Having ended up in the news in recent months especially for his excesses, Baby Gang has a strong history behind him made up of shortcomings and a life on the street despite being only 22 years old. The latest album contains the thoughts and strength of a rapper who wants to communicate to the world who he really is
The opportunity was tempting. The invitation to the presentation of the new album by Baby Gang, in the presence of the rapper himself. Then the cold shower. The judges didn’t give Baby Gang the chance to meet the press to present his new album.”The angel of evil”. It was hoped until the end that an exemption from house arrest could arrive, where the rapper is located, in Lecco. So we showed up anyway at the headquarters of the Warner Music Italia record label, where it was located Paola Zukar (manager among others of Tiziano Ferro, Marracash, Madame and Fabri Fibra) invited to introduce an album that she defined as a “neorealist masterpiece of Italian rap born in the midst of millions of difficulties”. The album, out today, features many collaborations with Sfera Ebbasta, Geolier, Marracash, Blanco, Lazza, Tedua, Ernia, Rkomi, Gue Pequeno, Rocco Hunt, Emis Killa, Jake La Furia, Fabri Fibra, Gemitaiz, Madman, Paky, Simba La Rue and Niko Pandetta. Perhaps the strongest names in the Italian rap scene at the moment. The single that opened the album was “Adrenaline” feat Blanco and Marracash.
PROBLEMS WITH JUSTICE – The story of one of the most discussed rappers on the Italian music scene is well known. Baby Gang, aka Zechariah Mouhib, found himself involved in a shooting, which took place on the night between 2 and 3 July 2022 in via di Tocqueville, in Milan, in which two Senegalese men were injured, shot in their legs. The trial ended with a sentenced to 5 years and 2 months in first instance. Then the judges granted the obligation to reside in Lecco, where he lives, with ban on going out between 8pm and 9am. Last January Baby Gang allegedly shot a friend of his, who was wounded in the left leg. Then his lawyers argued that it had been one assault with attempted break-in and that the rapper had simply defended himself. Three judges replaced the precautionary measure with the obligation to stay with that of house arrest with electronic bracelet. Hence the denial of his presence to talk about his album.
POSTPONED TOUR AND A WELL PRODUCED ALBUM – Given the restrictions imposed on Baby Gang, the tour was initially planned departing at the end of April is postponed to December 2024. The rapper’s team underlined how there were “many difficulties in working as best as possible on the album, considering the restrictions of the timetable, the electronic bracelet and also the fact that it was difficult to organize a calendar for the feat”. Yet the production result of “The Evil Angel” is remarkable and you can bet that it will be a real “streaming” case.
“BABY GANG FOCUSED AND DETERMINED” – “I am here as a fan of Baby Gang and Italian rap – said Zukar –, but the judge did not allow interviews with Baby. The collaboration with Fibra for ‘In Italia 2024’ gave us a great assist. This thing brought us closer together. I’ve always been a fan of Baby’s writing and acting. It’s been a really long time since I was involved in a recording project. I think that these collaborations gave something extra to the album. And I think of the verses of Gemitaiz or Madman who have given something incredible and have brought out something enriching. Baby Gang seems so focused and determined to me and has included a number of quotes in the album that have ‘set me on fire’. I think he is aware of his role in this moment and in the crossroads he finds himself at. Special mention for producer Higashi who gave this album many sounds, leaving room for Baby’s creativity to rap and sing. Many of them worked hard.”
“THERE ARE WINDS OF WAR OUT THERE” – Rap has always been under pressure and overwhelmed by controversy, in this period the debate seems to have become more pressing. “I can feel the winds of war out there – he continued Zukar responding to FqMagazine – on the lyrics of Italian rap. Few are able to decode the texts for what they are and which I find of very high value for what they represent for the new generations. There is a heated debate going on right now. However, I think it is a positive thing that it has become a very important topic. Times have changed compared to 2006, when there was more silence and a clear distinction of good and evil. So Fibra shouldn’t and couldn’t have said certain things, according to most. It was worse in that world. Today, however, everyone can enter the debate and have their say, there is a lot of chaos and turmoil. All this makes the debate interesting and lively. Today it is difficult to understand how good and bad are intertwined. This is how Moravia came to mind with ‘Gli indifferenti’. It seems right to me to open an open dialogue with those who are indifferent.”
“HE HAS MATURED A LOT” – Finally we asked the Baby Gang team if, in some way, it has changed after the latest judicial and legal events: “He has matured a lot, believes a lot in his work and can’t wait to go around and present it live.” As long as the judges are magnanimous.
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