Empire Vinilo y CD

Review: Fresh, hot-off-the-plate yet classic-sounding gangsta rap from the collaboration of Free Nationals, Anderson .Paak and A$AP Rocky. 'Gangsta' flips the script of the genre, lyrically examining the hip-hop genre's historical obsession with gangsters, while more avowedly narrating the story of a 'wangsta' whose wannabe proclamations of realness have no match for Rocky and .Paak's authentic intuitions, owing to their true-blood, inherited street knowledge. It's a fresh, empowering new move from the LA-based hip-hop group, whose sound evinces a well-produced, jazz-flavoured and Dilla-eqsue wonk come clarity of sound, as ever.

Review: Free Nationals released their debut album back in 2018. The LA-formed R&B collective comprised of Jose Rios, Ron "T.Nava" Avant, Kelsey Gonzales and Callum Connor are best known as being the backing band for Anderson .Paak but also make grooves just as tight on their own. This debut was packed with top guests such as .Paak himself as well as Mac Miller and Kali Uchis and it was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. It mixes up classic R&B with twists of funk and soul greats like Stevie Wonder.