Lansky — Lansky

Sometimes, when the Wu-Tang Clan doesn't respond to your needs, you can to turn to affiliates. It's a fantastic world and digging, you can't be disappointed. The W that stands out at the bottom of the cover suggests that this is an affiliate's project. The discography of this artist is aimed at the public that comes from "The Purple Tape" and Raekwon's mentality, therefore to an audience that is linked to hip-hop music inspired by the criminal organizations of the thirties, from Al Capone to Bugsy Siegel, from Lucky Luciano to precisely Meyer Lansky, from which the moniker of this rapper is derived.

Looking into mass culture, it turns out that little material has been dedicated to Lansky's character and the crucial impact he has had in the world of the mafia, helping to transform it into a profitable business from which he was one of the few to get out of it without being murdered or suffering from a heart attack, at least in the Crime Syndicate, along with Nucky Thompson, alongside which he appears briefly in the iconic TV series "Boardwalk Empire".

The cinematic character of Hyman Roth in the second chapter of "The Godfather" (1974) and Max Bercovicz in "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984) are based on the character of Lansky, as well as having been portrayed in several forgettable films about the mafia. In 2021 the movie "Lansky" is released, based on the life of the criminal and which turns out to be a flop at the box office, despite the protagonist being played by the famous Harvey Keitel — Charlie Cappa in "Mean Streets" (1974), Mickey Cohen in "Bugsy" (1991), Angelo Bruno in "The Irishmen" (2019), but also Mr. White and Mr. Wolf in Tarantino gangster films "Reservoir Dogs" (1992) and "Pulp Fiction" (1996).

Myalansky exploits the poster of the film proposing it also for his new album of the same name, shortening its moniker to a simple Lansky for the occasion. Primo G produces the entire record, leaving a rhythm to Ralphiie Reese, another to Sideshow Tuesday and the bonus track "Nostra Costra" to Smokin' Joe. The guests are Estee Nack, Mooch, Big Twins, Kount Dartula, Ralphiie Reese, Solomon Childs, Jahmel, Phil Blount, MonStar, Crisis, P.U.R.E and Shaka Amazulu the 7th (in the bonus track).

The album impresses with its deep smoothness, it's clean, brilliant and emanates positive vibes. The soundscape provided by Primo G is splendid, light and accessible boom bap with calm midtempo drums, and jazz and soul samples that are fascinating and wonderful in their simplicity. Lansky dominates every rhythm, performs at his finest and boasts some good mafioso flows: it's as if he had thoroughly studied "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" and wanted to bring his own follow-up flick to that masterpiece, releasing a project that is cinematic in every aspect.

Guests always arrive at the right time and some leave their mark, for example "Organized Crime" is a strong start with Estee Nack and Mooch of da Cloth. Big Twins is an appropriate addition to "Mademen" and Solomon Childs is guest in the necessary dissing to Noreaga aka Nore, caused by a statement against Killa Beez during a moment of lack of clarity during his podcast. The album retains a high replay value, thanks to short tracks, refined production, clean rapping and a good sequence of pieces, improving with every listen.