A Gangster and a Gentleman: Hardcore yet Human; The Diary of Styles Panero

Nowadays, being a gangster is synonymous with mainstream appeal. I spoke pretty well on this matter in my recent Jadakiss review; commercial "studio gangstas" who always pack the radio with the essentially same song constantly, never once dropping anything scientific, emotional, intelligent, or creative. I don't think I have you tell you that I detest radio gangsta rap for those reasons, and the fact that its bad music to me. However, there's a whole other side of gangsta rap that people don't see. While Jadakiss is an obnoxious twit who has the audacity to proclaim himself one of the best (in his dreams), fellow Lox member Styles approaches his music from a different perspective. Styles, much like a real gangsta, prefers to keep it at a much more sombre, unobnoxious tone. When you listen to Jadakiss rap, you feel as if he's grabbing you demanding attention, even when he's introspective (i.e. "Why"). When you listen to Styles rap, you get the feeling that the man is basically reading his experiences, dreams, and ambitions right from his journal. Commercial gangsta rap typically glorifies the street lifestyle and contains a bunch of over-the-top nonsense about mass murders and flashy, materialistic objects which means more to them than the families of those whom they murdered. Of course: it's bull.

On A Gangster and a Gentleman, Styles seems remorseful, almost dissapointed, that this life was chosen for him. You can listen to every single human emotion within his poetry, and honestly tell that he's saddened that life is like this for so many unfortunate people. Rather than brag about how much more ice he's got, Styles prefers to just sit back and tell you how it is, and hope that you can analyze it the right way. A Gangster and a Gentleman is about a man who was given a painful path, how he surpassed it, and now wants to tell us all; crossing the line between graphic imagery and realistic storytelling. Before I even get to the review... DO... NOT... SLEEP.



Track List & Rating

1. Intro (NOT RATED)
2. I Get High (Good Times) (*****)
3. Yall Know We In Here f/ Swizz Beatz, & P.K. (**)
4. A Gangster And A Gentleman (****)
5. Black Magic f/ Angie Stone (******)
6. Daddy Get That Cash f/ Lil' Mo (***)
7. Lick Shots f/ Jadakiss, Sheek, J-Hood (**)
8. And I Came To f/ Eve & Sheek (*)
9. Get Paid (*)
10. Ass Bag (Skit) (NOT RATED)
11. I'm A Ruff Ryder f/ Jadakiss (***)
12. Soul Clap (***)
13. We Thugs (My Niggas) f/ Jadakiss & Sheek (***)
14. Styles f/ Jadakiss (***)
15. Barbershop (Skit) (NOT RATED)
16. Listen (****)
17. Niggas Flippin (Skit) (NOT RATED)
18. Y'all Don't Wanna Fuck f/ M.O.P. (****)
19. Shit Done Changed (Skit) (NOT RATED)
20. Nobody Believes Me f/ Sheek, Cross, J-Hood (*****)
21. Dedication (Skit) (NOT RATED)
22. My Brother (******)
23. Outro (Skit) (NOT RATED)
24. The Life (Bonus Track) f/ Pharoahe Monch (******)



This album is chock full of skits, and I'm not covering them. I didn't get this to listen to skits, and you shouldn't either.

"I Get High (Good Times)" was a pretty big single in 2002, and I really like it. I know a couple of people who don't dig the production, but man I'm feeling it. Featuring that essential high-pitched vocal for the primary part of the hook, Ayatolla sets up a pretty interesting melody composed of percussion piano, organ, and synthesized background effects. This song is just catchy, hands down, and fun to listen to. As expected, the song is Styles describing the lifestyle of being a gangster, which to him is smoking a whole lot of weed. The song borders on a mixture of a hardcore gangsta track, yet with a soft laid-back vibe. The lyrics, while far from being at the level of a Canibus or a Nas, are pretty solid. As I have said many times before, a lack of complexity can easily be forgiven with emotion and consistency, and he brings that to the table as well.

Skipping ahead, the next true highlight of the album comes with "Black Magic". Remember what I was saying on the intro? Well that applies here. Styles uses this track thanking his lucky stars that he is alive and doing what he's doing and successful, but at the same time feeling remorseful for his actions. Styles spills his guts out, showcasing a display of honesty that 90% of these "radio emcees" lack. Production-wise, I'm loving it. Airy and smooth keys backed by light bass and drums and an awesome chorus come together with Styles thought-provoking lyrics to provide a track that quite simply must not be skipped.

Unfortunately, for all the good that A Gangster and a Gentleman delivers in it's early moments, there's quite a bit of bad as well. Tracks like "You Know We In Here", "Lick Shots", "Aint It Came To" and "Get Paid" are certain disasters. "You Know We in Here" for instance, finds Styles with a group of lackluster emcees over questionable production. Swizz Beats' production is far too obnoxious to be good, and while the song isn't a complete washout, the chorus is trash. Swizz Beats' production on "Ain't It Came To" is EVEN WORSE. Styles at least comes through potently. "Lick Shots" was I believe, Styles second single. The song isn't piss poor, but it's just boring. The beat refuses to keep you at attention, and the rhyming is mediocre on numerous occasions. I'm not feeling it. Certain people would closed-mindedly label me as biased for not liking "Get Paid", but this song is actually NOT a materialistic, shallow cut. I don't like the song because the production is awful and the chorus just forces me to push the skip button. Although Styles eye-opening view of his ambitions to be rich is interesting, I can't help but dislike it because there's nothing musically appealing.

Even the aptly titled "Daddy Get That Cash" is decent. Although the title may turn some listeners off, the song is actually not what one would percieve. Styles walks us through the journey of a gangster and what he needs to do to make it out paid. The powerful piano chords and bass provides an epic feel to the track, as Styles narrates the same exact subject matter and story he spat on "Get Paid" and "Lick Shots", only focuses a bit more on his relationship with a female; another nice twist). Hell, this album would be a lot better without the aforementioned tracks and just this one. Trimming the fat helps sometimes... and this album is needing it harshly.

Toward the middle of the album, things improve a lot more, but aren't quite "great" yet. Jadakiss makes a handful of guest spots on "I'm a Ruff Ryder", "We Thugs (My Niggas)" and "Styles".

The first of the three cuts is a pretty nice crew cut analyzing the rough life on the streets, getting hardcore. Technicalities aside, this is solid work. The LOX's view of hardcore street life is always interesting, but Styles is the man who doesn't hold back here with the visuals: "I keep the P-89 twenty shot in the coat, Better squeeze soon as you see me, you plottin to loat, I'm a little more than itchy, motherfucker, when it's time to splatter your mask I burst your kidneys". My only complaint: the production is a tad-bit lackluster, and Jada's hook is annoying. Moving on, "We Thugs (My Niggas)" finds Jadakiss, Styles, and Sheek trading lines back and forth (i.e. "We Gon' Make It" from Jada's debut). Same subject matter too. On "Styles", he decides to flex his creative muscles and basically just spit a hardcore assortment of no-nonsense, harsh street lyricism. Styles may not be a God when it comes to lyricism, but you can't deny he pulls no punches with his rhymes: "SP I'm the closest thing to poison it is, you think you hot, I'ma boil your kids, you think you cool, I'ma throw you in the river wit some cement shoes, you could sleep with the fishes, niggas actin funny so I gotta keep it movin I dont speak to the bitches, we could handle this like gangstas, Dawg, I'll kidnap your little man and send you to the banker". Harsh, violent, and honest... I like it. Only problem here: production is off the mark and not really fitting, or interesting for that matter.

Luckily for us, the final moments of A Gangster and a Gentleman (besides the skits) are nothing short of stellar and makes the album worthy of purchase wholeheartedly. Kicking shit off is Styles Panero's version of "Why", only much better. "Listen" finds Panero questioning the state of the world, informing the listener that there is hope if you look to your own self-importance, as well as religion and faith. He gets reflective in describing his views on poverty, the media, and technology, and how it seems that instead of moving forward we're moving backward. I can't say I disagree, although there isn't much we're doing to fix that. The strong emotion is what really makes this track so good. The guitar-flicking beat, while far from excellence, works pretty well with this. You can easily forgive it because it's the emotion within the rhymes that really makes this replayable.

With that said, "Ya'll Don't Wanna Fuck" is the exact opposite, with Styles teaming with M.O.P. for a hardcore posse cut which is nothing short of insane. I like it a lot, although I could understand if somebody didn't. M.O.P. and Styles hold nothing back in terms of lyrics, and the beat basically pounds your head with a hammer. Give it a listen, maybe you'll like it as much as me.

Perhaps the most creative track on A Gangster and a Gentleman comes in the form of "Nobody Believes Me". On "Nobody Believes Me", Styles plays the part of a psychotic gangster, which seems to be a way of life, and how he's slowly going insane. How crazy? Well, he's basically having coherent conversations with his pistol, his knife, and his weed. Sheek, J-Hood, and Cross play each object to the best of their abilities, and equally shine with the time given. Styles is the star of course, and the best part about the song is the fact that it's an actual story and it builds to a climax where he learns a new lesson from each of the objects. The song's true underlining factor comes in the fact that when you're living this type of dangerous life, you have nothing to rely on yourself and very little true friends, so you're left with your material possessions to talk to. For P, the haze, gun, and knife are the three things in his life that have never betrayed him to this day. That is the message. Besides all of that, the piano loop and chords laced for the production is more than fitting: it's excellent.

Before listening to the next song, take a look at "Dedication (Skit)". This serves as a perfect intro for it.

"My Brother" is the album's best song, Styles Panero's best song in his entire career, and a hip-hop classic. I firmly believe that. After listening to a final answering machine message, the beat kicks in. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. No better beat could've been chosen. The angelic violin and majestic bassline merge together to form an equal level of simplicity, yet a melody that cannot escape your head. Most of the beat is just violins, but man it hits you. However, what really will nail you is the lyrics.

Styles uses this track as a discussion/dedication to his deceased brother Gary. He talks about all of the good times he had with his brother and how much pain he has felt since his death. He reminisces on everything they did together, and how tragic it is that he passed on Mother's Day. However, Styles sees the light side of it, smiling at the fact that he "sees his face with Allah". The chorus pretty much says it all, as the emcee is struggling whether to cry or smile. On one hand, he can no longer physically feel his brother, but he knows he is there in spirit. To him, his brother is now an angel who is constantly looking over his shoulder and watching out for him now. You can FEEL Styles passion and emotion in the rhyming and how he is certainly distraught and sorrowful, but at the same time happy that his brother is probably in a better place: "Some of us fall and some of us fly, But at the end of the book baby all of us die... word". As the song closes, and Styles utters the lines: "Now I got a new ghost, And a baby brother angel I could feel, everytime the wind blows", you're going to get butterflies. That hit me. This song is a true tear-jerker, and I feel comfortable including one of the most powerful quotables I have ever heard:

"If I could get my miracle on
Listen to me, I would bring my brother back in the physical form
Cause the spirit still here, but the visual gone
And sometimes I gotta think if I'ma live to the morn
I guess it's no more schooling you
I know it's something in our blood, because us niggas in the street as usual
Left with a robbery charge, pack and a stash
Crushed a lot of niggas that it happened to gav'
But I'ma just light a blunt, look in the clouds
And I'ma ask my little nigga what's happening hav'
You died on mothers day, mom it's a gift
I know God took my brother cause his honor and strength
And we all gonna die Allah tally us up
While you there say what's up to lil malla and duck
And I know yall niggas restin in peace
You might be gone, but your soul is still here and is blessin the streets"

After "Outro" (which is actually very good and I suggest listening to it), "The Life" pops up. This is a bonus track (obviously), with Styles teaming up with Pharoah Monch. Monch hits us with the hook, crooning and whatnot and doing a good job of it. Styles gets very deep when it comes to the streets on this cut, describing his ascension from hustling to actually making it in the game. He takes us back to how harsh it used to be for him, and how he questioned all of life's morals until he found a way out. The production is very cool; very choir-like; with a high-pitched sample. On a side note, you may remember this as one of the highlights from the lackluster Soundbombing III compilation from the now-defunct Rawkus Records.

One thing I have learned from this is that Styles P is much unlike other emcees of his kind. With A Gangster and a Gentleman, Styles paints the picture of an emcee who is vivid with his words, is mature and intelligent, as well as mature and passionate. As I've said, Styles is nothing special lyrically, but he's good enough where it matters: emotion. Styles tugs at the heart, and manages to be hardcore at the same time. That is definitely the definition of being A Gangster and a Gentleman, no pun intended. Whether telling us about the harshness of the street, bragging about his prowess with weapons, going psychotic, or crying over his brother; this album is all about Styles' emotion and pain, and it's fair to say it's very authentic. This is "street music" as T would say... and then-some. So if you're in the mood for something unique to listen to for a while, I think it's pretty fair to see if your local music store has a copy. If you find this in the used pile, that's a must have. If you find it on ebay for a nice deal, bid. Whatever way you can, just make sure you don't sleep on this, or you'll sleep with the fishes.

This Review was dedicated to DVON a.k.a. T... who's MY BROTHER. Keep ya head up.

3.75 Stars





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