EST Gee “MAD” Album Review

MAD

EST Gee

• Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
• Date: 17 Mar, 2023
• Content: explicit
• Region: NGA
• Track(s): 19
• CMG/Warlike/Interscope Records; ℗ 2023 CMG/Interscope Records

The young shall grow. That’s one phrase that comes to mind watching the musical evolution of George Albert Stone III, professionally known as EST Gee, from obscurity to prominence – or a little of it. And when you add a little “MAD”ness, you realize this rapper will go far.

EST Gee is “MAD” and he has offered what he said is “not for the industry.” Well, that was his verdict when he shared the cover art of the project on his verified Instagram page. As you would see later, this “MAD” offering is actually for the industry and beyond. We invite you to tag along as we explore the project.

Artwork

Artworks are significant in that they might give clues about a project even before its official release. For this reason, many musicians take their time designing artworks that will somehow illumine the orbit of their creative palpitations.

EST Gee did just that? We would say yes, The artwork has as its background scribblings about the man and his work, with his visage covering much of the canvas. A pendant bearing his adopted stage name dangles from his neck with other chains. what appears to be a paper cut-out of “MAD” covered the rapper’s lips. He had a lot to say but obviously didn’t say them all. Still, there’s no mistaking the charged environment of the album.

Features

Features are like “extras” – different meats to a pot of stew. They bring that variety that might make some people lick their lips and ask for more a la Olive Twist. EST Gee worked with a couple of guests on this “MAD” album. He agreeably worked with just a few, leaving himself as the man of the project.

The first guest was Young Scooter, who popped in at track 5. Boosie Badass would come through later for “Hotboys” (Track 9). Kada popped into the last song in the compilation for a clincher with the lead artist. In all, there were just three guests.

Tracklist

This is a “Valentine’s day tracklist” of sorts as EST Gee limited himself to just 14 tracks. The compilation begins with “Pray You Die in Surgery” and ends with “Kada Song.” The first four songs in the album were without guest artists. EST Gee spat his bars alone, only inviting a guest for the fifth shot.

“Ball Lime Me Too,” “The One & Only,” “Blow Up,” “Stay Focused,” “Drop top,” “25 Min Freestyle,” “US,” “If I Stop Now,” “Lie Yo Me Some” and “Undefeated” are the other tracks in the body of work.

Key Songs

In almost every project, some songs stand out for a listener while others may not. A listener might be more interested in some songs in a project than he is in others. We are in “MAD” hour right now and point to “Blow Up” (track 4), “If I stop Now” (track 11) and “Undefeated” (track 13) as some of the songs that resonated with us the most. Of course, opinions are and will always be subjective.

Tracklist

NO	TITLE	TIME
1	BLOW UP	2:34
2	IF I STOP NOW	2:56
3	UNDEFEATED	2:56
4	25MIN FREESTYLE	3:02
5	BALL LIKE ME TOO	2:38
6	PRAY YOU DIE IN SURGERY	3:19
7	BALL LIKE ME TOO	2:38
8	THE ONE & ONLY	2:19
9	BLOW UP	2:33
10	SLAM DUNK (feat. Young Scooter)	2:22
11	STAY FOCUSED	2:13
12	DROP TOP	3:02
13	25MIN FREESTYLE	2:59
14	HOTBOYS (feat. Boosie Badazz)	3:18
15	US	2:03
16	IF I STOP NOW	2:57
17	LIE TO ME SOME MORE	2:46
18	UNDEFEATED	2:45
19	KADAS SONG (feat. Kada)	3:10

Message

There are several messages pinned to this 14-track offering, and likely something for everyone or a couple of seasons in the life of just about everyone out there. There is the message of hope, faith in one’s abilities, the audacity to try… We could go on and on.

Summing Up

EST Gee is a newbie of sorts in America’s ever-evolving rap universe. Although new in that space, he has created a body of work that is at once bold and memorable, a compilation you would listen to and return to without as much as a prodding. It’s time to embrace this album in all its “MAD” magic.

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