Zwangere Guy – BRUTXXL (2020)

Leerde kruipen, stappen, lopen, maar nu hoort ge hoe ik ren.

Some artists rely on their past work. Zwangere Guy refuses to stand still. BRUTXXL isn’t a brand new album, but it’s not a simple reissue of Brutaal either. It’s something in between: a snapshot of an artist still digging into himself, while reflecting the city, society, and the cultural landscape around him. Eight new tracks are added to the original ten, though three of those had already been released as singles. That leaves just five truly new songs—but they hit hard enough to justify the release.

What makes BRUTXXL so relevant to me is how sharply it captures the current moment. There’s no fluff. The opening track, “Doorbijter,” featuring Belgian actor Josse De Pauw, sets the tone: a calm voice reminding Guy that he doesn’t owe anyone anything, that what he’s done is enough. What follows is a brutal, honest self-examination. There are no major surprises in terms of flow or style—if you know Guy, you know his voice—but the emotional weight feels heavier, the wounds deeper.

Tracks like “1 uit de 1000” and especially “Kutjaar” (which translates to “Shitty Year”) strike a personal chord. It’s not just that they’re lyrically strong—they capture something difficult to name: a sense of collective fatigue, frustration, and resilience. “Kutjaar” is the standout moment of the project, a sharp and painfully accurate take on the cultural sector’s struggles. There’s humor and self-awareness too, but the message lands hard. It echoes something he already touched on in “Papa ZG”: the desire to stand up and speak out for those who are being ignored.

Production-wise, BRUTXXL delivers. Chuki Beats and Astrofisiks bring sharp, moody instrumentals, while the guest features are well chosen. “Fally Ipupa” with Freddie Konings is slick and threatening in equal measure, “Guttergang 2” with Jazz (from STIKSTOF) is explosive, and closing track “Kenny,” featuring a guitar solo from Jan Paternoster (Black Box Revelation), is a quietly devastating story of a young man navigating life in Brussels.

Sure, Guy’s flow isn’t evolving dramatically anymore. He sticks to what he knows—and to be fair, he does it well. His delivery is consistent, his voice raw, and while his wordplay may not always surprise, it still lands with force. BRUTXXL isn’t revolutionary in form, but it burns with purpose. It’s not here to impress—it’s here to survive.

Zwangere Guy remains relevant because he doesn’t pretend. He opens himself up, even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s something not many artists dare to do.

Tracklist

A1 Doorbijter
A2 1 Uit De 1000
A3 Fally Ipupa
A4 Kutjaar
B1 Guttergang 2
B2 Papa ZG
B3 Rotjoch
B4 Kenny
C1 Grijze Zone
C2 Waarom
C3 Daarom
C4 Gutterlijfstijl
C5 ZG All Day
D1 Guttergang
D2 Spekglad
D3 Ellebogenwerk
D4 Sideshow Bob
D5 Niemand

Vinyl Specs

Streaming

Links

https://www.discogs.com/release/16133076-Zwangere-Guy-BRUTXXL

https://www.waxlog.com/collection/cave/artist-z/release/1528310182/zwangere-guy-brutxxl