G prefers the role of rap educator to one of violent demagogue. Over Pete Rock’s introspective production, Edo. If he’s controversial, Niggaz Wit Attitude is intellectually stimulating dinner party music. He describes his breezy, conversational flow as “wholesome and controversial”, which is pretty inaccurate. He says so on the lead off track, an ode to the mean streets of Boston (“Boston”). Alongside his crew Da Bulldogs, he was spitting lyrics back when 50 cents was just a nickel. G isn’t a throwback rapper he’s a comeback rapper from the throwback days. G, what have you done for me lately?”Įdo. G (Edward Anderson) obsesses about the past and some of the rhymes sound aged past perfection, which begs the question, “Edo. I made the old new again, now pay attention.” With Pete Rock piloting the helm for seven of the 10 tracks, Edo. They reclaimed history in a way that said, “Hey, I’m the modern poet part artist/part historian. Even when rappers excavated their own history to sample from the past, they gave it urgency. No matter how much people pine for the good ole days, they want the future. As if the mere mention of golden era hip-hop could simultaneously rouse a legion of old-school fans and still resonate with today’s generation. G rolls off the assembly line as music’s next best thing, a “throwback from the ’90s”. With the release of My Own Worst Enemy, Edo.