(IWANNAFXCKCARMENHAYES)

Besides discovering one of the best discographies in the hip-hop period, one other aspect I love about diving down into his old albums and aligning myself with his producers from back in the day is that if they collaborate again, I can be familiar with them, and none more important than Grubby Pawz, who is working on the latest Estee X Al album in 2025, but before that, he helped release two of Estee’s most expressive and interesting albums in his catalogue!

This is his second collaboration and somewhat sequel to his ‘I WANNA FXCK’ series with Grubby Pawz! Featuring 14 tracks with the likes of: 

-DJ Rec One

-SPNDA

-Hidden Character

-Codenine

-RLX

-Datkidbravo

-Singapore Kane

-Al Divino

Now, I have to say, Grubby this time around has released one of the most ‘grounded’ Estee Nack albums I’ve heard since his earliest days. The production is so skeletal and grim, combined with beautifully orchestrated jazz and also dark, cinematic ambient drone sounds (especially at the start), that it sounds like ‘Noise Metal’ inspired. As the album goes on, we have more down-to-earth beats such as track 2 ‘HOODSANDHAV’NOTS’, where it’s just a straight-to-the-point, heavy bass, traditional beat boom Bap track.

Of course, you have gorgeous moments on the album such as track 5 ‘SEXAPHONESESSIONNUMBERSIX’, with those angelic jazz notes and Estee practicing some nice singing on this to make for an overly sexual love song, something like Snoop Dogg’s ‘Sexual Eruption’ track but definitely muddier in execution.

Regardless, I love how down-placed this album feels. Of course, we have probably weeks of hours’ worth of experimental and chaotic drops by Estee, and so on the occasion when he switches it up, it’s a refreshing switch of pace to hear! 

Going along with this different production, we have Estee also trying new, more laid-back, and sensual delivery and style, and I gotta say it suits him! This album feels like his rest mode album that he makes before going wild on the project to come!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely not boring, and he still has his signature charisma and personality that brought him to the game, but it just feels like he’s taking his time, spitting fun and more witty bars, and just flowing with the instrumentals more instead of trying to manipulate or craft it differently, just working alongside it, and as a result, it sounds more fresh in execution!

Of course, you still have certain tracks like ‘UNTITLED’ featuring his partner in crime Al Divino, where he snaps back into his beast mode, but other than that, in comparison to other projects, this one is a lot more groovy and savvy than usual, and I’m all here for it!

Another banger to add to his discography and pairing with Grubby. It all makes sense why he’s the one chosen to represent him on his latest upcoming album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2NQwtfti76DLzWx5F7hecr?si=zSRgdmQWQbehv8fEbe_EJA