The strength of ’00s Italian rap lies in its versatility. Scene veterans Articolo 31’s elastic mesh of hip-hop, punk and pop styles found new focus, blending anthemic pop choruses with sly social satire on songs like “L'italiano medio” and “A pugni col mondo”. That uncompromising spirit reaches a new intensity in Marracash’s tough-talking, politically-infused bars. And striking out alone, Articolo 31 frontman J-Ax’s taste is even more wide-reaching, with scythe-sharp wordplay in “Vecchia Scuola”, and moments like “Piccoli Per Sempre”, which prove that even rock-rap heavyweights get the blues.