Giggs - Landlord
7/10
Last week Giggs became the latest big name grime artist to release an album in 2016, with Landlordcoming out on his very own label SN1 Records. Giggs combines clever wordplay and status-grabbing with more serious recollections of his past, all thrown down over trap-style beats that form the backbone of the album.
The Blow Back is signature Giggs, a dark beat which features impressive verses from Stormzy and Dubz. A heavy bassline drives Whippin Excursion, also inspired by the slower trap-style tempo which leaves centre stage for Giggs’ deep and sinister vocal range. The next couple of songs I found slightly more uninspiring, until the album changes vibe with Lock Doh. This track has a bouncing low-end melody, and infuses sounds ranging from RnB to Fuse ODG’s African inspired style. It’s a flashy album track which speeds up and shows off a different side to Giggs’ flow.
The hook sung by Rico Love on Of Course is madly catchy whilst Giggs raps a heartfelt recollection of past pains and mistakes. Another highlight is The Best, which channels a hip hop vibe from across the Atlantic, different sounding from the dominant styles found elsewhere on the album but it still feels at home and stands out as one of, um, well, The Best, on the album.
Although the album dips in places it’s still packed with some excellent tunes. Head-nodding hooks, militant trap beats and some big name features are tied together by Giggs’ clinical and clever verses. The Landlord has extended his tenancy at the top of British rap.
7/10
