Berner — Gotti

"Gotti" closes the mafia trilogy created by the San Francisco rapper Berner, which began with "Russ Bufalino: The Quiet Don" (2020) and continued with "Paulie Cicero" (2021). He, in a complicated moment of his personal life, gets the blessing directly from John Gotti Jr., with whom he has a couple of meetings, and which allows him to use unreleased audios from his father, John Gotti, on the album. Berner uses short clips from the Gambino family's Godfather for the interludes on his record, closing a trilogy centered on the Italian-American East Coast mafia.

Music is provided by Cozmo, Flex on the Beat, FOREVEROLLING, Vidal Garcia, Daniel Cruz, CJ Washington, ZBeatz, Tony Butcha, Nabeyin, Authentik, Omar Grand, Max Perry, RBP, Traxx FDR, Aurora Beats. In addition to Berner's trusted collaborator and major producer Cozmo, several high-profile guests participate in the album, such as Nas, Jadakiss, Styles P, Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, Rick Ross, Future, Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla Sign and Janelle Marie, which almost all are in the first half of the album. Also participating are Ryn Nicole, Kevin Cossom, Millyz, Rod Wave, Mozzy and Madeline Lauer.

Composed of 19 tracks, 3 skits, and 58 total minutes, the latest album in Berner's mob trilogy is very close to being a classic of the rap mafia subgenre, despite themes that are more geared towards independent success, braggadocio and weed, as well as typical gangsta rap topics. The rhythm selection is as professional as you would hardly expect from an independent tape, blending jazz, soul and trap elements to create a melodic and accessible sound, fit with Berner's laid-back delivery: the production is relaxed, glossy, cohesive, infallible, even and above all when the pezonovante guests leave the scene, continuing to hold the entire record in a brilliant way. The guests are among the main protagonists of the edition, with Berner reserving only three solo songs for himself.

Future sounds at his best on the fresh trap beat of "Draped Up", then there are two obligatory posses, "Too Many Goats" and "Pound for Pound", amidst strong tracks. The first part of the record is practically flawless. "Pound for Pound" is opened and closed by skits by John Gotti, and boasts stanzas from Mozzy, Conway the Machine, Styles P and Benny the Butcher, on a light, relaxed and midtempo boom bap production performed by Cozmo, Daniel Cruz and ZBeatz. "Too Many Goats" deserves to go down as one of the best rap posse cuts of the year. On a gorgeous soundscape made by Cozmo and Vidal Garcia, Berner delivers along with Rick Ross, Nas and Jadakiss, with hook from singer Kevin Cossom, creating an excellent track. In the rest of the LP, the other guests don't disappoint, providing several high points.

In summary, I haven't listened to all his discography, but this is one of Berner's best albums and one of the West Coast finest records of the season, 7.5/10.