Big Zuu - Content Without Content

Big Zuu - Content Without Content 

Talent seems to run in the family, as the cousin of grime star AJ Tracey is more than making a name for himself. The self-styled Big Zuu has been making his own mark on the grim scene. The debut album from the West-London MC, Content Without Content, comes following a string of well-received EP’s and successful singles. A solid debut with a good variation in beats, ranging from pulsing synths and whiplash garage hammers. While the wordplay is impressive enough, the themes, however, remain largely derivative. A combination of “I’ve been grinding,” “Look after the mandem,” “live for the fam,” and “fuck the haters” can be found in nearly every song. The repetitiveness is offset by Zuu’s voice, which rings out over each track like a siren. It is seemingly custom built for the grime circuit. Having a seemingly endless breath and switching gears like a Bentley, Zuu has plenty to offer on this debut.

On the subject of wordplay and voice, it is telling that Big Zuu’s verses hold up against that of his stellar guest artist, especially that of grim icon JME. It is a brand of urban poetry that doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but considering the history of Grimes negative translation to an LP format, Zuu has done more than enough to cobble together a bombastic, chest-thumping street album that stays true to its roots.

Still, it is hard to ignore what has been left off the table. Zuu, a larger than life personality that is well invested in his community, seems to have integrated little originality into this album. Sounding more like a sophomore slump as opposed to a hungry debut, Content Without Content lacks a certain individuality that pushed the likes of Skepta and Stormzy into the mainstream. What remains most frustrating is that glimpses of this higher level are present at times. Both Mine + Yours, a personal, subtle number and the most impressive lyrical song on the album, and the defiantly urgent Fall Out stand out from the crowd as they are more personality driven than power. While ultimately solid, Content… begs the question: is there anywhere to go from here?

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