Second extended play made by Memphis rapper Lil Gin. Due to an unofficial cassette released in 1995 by Pure Erb Records and Gimi Sum Productions with a cover that pays tribute to the movie "Super Fly" (1972), the tape is also known with the title "Shake Junt".
The production is entirely done by DJ Paul, Juicy J and MVP, and the tape features several guests, including Kingpin Skinny Pimp (also co-producer of the title track), 211, Evaclear, Tha Joker, Rasta-T and Juicy J. Although there are several guests covering half the playing time, with Skinny Pimp appearing in half the tape, Lil Gin always sounds dominant over one of the best productions made by DJ Paul. The beats chosen by Three Six Mafia & MVP and the rapping of Lil Gin are the two pivots of this tape: on one of the best sets of the year, and exaggerating, perhaps even of the Memphis scene of the nineties, the youngsta FLIES, metaphorically. He's unstoppable, this half hour is a victory lap for him.
Like all the best albums, this one also gives classic sensations from the first moments, beyond the wonderful blaxploitation cover, which represents the topics of the album: crime, violence, bravado and girls. The first track has an excellent sample, dirty and raw midtempo drum, fantastic light strings: Lil Gin enters strong, smoothness, energetic, inspired, determined, hardcore, boasting an excellent flow, which he also maintains in the following solo track, on dark samples and hard drum. "Midnight Hoez" is the first track to have a guest, Skinny Pimp: raw midtempo drum machine, good samples, confident regular slow delivery of Gimisum's MC, Lil Gin confirms that this is his tape. Juicy J closes the A side of this cassette with a fluid, slow, syncopated flow, over a dark downtempo production, together with the young rapper still in shape.
The second side opens with a masterpiece cut, "Demons in My Soul": the rhythm is sensational, I don't know exactly who to give credit to, maybe MVP, in any case, he/they did an excellent job. The drum beats midtempo, the sample is light, melodic, beautiful, there's a snare drum in the background, but it's completely accessible, you hardly hear it so far away, practically, it's only aesthetics. On this soundscape, the piece becomes a showcase for the talents of the young Rasta-T, 211, the already-known Skinny Pimp and Lil Gin, immense, also here. The main MC also does very well on the rapid production of the title track: great samples, perfect drum, melodic sounds, the boy kills the cut. The last two songs are two other masterpieces, on two excellent melodic rhythms, Lil Gin delivers bars together with Skinny Pimp, Evaclear and Tha Joker.
Released by Gimisum, it present Lil Gin at his peak, at just 14/15 years old: it's easily one of the best albums of the year and one of the freshest and youngest cassettes out of Memphis rap, the performers are young and their energy is overwhelming, the tape is practically flawless.
Rating: 9/10.
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