After teasing us with the lead single “Stop Smiling”, the duo of Massachusetts rapper Big Dese and Florida producer Mike Martinez return with their 7th full-length collaborative album titled Deseperado. The 15-track project is an embodiment of their years of collaborating and once again delivers that hard-hitting underground hip-hop we all love.
As the title of the album suggests, it’s inspired by the legendary Desperado movie starring Antonio Banderas and sees the duo as a musical embodiment of the character who goes on a dangerous mission. The album begins with “The Irish Goodbye” which helps introduce us to their world with a memorable clip from the movie before the moody guitar-driven soundscape comes into play. Big Dese steps into the forefront with his gruff vocals and detailed lyricism as he decimates the opposition with ease. He also doesn’t shy away from detailing some proclivities with humorous lines like “I would be a tender lover, I’m just trying to have my hotboy summer/now the dick is under ya sisters dumper, I talk shit about her little brother”. This is followed by the menacing “Gotta Go Get It” where Big Dese switches up his flow into a double-time cadence underpinned by a plethora of verbal darts to match the opposition and the previously released single “Stop Smiling”. The track comprises a brooding string sample with punchy drum grooves which is more than enough for Big Dese and Eff Yoo’s verbal diatribes and engaging storytelling. The reflective “Playing Out My Role” is next up and it’s an insightful jam that talks about life’s pressure and how sometimes one needs to unplug from it to retain sanity.
The project still keeps the lone hero theme throughout as audiences get drawn into a world where unpredictability is the norm and on tracks like the ominous “In My Bag” and scenic “Easy Throw”, we get to see Big Dese holding down the lyrical fort with ease. The sombre guitar-driven “Gains” is about work ethic as Big Dese reminds us that he is not run-of-the-mill and differentiates himself with bars like “Whatever you do, be ready to lose/I don’t show no age, I study and prove/Its never too late is a lesson for you/Attacking the challenger, check out my Calibre, heard of immaculate Jesus”. On “Top 10” he is joined by fellow rapper Just Pete and together they deliver another set of no-barred raps that hit the bullseye. “Living the Dream” is anchored on the concept of goals and aspirations that aren’t fully realized but the momentum never stops. It starts with another clip from the movie that helps set the tone before Big Dese’s unfiltered stories about his not-so-glorious moments come into play. The next track “Polaroids” employs a familiar throwback sample that forms the perfect backdrop for Big Dese’s nostalgia-filled raps peppered with his distinct humorous quips.
The fun part about Deseperado is how the duo play loosely with the theme instead of sticking to the same familiar schtick that audiences might expect. Big Dese gets to share some of his struggles and personal tales at different points while kicking his usual off-kilter lyricism as heard on the playful but insightful self-assessing track “Not Basketball Season” Meanwhile “Aggravation Gravitation” has a blend of self-degradation and introspection which is somewhat coated with a playful demeanour. Tracks like “Grind (ODAAT)”, the dark mob violence inspired “Mob Flick” and lyric-dense “Paul Simon” revel in Big Dese’s unrivalled lyrical gymnastics and devil may care approach. The tracks give audiences another perspective on his style and lines like “But every time I diet, I lose energy/I don’t know I fuck with food heavily/Only time I feel incredible is when I do edibles/I need a life change/Maybe I should start to do vegetables” while on “Mob Flick” his storytelling reaches a fever pitch. “Paul Simon” is another playful cut with unfiltered songwriting and that is carried into the melancholic soundscape of “Trust No One”. Big Dese goes wild on that tune and lines like “My bitch got a pair of D’s, if the ass flat I don’t want it/And your girl’s ass so flat you could probably iron clothes on it” had me rolling on the floor. He also gives his 2 cents on other topics on the track ranging from personality issues, loyalty and the rising cost of living amongst other things.
The last two tracks on the project include the cinematic “You Guys Are Over” and “It Ain’t Easy (Stay Pushin)”. Both tracks are two sides of the same coin which is Big Dese. One minute he is joking and the next he spills out his feelings on tracks. The former is a blitzkrieg of battle raps with a touch of reflection while the latter dives into his journey thus far as an artist and the many hurdles he had to overcome. He reminds us that it’s not as easy as it looks but he is managing and making the best out of it.
Overall Deseperado is action-packed, reflective and relatable for all intents and purposes. Big Dese is self-aware throughout and doesn’t sugarcoat his message to appease anyone. On the production tip, Mike Martinez crafts a wholesome and cinematic backdrop for each track and helps bring the lyrics to life. His sampling technique is impeccable and his overall style makes him stand out as a producer.
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