Showbiz & AG — Full Scale LP

In 1992 New York rap is oriented towards jazz coming from albums such as "3 Feet High and Rising" by De La Soul (1989), "Done by the Forces of Nature" by Jungle Brothers (1989), "One for All" by Nubian Brands (1990) and Main Source's "Breaking Atoms" (1991). Show & AG replicate placing their debut gem, "Runaway Slave" (1992).

In the mid-nineties, Mobb Deep lead the way with "The Infamous", Raekwon corrects the style with his "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...", Show & AG drop "Goodfellas", followed the next year by Nas ("It Was Written") and Jay-Z ("Reasonable Doubt"). Three years later, the New York scene seems to be stagnating and the duo, once again back in the game, don't really know where to start.

This record looks like in that situation: it's confused, deleterious when compared to the previous ones. It's not clear what happened to Showbiz and why AG needs The Ghetto Dwellas one song every three. There are some standouts, thanks to Big Pun (of Terror Squad) and the other legend KRS-One in "Drop It Heavy", and Big L which alone illuminates "Dignified Soldiers" (light beat, almost undetected), but the rest basically passes unnoticed. There are lots of mediocre beats and the presence of several members of the D.I.T.C. doesn't raise the level of the LP, particularly "Dignified Soldiers" remix which literally arrives two tracks after the original, but why? It's a very dull remix, what does it change compared to the song listened to ten minutes before?

The album continues but, after "Raw as Ever", a rare solo by AG accompanied by a good beat, the record drastically falls, reaching its low peak with the beats provided by Greyboy (if they had been produced by Show there would have been something to worry about, seriously: they sucks), gray, forgettable.

In 1998, Show & AG publishes an EP composed by nine songs, four are instrumentals. The rest are the title track, "Drop It Heavy", "Spit", "Q & A" and "Raw as Ever". The disk is released through DITC Records and distributed by Fat Beats. In 2002 is released a CD, the instrumentals are removed and are added ten tracks: D-Flow and Party Artie of The Ghetto Dwellas are guests in half of them. Diamond D and Lord Finesse join the other guys in a disk that breathes DITC vibes.

Not a shameful/foolish record and perhaps not even a shocking album, probably's still enjoyable but don't expect it to live up to the previous ones. If you are not a DITC fan, perhaps it'd be better to go further.

Rating: 6/10.