EST Gee has been on a fast track to stardom since he first emerged on the scene with his 2019 mixtape El Toro — and in an industry that values melodies and catchy tunes — Gee’s seemingly taken the bull by the horns.
Standing out in hip-hop’s new wave as classic gangsta-rapper, there isn’t much to say about EST Gee that isn’t on Bigger Than Life or Death, but following his previous four projects over the last several years, fans know that he can deliver both in quality and quantity. Now, EST Gee shares a whole new set of street-centric bangers, dropping the deluxe to his summer smash-hit album Bigger Than Life Or Death, Part 2.
Announcing the new project Monday (Nov. 29) via Instagram, EST Gee decided to fly solo on his latest effort, boasting eight new tracks without any features. Compared to Part 1’s feature-filled escapade, EST Gee definitely has more to prove this time around.
Dropping its lead single “Lamborghini Geeski” on Nov. 19, Gee is in tunnel vision from track 1 to track 8 — curating yet another batch of unforgettable hits that will continue to cement his legacy this early in his career. Releasing the visual for “Misery Loves Company” and “Jumpout Gang,” Gee is back in his introspective bag speaking on his life experiences and the trauma associated with what he’s endured.
EST Gee drops new high energy video for ‘Jumpout Gang’
Peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, Bigger Than Life Or Death’s success was not only aided by EST Gee’s captivating performance, but also by guest appearances from Future, Young Thug, Yo Gotti, Pooh Shiesty, Lil Baby and others. “5500 Degrees” is the most feature-heavy track on the project, as EST linked with 42 Dugg, Rylo Rodriguez and Lil Baby — creating a posse cut for the ages.
While EST Gee strives to support his narrative with hard-hitting, introspective songwriting, his music, message and journey seem to be what’s really bigger than life or death.
Listen to ‘Bigger Than Life Or Death, Part 2’ below!
Read how ‘Bigger Than Life Or Death’ holds up to this day…
Production
Production on Bigger Than Life Or Death stays in EST’s comfort zone, with a majority of dark beats with heavy 808s. It’s handled by a solid team of producers, with prominent contributions from TM88, Southside and FOREVEROLLING. Songs like “Sky Dweller” and “Capitol 1” hit the gas pedal with energy. “In Town,” No Friends” and “Forreal” have a change in tone, countering the aggression of the rest of the record with a hint of soulfulness. “Price Tag” starts with a hilarious chant of “Make that a** go barrumpumpum” before dropping a beat sure to light up a club. Compared to other rappers in his lane, EST is able to flow on varying beats.
Features
The features on this tape are selected with precision. EST Gee starts early with a crew track on “5500 Degrees” featuring 42 Dugg, Rylo Rodriguez and Lil Baby. As a trip they each ride the beat in their own way, flowing together in one cohesive banger. Super Slimey duo Future and Young Thug give absolutely stellar performances on the remix of “Lick Back”, going back and forth as if it was the song was their own. Durk gives a heartfelt performance on “In Town” before Yo Gotti and Pooh Shiesty ride demonic trap piano beats. Yo Gotti and 42 Dugg make repeat appearances on the last new track off of the project, “No Friends”, to work their storytelling magic.
EST Gee drops visuals for ‘5500 Degrees’ off his latest release
EST Gee’s performance
EST really proves his worth on this album. He is able to hold his own for most of the project, needing only minor assistance from close collaborators. His ability to garner such a star studded cast is admirable considering how recent and quick his come-up has been.
That isn’t to say that he can’t perform on a solo performance. The majority of the songs on Bigger Than Life or Death feature Gee as a standalone vocalist, with his delivery and storytelling leaving listeners with a perspective into his world. After hearing this project, fans are sure to look forward to what he has to say next.
