Charizma &
Peanut Butter Wolf
Big Shots
2003
The "hip-hop pioneer" title is generally attributed to a limited pool of late '80s and early '90s MCs, depending on subjective standards. However, this group of artists rarely includes the 19-year-old Charizma. A "big shot" in his own right, one could go so far as to say he was hip-hop's modern-day Van Gogh. He died before ever being able to release an album, with Big Shots recorded from '91-'93 and finally released in '03.
Charizma's rapping is reminiscent of early MC battles, where artists took turns methodically picking apart other MCs' styles, appearances and mothers. The rhymes are easy to follow as they combine Charizma's youthful intelligence with a stinging, sarcastic California essence. The songs tackle innocent themes, such as ex-girlfriends and rival MCs, over jazzy production from Peanut Butter Wolf. Whether or not you believe "hip-hop is dead," Charizma's first and last full-length album will help reevaluate your definition of hip-hop.
