Album Review: Flagboy Giz - Smoke Signals

Flagboy Giz

Smoke Signals

***and1/2 out of *****

The newest offering, Smoke Signals, form Flagboy Giz continues his string of engaging music, braggadocio rhymes and funky beats. The hybrid mix of hip-hop, funk, and Mardi Gras Indian culture flows strong throughout the New Orleans focused album.  

The record kicks off with synths, bass, strings, and beats as the brief "The River" sets the table for the songs to follow. "Now He Gotta Die" is dynamic, starting as a piano ballad before moving towards big beats while "And Did" has a great groove with top notch bass and piano work. 

A few tracks feature The Wild Tchoupitoulas, increasing the horns and second line feel to things. "Catch Me" brings in gorgeous brass to the hip-hop flow as Giz rhymes about his Mardi Gras Indian traditions and "Injun Money Records" deploys a Spanish flare with sizzling horn work in cool fashion. 

Flagboy is constantly boasting about being the greatest Mardi Gras Masking Indian with "I Know You Lyin" thumping with deep bass and plinking synths and "Culture Fest" which is full of percussion and big bass hits. The album moves up a level though when Giz adds more New Orleans sounds, such as on "Zydeco Indian" which brings in those title zydeco accordions and sounds, "No Runnin" expertly uses Indian chants, "VL (Ft. Spyboy T3)" gets into the club with trap influenced skittering beats and "Untitled" flashes some six string rock riffs. 

The most experimental offering is "Phantom of the Indian Council" which uses classical/theatrical beats from Raj Smoove and finds Giz switching up his vocal style to match in wild fashion. It is more wide reaching than other offerings and shows Giz's willingness to branch out his sound in positive fashion. 

Flagboy Giz's Smoke Signals is a fun trip all around as the beats and boasts mix with New Orleans inspired sounds. 

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