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This week I got the eye of the tiger...

This week I have been slappin’ the latest from Roach Gigz, Roachy Balboa 2. I know I’m a little late on this album, it dropped late January 2011, but to tell the truth I’m a little late on Roach himself. But you know what they say, there isn’t a better time then now! If you haven’t heard Roach Gigz before he has a very unique voice and flow that at first will make you say “really”, but on closer examination his rhymes on Roachy Balboa 2 will make you say damn! I have heard Roach Gigz classified as 2011-hyphy mixed with lyricism, but Roachy Balboa 2 is much more then hyphy mixed with some dope lyrics, it’s a manifesto of Roach’s Hip Hop skills and ambitions. Roachy Balboa 2 is the launching pad. Roachy Balboa 2 opens up with Chances which features the Rocky theme song sample. Chances is a great opener, it sets the tone for Roachy Balboa 2 and is a straight heater that lets you know Roach is staying hungry. Blasting Off follows after Dopest 2, now after these two tracks you really start to get the feeling that Roach Gigz is on some straight other shit. Each song is the normal three to four minutes long, but his word craft makes each song feel like a 10 minute journey into his mind that you don’t want to end. Juice is another slapper, that will have you snappin’ your neck. I heard San Quinn say “I’m on Divisadero in my SS Camero” which is dope, but Roach says on Juice  “I’m on Divis in my PJs, getting a cheese steak,” which is just so dope to me, Roach keeps it 100! Hold Up featuring LiveWire king pin J. Stalin is up next. Hold Up features a super synthed hyped beat that you can tell was crafted especially for Stalin and Roach’s styles. Roach kicks it with one of the hardest lines I’ve heard in a while “Everybody wants to be Scarface, but how you going to be Scareface if you're scared to get a scar on your face.” You know J. Stalin is doing his thing on Hold Up. The only complaint I have with Hold Up is that I wish the track was another verse each. Hold Up goes! Syrup Thighs follows with that “bad habit” flow. Syrup Thighs is Roach Gigz ode to that SIZZZURP. The great thing about Syrup Thighs is that Roach Gigz tells a story. I have heard a million song about BO and LEAN, but Roach flips the script and takes the two drugs and turns them into females, so he can tell a story. Can I Rap directly follows Syrup Thighs and all I can say about Can I Rap, is yes Roach Gigz can rap! Can I Rap is a sonic attack to all the haters, Roach Gigz can keep up, in actuality he is setting the bar. There are way too many slappers on Roach Balboa 2  to name them all, but some other tracks I’m feeling include Rap Star featuring Mistah F.A.B., RB2, and Pants Low. Roach Gigz has made Roachy Balboa 2 his call for the rap game to watch out. There are a handful tracks I didn’t even mention, but when you make 21 slappers it’s hard to touch on every track. Roach Gigz is on the precipice and we as a Bay Area Hip Hop community should be proud and supporting the kid. So stop what you are doing and go out and cop Roach Balboa 2 and be prepared to be blown away.