G Perico & DJ Drama Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz
If you’ve made a trip to Los Angeles in recent years there are a few truths that pass the test of time whether it’s your 1st time or 100th time, my friends. The first truth is that nobody knows how to drive or park. Don’t know why but everyone forgets how to do both the moment they hop off the I-5 freeway. The second truth is that you have heard the motivated hustler raps of LA native, Former Roc Nation artist, and Independent heavyweight G Perico ringing out of sound systems around town. Perico turns 35 on April 3rd and what better way to celebrate than dropping a Gangsta Grillz tape with DJ Drama that shows he’s in his prime with Hot Shot.
On Hot Shot G wastes no time pressing on the gas. “Half a ticket and I’m still independent” Perico echoes on the project's first song Still Independent. A brag-heavy barrage of bars over an uptempo, sample-driven masterpiece of production. An Impeccable way to start things off with the legendary DJ Drama feeling in the blanks per usual. It's the perfect preamble to songs like Action and Ask G4 which see Perico deliver every single line with purpose. The real standout on the tape outside of the production and content is just how strong Perico’s delivery is. In an industry full of liars and embellishers G does an outstanding job of coming off as completely believable. If he says the “Glock 40 goes with whatever” then you better believe it does.
That brings us to perhaps my favorite effort on Hot Shot, German Engineering. “We was setting up shop where they had section 8” G raps referring to his So Way Out store in Los Angeles, one of his original claims to fame. He’s been hustling in multiple lanes for a while and if it hadn’t been for an arrest he’d most likely be even bigger than he already is as he’ll tell you himself. German Engineering might also contain the best production on the tape. From the jazz piano keys, steady hi-hats, and boomin' 808s to the hint of saxophone notes that hang on your eardrums. This one deserves to chill in the VIP section of your playlist easily.
Before we go on I have to say “Baby this real life, it's not a Justin Laboy meme” is one of my favorite opening lines of any song ever. Thanks, DJ Drama I might have to throw that in my petty reply duffle bag. That's just one of the memorable lines on Mind Body and Soul the project’s “love song”. It's the only song of its kind on the tape but when you do something right the first time you don’t exactly have to do it over and over. Definitely, the song you sneak onto the aux cord while you and that girl who finally gave you her number after your 3rd IG dm hit the beach.
Although the tape is full of gun raps and somewhat glorified street talk G Perico makes sure to give warning as he heads towards the project’s finish line. Karma is the tale of G reaping what he sowed. “Everything you do gon' come back to you” he states. He’s a testament to the ups and downs. Not many people could do the time he did and still breakthrough. Salute to that kind of hustle. Hot Shot hits the right high notes in its genre and hopefully, it gets the flowers it deserves because you won’t hear anything like it from anyone else. Stream it now and hang it in the Louvre, my friends.