As far as internet slang goes, “OG” is on the older end of the spectrum. If you haven’t caught on just yet to phrases like “he’s the OG” or “that was so OG,” it’s safe to say you’re a little behind and according to Urban Dictionary’s most popular definition, OG is a simple abbreviation that “used to mean Original Gangster.” It has since been further co-opted to mean simply “original” or “old school.”
In hip-hop`s mainstream culture, calling something or someone OG dates back to the early ’90s. Ice-T released his fourth studio album, O.G. Original Gangster in 1991. The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and is Ice-T’s most successful record to date.
Now, Lyrical G (real names Jeff Kintu) an award-winning rap artiste and record producer who is noted among the first commercially successful solo rap artistes with one of the highest number of albums in Uganda and East Africa, having started rapping at a young age released his 10th Studio album last month, April 2023. But guess what? he named it “OG” and before its official release, he had provide Baboon Forest Media a chance to listen to it thus our forthright arbiter of it.
Lyrical G says that to him, OG is someone that’s exceptional, been around for a while, well versed with certain things and is highly respected, and that is him in as far as Uganda`s hip-hop and rap music is concerned.
“I recorded this album to share my understanding, talent and wisdom with the younger generation…to school, inspire and guide them so they too, can attain the title of ‘OG’ at some point in the future”, Lyrical G informed this website.
LG‘s masterpiece. OG is a long album, but it is put together PERFECTLY. It feels and flows JUST RIGHT. You can just feel the love and the energy that went into the making of this album that was produced by him (LG ) except for four tracks that were produced by Proknowledge and Nase Avatar.
I often talk about distinctiveness being an important aspect of being a great rapper and dropping a classic and LG has that as spades for this album. From his voice to his flow, to even the production, there is huge originality. The start of this album is interesting as it almost begins with a two minute intro by LG`s atypical verse before track number two-OG where he is telling the world that he has attained an OG status after more than 20years in the game.
“Nothing Stays The Same” comes as truck number three and LG is just telling us that at some point in life, we all grow and move on. He also raps about his humble beginnings and tells stories about how he came up in the game.
From there though, it’s just consistent gangsta rap with good production. It lacks anything that belongs at the top of the genre but a number aren’t too far off and the quality never dips. One of LG’s best albums.
LG has always been an exceptional and multi-faceted lyricist. O.G. features some of his best pure emcee material of his career and showcases his underappreciated ability to use different rhyme styles, always matching the mood of the track as witnessed on truck number four -Sikyasaaga(L-Matic), flexing his MC skills and challenging all rappers to watch out for him.
Truck number five `Nzikiliza` (The Love Joint) is a love song where LG is talking to the girls and showing off his macking and flirting skills before truck six “Win Or Lose” comes in with assistance from Lil G, his son where they are just talking to the kids so they get inspired to stay true to themselves and never give up on their dreams.
`Good Vibes` follows on the track list and LG informed us that to him, this is kinda a feel good song he wrote in celebration of life especially after the effects of Covid pandemic on the world. `Thank You Father` comes as the next truck where LG featured Julius Sese and LG says this is a tribute song to his Lord and Saviour Jesus.
`Linda(Wait)` heeds through with Northern Uganda`s finest rapper Judas Rapknowledge, a song about teenage pregnancies urging the girl child to be patient and stay in school until she is ready to be a mother.
Songs like Whatever You Need which is basically a party song, Cypha 2k22 ft The Whole Crew and two bonus trucks make the completion of this album which you can keep on constant rotation as soon as the album drops.
OG is a variable, flawed album. The hooks are nothing special – in the case of `Thank You Father`, a lumbering bass-heavy grind bedecked with mellow and pulpy vocals from Julius Sese, it’s actively startling. The beats are of noticeably spotty quality, ranging from the clean, cool electronics of Wait at one extreme.
When it’s playing, however, it really crackles, blazing considerably brighter than any LG album for some time. Whether that’s enough to restore its author to the centre of the action is debatable but at its best, OG makes clear that LG is prepared to rage against the dying of the light of Uganda`s hip-hop – and the sound of him raging can still make for electrifying listening.
For orders of this album, you can contact LG Management on +256777394079
