That Realness Is Now Closed!!!

Giant Panda has returned! Giant Panda's debut album, Fly School Reunion, dropped in 2005 and was received by unsuspecting ears that caught the raw sounds bursting forth. With their sophomore effort however, Giant Panda has evidently 'graduated'. Electric Laser is the name of the game, and GP plays it well. The production, foremost, is in many ways its predecessor, and yet it isn't . The drums still bang, with snares and kicks dominating the forefront of a large portion of the production. However, the melodies, chops, and loops aren't 'traditionally' jazzy or funky (that's not to say they don't have that type of quality, so to speak). Rather, thick, electro-fused samples are laced deep in the cuts of this record providing a much more futuristic but very present musical landscape. A track such as 'Justin Case' is a nice introduction to newcomers (just in case you didn't know) but also an introduction to the style of the album to already established fans of Giant Panda. The writing on the album is what makes it stand out more prominently for those already aquainted to GP. Humor (see 'CinemaX', 'Do The Robot In Cyberspace') and more serious notes (see 'AIM', 'Let It Go') are found all throughout the album, showing a different side of the Panda's fur. Like a caged animal, Giant Panda can rage with speaker pumpin' tracks such as 'Speakers Pop' and 'Speakers Funk'. The album was also recorded and mixed on analog tape, giving it extra warmth and harmonic punch. Overall Electric Laser is a step foward for Giant Panda, but still honors its true school mentality for their original fans.

01. Laser Beam (Scotty's Theme)
02. Justin Case
03. Ready To Fly
04. Speakers Pop
05. AIM
06. Laser Ray
07. Precise Calculator
08. Same Old Shit
09. Cinemax
10. Pops
11. Let It Go
12. Do The Robot In Cyberspace
13. Speakers Funk

Tres Records presents the debut album from Giant Panda, “Fly School Reunion”. Giant Panda is a group composed of the ethnically diverse Chikaramanga, Maanumental, and Newman (with DJ Superbrush 427 and Sir Kado). After the success of GP’s independently released 88 Remix (Ukenjam 12” 2003) and their critically acclaimed Tres debut, With It (Tres 12” 2004), the time has finally come for the crew to show their full colors to the listening public. Though “Fly School Reunion” might be perceived as a throw back to a simpler, and arguably better time in Hip-Hop, it is more than just a practice in old themes and techniques. “Fly School Reunion” is Giant Panda’s celebration of what made those times special and what they feel needs to be reclaimed in order to advance the art form they practice and love. With production by Giant Panda’s Chikaramanga, Newman, and Sir Kado, as well as outside help from the up and coming Milhouse Scoop and the legendary Thes One of People Under the Stairs (who mixed the entire album in his analog studio), “Fly School Reunion” is guaranteed to please the B-Boy preservationist and the forward thinking listener. The Thes One produced lead single, Superfly, exemplifies Giant Panda’s ability to balance the past and the future through music and rhymes. With Diggin in the Tapes, Racist, Classic Rock, and the tribute to GP’s favorite era (and a favorite group), 90’s, GP exhibits the sophistication of diligent students ready to evolve their medium while maintaining a healthy sense of humor Already gaining worldwide recognition from their past releases (XXL-Chairman’s Choice, HHC- Single of the Month, URB-Next 100 2005), the table is set for Giant Panda to serve their full-length platter. A cohesive 16-song journey, “Fly School Reunion” is Hip-Hop the way it is supposed to be done.

01. Rap Attack Intro
02. One Time
03. With It
04. Super Fly
05. Just Cause
06. Diggin' In The Tapes
07. 90's
08. Sho' Improve
09. Chops
10. Grand Prix
11. Always Dope
12. 3rd Party
13. Racist
14. T.K.O.
15. Strings
16. Classic Rock