Steve 'Flash' JuonHalf a decade+ ago Matt Jost looked at Flee Lord x Eto for a review. He described their voices as “worn, husky and raspy from whatever their eyes saw, their gullets guzzled and their lungs inhaled.” I’m happy to say no matter who Eto is working with, that vibe stays almost exactly the same.
Every song on “Eto Brigante: El Paraíso Edition” is labeled as a remix, but you’ll have to accept my apologies here as I don’t have the originals to compare them to. Also — if everything is a remix is anything a remix? A remix used to be a one-off special version of an already great song, like the ATCQ “Scenario” remix and the M.O.P. “Ante Up” remix. I digress. Here’s what I do know — Tricky Trippz is a producer from Germany whose own bio describes his style as trap and drill. I don’t think that does justice to songs like “David Kleinfeld.” There’s a very subtle and beautiful layering of piano, drums, bass and melody that’s just lovely to listen to with Eto’s raspy voice. It’s like vintage Kool G. Rap.
The songs here play out like a gangster movie, freely sampling from them to add atmosphere — not that Eto needs any additional help in that category. His voice is the scenery and his words paint the motion picture. “Got me teaching the ones set before me/with the same speech they said before me.” That’s a very colorful way of saying shit never changes on “Button Up.” Eto’s trying to impart the wisdom of an old head but seems resigned to the fact it just keeps getting passed down unchanged from one generation to the next. When “The Last Call” comes you’re not ready for the film to end.
“Though foes won’t kill me, my friends will.” Eto is vocally and lyrically a war weary veteran. Trippz plays his role perfectly, enhancing the mood without overshadowing his partner in these crimes. I’ve heard it said many times over the years that rappers who tell street tales are glorifying a dangerous life and making it alluring to easily influenced young minds. I’ve never bought that argument but let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. If you listened to Eto tell tales on “Eto Brigante: El Paraíso Edition” you’d be influenced to stay AWAY from the streets. He’s not glamorizing the hustle. It’s a cold world filled with cold blooded sharks who will eat you the moment they smell blood.