Showtime Ramon – ‘Goat Skin’ [Album Review]

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Prolific West Coast emcee Showtime Ramon returns with his new project Goat Skin, an 8-track body of work that compiles several songs from his ever-growing catalogue. Each track is produced by different producers who bring a wide range of sounds to match Showtime Ramon’s expressive and off-kilter style.

Goat Skin starts with “84 Dan Marino”, a hard-hitting retro-synth-wave-infused cut produced by Blue Flamez Ent. Here, Showtime Ramon pays homage to the former American football quarterback with his unhinged and unapologetic bars about bad chicks, the 80s lifestyle and his never-ending grind to be the best at what he does. This is followed by the anthemic “Hefner” produced by his longtime collaborator ProjectPorter, who laces him with a scenic backdrop allowing Ramon to lyrically flex his verbal muscles with lines like “My number’s double-double, in overseas that is a bonus/That’s where I am going globally/local my name is famous/I’m lyrically the one, I rap my way out of the Matrix”. The project continues with the brooding “Mcgradys” and soulful “New Jack”, both tracks highlight Showtime Ramon’s no-holds-barred style. His excessive use of stream-of-consciousness flows and irreverent demeanour play a huge part as well in adding to his mystique as an underground rapper.

Producer FlyGodVici gifts Showtime Ramon an ominous backdrop on “The Total Package” which sees the rapper back in his element. Dropping references from WWE to the NBA would make fans of these franchises proud not to talk of the title which is a slight nod to the legendary wrestler Lex Luger. The fun continues on the following tracks “Second 2 None” and “Rhea Ripley”. The former has a rich cinematic and rock element that is prevalent while the mellow and brooding sounds of the latter make for an interesting listen. The drum fills on “Second 2 None” are boisterous while the laidback vibes of “Rhea Ripley” are alluring but the best part is Showtime Ramon flows effortlessly over the tracks and gives audiences exactly what they asked for. The final track “Spitting in the Moonlight” starts with a solemn piano sample courtesy of Zoneto’Zen, before the drum drops and Showtime Ramon delivers the final blow with lines like “I spit a cold blast like PMD, rugged and Raw/Choking out the game for the top spot like Chris Benoit/Now I’m taking over, I’m serious as a weapon draw/I’m the total package, I got a back-breaking repertoire”.

Showtime Ramon continues to stick to what he knows because it works and Goat Skin is another notch on his championship belt