Gigan - Gigan EP

http://www.sendspace.com/file/0dtj2r

1. I.S.O. (In Serch Of)
2. Power (Feat.Megalon)
3. Live Wire (Orig Ver)
4. Brooklyn, Brooklyn
5. Queens Day
6. Crazy World

Trying to pick any single member of the massive Monsta Island Czars crew as my favorite has always been near impossible for me, but it's a dilemma I enjoy furrowing my brow over none-the-less. Is it Rodan with his amazingly detailed, over the top visuals? Maybe Megalon with his rapid-fire, machine gun flow? I suppose the most obvious answers would be MF DOOM, who easily has one of the most impressive Discogs in Hip Hop history. Or maybe, just maybe, after only one single EP, from way back in 2002 none the less, it's Gigan. Most MIC/MF DOOM fans are probably familiar with Gigan from his guest appearance on DOOM's King Geedorah album, Take Me To Your Leader. Gigan had, in my humble opinion at least, the absolute best song on the album with "Krazy World". He not only spit some fairly spectacular bars, but he also did something I've yet to hear any other MIC member do to this day (DOOM included) -- he made an honest to goodness brilliant chorus. It still stands as one of the best choruses I've ever heard from an underground mc, and Gigan's half rapping/half singing flow made it clear as day that he was ready to branch out and start a brilliant career, possibly somewhere beyond his humble underground beginnings.

Only his career not only never took off, but Gigan himself seemingly fell off the face of the earth.

Sure, he had a few verse on MIC's debut album, Escape from Monsta Island, and he also turned up a few times on X-Ray's Monsta Mix series, but really after 2003 dude went completely AWOL, and as of 2012, has yet to release anymore music. With "Krazy World" being one of my all-time favorite songs though, I felt like I needed to dig deep and see what else I could unearth from dude. Thankfully I ran across this gem. With less than 50 copies known to exist, and with it being self pressed and sold strictly at shows during the 2001/2002 era, it goes without saying that this probably didn't reach the ears of too many listeners. It really is a shame too, because Gigan more than proves on this that "Krazy World" was no fluke. In fact, the opening track "I.S.O. (In Search Of) easily rivals the greatness of his King Geedorah song, and features another fantastically catchy hook.

In fact, Gigan proves himself to be an absolutely superb mc throughout this EP's short 6 tracks. Effortlessly shifting from female oriented tracks (the aforementioned "I.S.O."). to immediately going in to an absolutely head spinning cypher session with fellow MIC brother Megalon. Lyrically Gigan can be fairly abstract, even by MIC standards, but his more down to earth, easily digestible flow more than make up for it. Production comes courtesy of MF DOOM and X-Ray. DOOM laces "Live Wire" (which would later appear on Monster Mixes Vol. 1), and "Krazy World" (which would also later appear on King Geedorah's Take Me To Your Leader). "Krazy World is far and away the standout as far as production is concerned, not that it's noticeably better than any of the other beats here,  it just sounds so radically different from the utter darkness that the rest of the album is shrouded in. X-Ray laces the rest of the album with some absolutely magical moments. "Power" for example almost brings to mind a ol' fashioned western showdown, which perfectly suits both Gigan and Megalon.

It really is a shame that Gigan vanished shortly after this release, because to be perfectly honest he's probably the most skilled songwriter in the whole MIC camp. Given the right production he could have crafted an absolutely phenomenal album. Thankfully we at least got a glimpse of what could have been. Gigan's sole EP stands neck and neck with any other MIC release, and is an absolute must for hardcore fans.

Hell, even casual listeners might wanna take a shot on this one.

Pro's
-Gigan is a great MC, and his songwriting stands as some of the best the underground has to offer
-He got laced with some really dope beats from X-Ray and MF DOOM
-It's short and sweet. Every track is essential

Con's
-Some of these songs would pop up on later releases, which somewhat lessens the impact

Overall - 4/5