Stanisland Magazine

Unremarkable new album from Giggs showcases limits to a skillset that was once different, but now at times, banal.

VERDICT:

Having impressed with his outing titled Now or Never, the London rapper Giggs (real name Nathaniel Thompson) releases a new album featuring a roster of features that make for interesting reading, signaling just how far the UK Hip-Hop scene has come.

In the advent of his latest album Zero Tolerance, the rapper rolls out the red carpet for features that may have been unthinkable for a British rapper a decade ago. Though as exciting as they are, their shine isn’t what it once was, delivering subpar verses that fail to ingrain. Jadakiss, Dave East, Diddy, and 21 Savage are all on show here, though, perhaps do not meld well with the rapper’s style.

Following the track we all know titled Mandem featuring Diddy, it’s clear he managed to catch him on a night out and thought “Hey, why don’t you feature on my record?” to which Diddy replied, “Why not, I’m drunk, I might as well!?! LOL”. It starts off convincingly until Diddy adlibs in true Sean Combs fashion.

Each track corresponds with the artist’s delivery, though limiting excitement of the listener. Thompson’s slow flow equals that of the production value but ends up progressing into a slow downward fall, akin to a lullaby podcast as experienced in Spiderman, Folklore, and Homage. At times, sounding parodic.

Perhaps the system will change you say? Enter We Nuh Fraid switching it up, only slightly as our protagonist is unable to match the speed of the rhythms he selects.

Overall, Zero Tolerance is an average release with little to shout about. Its value in background music will perhaps offer excitement from time to time, but not all in one go.

If his pen game was stronger, maybe this release would have been an album of note. You could say that’s just his style, but ultimately there is a lack of enthusiasm to try new things and is a prime reason why there might be a ceiling for Giggs.