosphere”, and “24 Eight” but I really can’t think of a track that’s even average here.