Every now and then I break the fourth wall like Deadpool with a review,
and even though I'm no merc with a mouth, I'm not afraid to pull back the
curtain and show you what goes on behind the scenes. I think that kind of
honesty is important between the writer and the reader -- if we don't have
that relationship then what the f#%$ are you doing here reading our long-winded
reviews anyway? If there's one thing you know about RapReviews it's that we
aren't going to BS you one bit, even if we've pissed off a few rappers and
producers (some that I'm personally fans of) along the way. You always know
that whatever opinion you read is 100% on the level from the author, whether
or not you agree with what I or anybody else on staff
had to say.
My point here is that I feel like it's a problem when I seem to be the only
one here who reviews Canadian rappers in general or URBNET Records in particular - arguably the forefront of the scene up North.
Now it's true I've professed my admiration for the scene in the past, and I
feel there are a lot of kindred spirits in the country. I f#%@s with any rap scene
where the heads appreciate hockey and pro wrestling as much as beats and rhymes,
and if you hand me a Molson you'd better hand me another because I already drank
the first. That being said it concerns me that I've got some sort of bias built
in to be pro-Canada, and the more I'm the lone wolf on staff the greater my
concern becomes that I'm not giving y'all the fair and balanced coverage you deserve.
I don't want to think anybody gets a break just for being from Toronto, Halifax
or Montreal - you're either dope or you're not and that's all that should matter.
Fortunately for me Fortunato has come along to help me bring balance to the Force.
Now at the outset he's got everything going for him that an independent artist
could want - production from Sean One, a well established underground label in
URBNET, and some obvious connects with other dope indie labels/artists. Duck Down
is heavily represented on this short 23 minute EP, with General Steele from
Smif-N-Wessun on the opener "I Am,"
and the late great Sean Price on
"Don't Drink the Kool-Aid." You could hardly ask for a better road to success.
The problem is that it's just not enough. There's something about the way
Fortunato spits that feels forced every time he spits, like he really admires
hip-hop and cares about the microphone arts a lot (I can relate), but he can't
help his natural tendency to "speak" as opposed to "flow" on the beat. It
probably doesn't help on "Ain't Nobody Know" when he goes out of his way to
point out his lack of melanin.
"Spitting freestyles, I would represent all day
Trying to get respect, but instead I got called names
Called me a wigger and a cracker rapper
First show I did, all I heard was chants and laughter"
Since he's well liked enough to be down with Boot Camp, he didn't even really
have to go into all that, because after all they're the label that made Dru Ha
a household name -- so big up to the B.C.C. for being down with the non-brown.
Still once he goes out of his way to point out this traumatic chapter in his
life, it kinda ferments in your head what you were already thinking, and whether
it's fair or not you were thinking "This dude sounds white." Put me on the track
and I'd sound worse, so I respect what Fortunato is throwing down, and he's got
an above par producer laying down his tracks. If you want to hear one of the
last records Sean P ever did you'd probably pick up "The Blue Collar EP" on
the strength of that alone, and I wouldn't fault you if you did. Like one of
Fortunato's better tracks though I'm an "Honest Man" and I've just gotta say
it like this - not everybody from Canada can be dope like D-Sisive, Madchild
and Dan-e-o. Some people are dope, some people are good, some people are
average and some are just garbage - just like any other scene anywhere else.
Fortunato's not garbage, but he's just barely above average.
Music Vibes: 7 of 10
Lyric Vibes: 5.5 of 10TOTAL Vibes: 6 of 10
![[The Blue Collar EP]](../coverart/fortunato-Blue.jpg)
Every now and then I break the fourth wall like Deadpool with a review,
and even though I'm no merc with a mouth, I'm not afraid to pull back the
curtain and show you what goes on behind the scenes. I think that kind of
honesty is important between the writer and the reader -- if we don't have
that relationship then what the f#%$ are you doing here reading our long-winded
reviews anyway? If there's one thing you know about RapReviews it's that we
aren't going to BS you one bit, even if we've pissed off a few rappers and
producers (some that I'm personally fans of) along the way. You always know
that whatever opinion you read is 100% on the level from the author, whether
or not you agree with what I or anybody else on staff
had to say.