GHETTO BOYS GLORY

BIG LEAN

Enough Is Enough Six years ago, Toronto rapper Big Lean confidently rolled into the city’s hip-hop scene with his debut mixtape I’m Here Now, building a fan base in the northern crevices of the city. After releasing two additional projects, which featured the likes of Chief Keef, Sizzla and Juicy J, Big Lean returns making his boldest statement to date, Enough Is Enough. “I’m the one they’ve been waiting for,” the Parma Court rapper casually spits on the intro track. Executively produced by longtime collaborator and friend Boi-1da, the 14-track mixtape is entrenched with booming bass lines, heavy synths and lyrical grit, which becomes increasingly evident with tracks like “Enough Is Enough” and “Bounce Back.” Big Lean’s journey also bobs from the East coast to the West coast, as Juelz Santana joins him on the money-hungry “Benjamins” and Nipsey Hussle accompanies him on “California Water” — both songs marking the first time either artist have rapped on a Boi-1da beat. Despite the aggressive undertones, Big Lean lets down his guard for “Everything’s Alright,” a piano-laced track that samples Singing Sweet’s Bad English cover of “When I See You Smile.” In the reflective single, he speaks on incarcerated friends, the support of his crew and the importance of perseverance through struggles. In the words of Big Lean himself, Enough Is Enough partakes in street tales and hood politics — “ghetto boys glory,” as he affectionately claims on the Tupac-inspired “Eyes on Me.” But at the end of the day, it’s the underdog rapper’s humble beginnings that will push him into the spotlight. (soundcloud.com/officialbiglean)

WHY DO YOU THINK HAVING A CO-SIGN IN TORONTO MATTERS SO MUCH?

That’s how the city was built. I don’t wrong any artist thinking that’s the way to do it, because nothing’s wrong with the co-sign, but I also respect the ground up way of doing things and so do a lot of others. And that’s what we represent.

SINCE 2010, YOU’VE DROPPED FOUR MIXTAPES, BUT IT STILL SEEMS AS IF YOU’RE THE UNDERDOG IN THE CITY. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

Yeah, that is a fair statement, but I’m also a strong believer in when it’s my time, it’ll be my time! ERIN LOWERS