Gesticolo is the first-person form of the verb gesticolare, meaning "to gesticulate" or, more simply, "to talk with your hands". It's a fantastic word that perfectly captures a famous and beloved aspect of Italian culture.
In "Italiano Anthem", Sfera Ebbasta proudly sings, "Gesticolo quando parlo come un vero italiano" (I gesticulate when I speak like a true Italian). This line embodies the song's theme of national pride, turning a classic stereotype into a cool and authentic statement.
Sfera Ebbasta's "Italiano Anthem" is exactly what it sounds like: a massive declaration of pride in being Italian. He kicks it off with "Lasciatemi cantare / Perché ne sono fiero / Sono un italiano" (Let me sing / Because I'm proud of it / I'm an Italian). For Sfera, this identity is tied to success, family, and a very specific style. He boasts about his journey from being "Poveri da bambini" (Poor as children) to riding in a Lamborghini, and even leans into stereotypes, saying "Gesticolo quando parlo come un vero italiano" (I gesture when I talk like a real Italian).
But it's not all just flashy cars and gold. There's a tough side to his success. He talks about running from gunshots and having "Problemi nella tasca sinistra / E soluzioni dentro la destra" (Problems in the left pocket / And solutions in the right). He makes it clear that his focus is on business with the line "Se non mi parli di soldi, no hablo" (If you don't talk to me about money, I don't speak). Above all, he connects his identity to fierce loyalty, stating he would "Morirei per la mia famiglia da vero italiano" (die for my family like a real Italian).
Gionata Boschetti grew up in Sesto San Giovanni, on the edge of Milan, and started posting his own tracks online as a teenager in the early 2010s. Almost nobody noticed until 2015, when his debut album XDVR, made with producer Charlie Charles, turned Milan's underground trap scene into a national phenomenon within months. His stage name pairs the Italian word for sphere with "ebbasta," street slang for something excellent.
His albums Sfera Ebbasta (2016), Rockstar (2018) and FAMO$O (2020) each topped the Italian charts, and Rockstar made him the first Italian act to crack Spotify's Global Top 100. FAMO$O brought in guests like Offset and J Balvin, and in 2022 he paired up with Jamaican producer Rvssian for the EP Italiano, mixing his flow with dancehall-leaning beats. By the end of the 2010s he had sold more digital music in Italy than anyone else that decade.