Rapfornication Throwback: FonZo’s Vol. 1 The Return of the Boss Don Reviewed by Rodey
(Originally published September 23rd, 2015)
Every so often you stumble upon a sound that you have to adjust your ear for. And that is something that as a listener, I take really seriously. So to have a good idea of Fonz’ evolution as an emcee I had to go back two tapes into his discography. So it was off to AKMG’s SoundCloud page where I came across his previous pieces; Lucid Dreaming and the highly talked about Pocket Change EP. It was nice really a trip to hear… rather to feel Jodie’s growth throughout the two tapes. The sound is totally different, the delivery and rhymes schemes jumps a level or two on Pocket Change with Fonz getting a helping hand from Tweezy in production on a track, (co-)producing a number of tracks on the tape himself, the commercial sound is highlighted but that does not shadow the fact that the boy is really talented. Much like Youngsta, he doesn’t try to hide that colored accent that has become synonymous with Cape Town. Fonz harnesses this ability that very few artist in Cape Town have, the element of one being able to vibe to his music regardless of what he raps about.
But…
This isn’t about Jodie’s skill on the mic or how he has a proper feel on stage (though I’m yet to attend a insert of the 021 Connect), it’s about his latest offering: The Return of The Boss Don. Well how do you start this? It’s very well composed tape fam, production is a hundred, lyrics, punctuality of bars and growth from the Pocket Change EP is very evident. You’d feel that after the type of sound he gave us with that tape he’d be very much content, but no Fonz starts TROTBD on some boom bap tip. The storytelling part of Fonzo is a stand out for me, on Pocket Change’s “The Journey” he goes into a realm very few rappers are brave to go into. The melling beat has that jazz feel, but like I said the tape is was in a way to show that he can get a club jumping without effort. The title “The Return of The Boss Don” just shows that the boy knows his potential, aura and spot in CPT rap - which is definitely top 3 in the city in my opinion.
Fonz tells a story on his recent work, propelling his emotion of adversity, family situations and his desire to make himself known for what he has to bring to the table. My favorite tracks on the tape have to be “Idols” and “Experience” because I’m a sucker for good stories. If you pay a really close ear to the storyline of the EP you can tell that his mind was in a good space, hunger to prove a point was my highlight.
You rarely get rappers who want to exercise the ability they have, because some feel they’ll flop at first attempt which might show that their versatility has a limit. Fonz however took this tape to heart and composed his life, and all he’s acquired as a rapper so far. Aside from giving us the simple melody of beats and extraordinary lyrics - he transcends from a rapper on Pocket Change to a full blown lyricist on The Return of The Boss Don. I’m not sure what he was aiming to but whatever it was he knocked the park.
It’s the first insert of a collection I’m assuming, since it is Volume 1. This is my way of seeing the progress he’ll come across as a rapper, and mostly a person. His personal endeavors do make him stand out from a few others that have a buzz in Cape Town. This is my favorite tape to come from a Cape Town rapper this year after cApitol A’s “outcAst” and just before Andy Mkosi’s “iPressure”. I’m glad to witness the growth Fonz has given the world, no doubt he’ll go far if he goes full out with this passion. The Return of The Boss Don just reminds rappers that if you put in as much work as you can you can reap very good fruits, and his work rate over the past year has been impeccable.
Shout out to AKMG for pushing the boy.
“y'all be too(two) negative, well that makes positive”
