This is the proper full-length debut from Hartford, Connecticut emcee Fuego Base. Getting his start a few years ago off his debut EP Tell My Momma Imma Rapper, he would continue to build up his catalog by going on to drop another EP called Tell My Momma Imma Rapper Still & the Say Dat mixtape trilogy before Buffalo’s very own Benny the Butcher signed Fuego to his ever-growing MNRK Music Group imprint Black Soprano Family Records last year. So considering this new label deal of his, dude’s making it clear that he’s the Biggest Since Camby to come out of the forgotten place of Hartford.
After the intro, the title track opens up the album by letting everyone know who’s running the city now over a dusty boom bap instrumental with some bass licks prior to Elcamino & 38 Spesh both coming into the picture for “Blocked” produced by the latter as the trio talk about the only thing on their mind being the paper & wealth over a more synth-based sound. “Heavy D” brings back the kicks & snares with a piano loop getting on his hustler shit just before the warm “Chest Pains” talks about having to get his people right.
Meanwhile with “Holding On”, we have Heem tagging along so both MCs make it clear that they stay strapped when cruising down the city with an atmospheric Rick Hyde beat leading into “Quality” with O.T. the Real returns to the boom bap orchestral style making it clear that excellence is the standard. “House Phone” fuses some kicks, snares & a crooning sample making it clear they’ve been running it for a grip until “Take a Look” dives into trap turf as Benny the Butcher, Lo Pro, Ricky & Uncle Murda discuss pushin’ weight.
“The Warehouse” with Benny & O.T. was a great choice for a single making their great escape from off the corner over some hi-hats & strings until the sequel with Benny, Camino & Heem keeping the string sections in tact swapping out the hi-hats with more kicks & snares talking about being the bosses they are. The solemnly produced “Tommy Brown” with Rick Hyde & Sheek Louch finds the trio asking where the fire in their eyes went while the penultimate track “White Lives Matter” featuring another recent Black Soprano Family signing Sule takes it back to the basement courtesy of Havoc admitting he’s too comfy in this music shit. “Ron Francis” though is a powerful closer to the album making it clear that they love the residue more than hoes.
You can most definitely hear the hunger in Fuego on his early material, but he really takes it to another level on Biggest Since Camby to the point where I can most definitely see it being the album that renews the public eye’s interest in the Connecticut hip hop scene & one to reveal him to be a welcoming addition to the ever-growing BSF roster. He sounds more focused than ever, it’s more well-produced & it’s really interesting to hear how well he gels with his fellow labelmates as well as their affiliates.
Score: 7/10