Big Scarr’s brief but brilliant life is testimony both to the transportive powers of rap as an artform, and the continuing issues of racism and poverty that blight African-American life. Sadly passing away in 2022, his 22 years were marked by struggle: one of nine children, he gained his moniker at the age of 16 following a serious car accident. Shot in the hip in 2022, the resultant health issues arguably took his life. Yet alongside this he gained a reputation far beyond his years – lauded by Gucci Mane and often compared to Freddie Gibbs, his lawless style offered a stark depiction of a life often ignored by the mainstream.
‘The Secret Weapon’ is an apt and worthy summation of a talent cut short. While similar unfinished releases have been pushed into the public gaze unready, this album feels whole, and unified. His ‘punching in’ style makes each song feel considered – instead of writing complete lyrics, the Memphis artist would craft a song line by line, locked in a fixture of concentration.
As such, early cuts such as the inspired ‘Keep Going’ and the Gucci Mane feature ‘Trappin n Rappin’ carry an all-too-rare intensity. ‘First Time In Vegas’ and ‘Anotha 1’ stretch drill to its limits while adding a Southern voice, while the Key Glock indebted ‘Toe Rag’ has a slightly more colourful, even playful feel.
A weighty 17 tracker, ‘The Secret Weapon’ takes care to present Big Scarr as someone three-dimensional. He’s not a tragic figure, neither is he blameless, often dipping into lifestyles that don’t exist within the law. Yet everywhere is a dedication to the art – the clipped strings of ‘Dough’, the paranoia that lingers on ‘Angel Dust’ and the unrelenting flow that permeates ‘Mood’.
Closing with the emotive, elegiac ‘Face It’, this is a record that defies convention and headline, instead offering a more personal depiction of a life cut short. The final testimony of Big Scarr is something everyone should hear.
8/10
Words: Robin Murray
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