On Google search pages, if you search for Simba La Rue, more pages regarding his legal case come up than pages that talk about his music.
The Italian-Tunisian rapper, real name Mohamed Lamine Saida, attempts the big leap and releases, after EPs, singles and feats, his first album “Tunnel”.
A structured album composed of 16 tracks (two already published Levante, Agitato) which are the rough, questionable and controversial compendium of its street and neighborhood history.
Doctor Simba’s various songs are united by a thin thread of pain and desire for revenge. Almost a concept album-story of a life on the edge, of marginalization passed through a thousand difficulties, with emotional and social shortcomings, lived between drug dealing, prison, irons, theft, money, women used as objects and representations of power through money.
A nightmare on earth where the only element that shifts the horizon is represented only by music. A succession of clichés and clichés, unfortunately very real and concrete, of life.
In this urban hell enhanced by dark, dark, minimal and excessively distorted beats forged by the best of the scene’s producers, Guè, Ghali, Sfera Ebbasta, Baby Gang, Boy Mass, Paky and Tedua participate in their own way.
It is difficult for me to make an assessment of his clinical and cynical record.
The album is like the power of a lyrical punch in the stomach, the feeling that comes back after listening to it is the same.
You fall straight to the ground, you feel the pain, but there is no desire for redemption. You get stuck in his tunnel without seeing a way out.
At the end of listening you have to try to understand, to understand his world. For me it represents like watching a rough, real, tragic and unfiltered documentary, the story of many street kids of his generation.
A lucid testimony that must necessarily make us reflect. It’s a shame that I’m almost certain that no politician or man of power will listen to this record, his cry will remain without anyone listening to it and, perhaps, little or nothing will change.
Will music ultimately save Simba?
SCORE: 6.00
TO LISTEN NOW
Shopping – Money at home – Hood
TO BE SKIPPED IMMEDIATELY
A tour is necessary to do it. Necessary to understand his world.
TRACKLIST
1) TUNNEL
2) SHOPPING feat. Gué
3) MONEY AT HOME feat. Ghali
5) BATIMENT feat. Sfera Ebbasta
6) FREE ESCO FREE BABY
7) BECCARIA SAN VITTORE Feat. Baby Gang
8) NO MIX NO MASTER
9) AGITATED
10) NINJA PLAQUETTE Feat. Mass
11) FREESTYLE
12) LEVANTE Feat. Paky
13) KALASHNIKOVA
14) FUGITANT
15) HOOD Feat. Tedua
16) MOTHER’S LOVE
THE DISCOGRAPHY
2024 – Tunnel
