Gangster Have Guns, Gentlemen Don’t
Ever since the the legendary LOX came into this game, we knew that they were the streets. They talked about guns, drugs (as do many others) and, last but not least, they made their appeal for being rich somehow sound true and honest. One of the group’s members, Styles aka Paniro aka Holiday aka The Ghost (“I go by a lot of names”), dropped his highly-awaited solo debut “A Gangster And A Gentleman” a few weeks ago. And it’s once again the most direct and hardest version of the streets...

When you listen to the album which goes over almost 80 (!) minutes, well, just forget about the gentleman part of Styles for about 70 min. Most of the things before the last song (before the bonus track) is more guns, weed, death and dark ghetto stories than English-lookin’ stockbrokers/lawyers with good behavior in Brioni suits. This record is about Tim boots, not about Alden New England casual wear. “Good Times”, the opening track which you probably know ‘cause of the video and airplay it receives, is hard, slow, and all about the weed and the battle. “A Gangster and A Gentleman” is about Styles’ life (“My pops came from Bed-Stuy, my moms came from Africa, I’m more n**** if you know what I mean!”). Styles does not forget to mention his love for guns. “Lick Shots” with Jadakiss, Sheek & J-Hood is ugly, dark, grimy, and the title is meant literally: Glocks are blasting throughout the hook of the song. Nota bene: Jadakiss shows once again why he is still the LOX’ leader, his rhymes come hard as hell, and the flow, dear reader, the flow... Eve appears on “And I Came To...” and spits some dope lyrics, the track on the whole however is kinda nervous and lacks a clear concept (Eve talks about people hatin’ on them while Styles once again gets into his drug business and, after about eight bars (too late!), states himself: “But back to this rap shit who thug it the most”). “Get Paid” is one of the really nicest tracks on the album: Mr. Devine produced a smooth beat, and Styles raps about his money or at least him getting’ money, and this in a somehow affective way. Like, you really believe him, unlike people sportin’ some ice on MTVJams. “Soul Clap” is a trip back to ’93 when Wu-Tang was on (as far as the beat is concerned), and it is fuckin’ good, it just somehow stands very alone on the album with its style. “Listen” is really contemplative and thoughtful, one of the best tracks on the record, “Nobody Believes Me” is a clever storytellin’ trick with Styles talkin’ to his gun/his knife/his haze/his money. “My brother”, the song for Styles’ brother which has gone, has nothing to do with Styles’ gangster thoughts anymore, this is thoughts, talkin’ to a beloved person, being feared of life and death, this is another great track on the record. The bonus with Pharaohe Monch “My life”, well, that’s just one of the best tracks of this year, word.

Well, overall, if Styles had found an equilibrium between the gangster and the gentleman, this album would have become a classic in my ears. However, it’s still great for the artist’s skills, the wit of words, the stories, the grimy streetstyle, it’s just a little too much of the gangster and too few things with the gentleman. Well, Styles at least sounds authentic. He might be a ganster, the first real (!!!) gangster in this industry for months, probably years. And the record is dope, it’s just, well: “Paniro the ghost, they thought of me when they invented the gun!” – “Y’all don’t wanna fuck” feat. M.O.P.

****1/2 out of SIX SHOTS.