Twice Thou (formerly of Made Men & Almighty RSO) Delivers Baddest Gangster Rap Video This Year

I'm not exaggerating – this really is the baddest, most absolutely fucking flagrant gangster rap moment of 2012, and perhaps since Mr. Lif's “I Heard It Today.” If anybody has a comparable new video that so speaks to the soul of poor America – or that rings such loud alarms about the menacing thugs who have terrorized us – then please send it over. But I haven't seen one yet. There's a load of exciting political hip-hop happening – this isn't one of those rants. Still the cut before you goes above and beyond, plus it has a killer backstory to boot.

As profiled in the Phoenix earlier this year, Antonio Ennis (a/k/a Twice Thou) is a Boston rap legend of the highest order. For starters, he was down from day one, having run with Almighty RSO, Made Men, and all of the major label madness and high-profile controversy that came with those roles. Ennis is also a notorious street fashion icon; his Antonio Ansaldi fashion label, a favorite of heavyweights like DMX over the years, is best known for creating the much-maligned “Stop Snitching” line.

After the economic tsunami hit, Ennis found himself in the situation of countless other Americans – in danger of losing his house, and all out of credit. That's when a neighbor turned him onto City Life/Vida Urbana, a Jamaica Plain nonprofit and advocacy force that fights tirelessly to protect homeowners. Through City Life, Ennis was empowered to help his own family, and subsequently became hyped to help others do the same.

Meanwhile, after being dormant on the music scene for some time, Ennis began recording again as Twice Thou. Only this time, instead of spitting raw aggression against block rivals, the villains in his crosshairs have white collars and big salaries. Much like how Almighty RSO illustrated the gangster hedonism that Ennis embraced for years, “The Bank Attack” reflects his current hustle to restore economic justice.

Beyond the video, Ennis just dropped a 28-track album – also called The Bank Attack – that aims for CEOs and lobbyists from front to back. And while he's not the only one fighting entrenched finance industry cockroaches, this really is a rap milestone. Because while bloated mainstream gasbags might claim to fight for real people, at the same time they're throwing money and celebrity behind the president, and ignoring the fight right here on the ground.

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